This questioned first president may have more myths than facts associated with him. These myths include, but are not limited to, wooden teeth, cherry tree chopping, throwing a silver dollar across the Potomac River, and being the first president in the United States. Let’s correct a few of these misconceptions with some facts!

 

First off, he started losing his teeth around the age of 24 and didn’t have many left by the time he became president. According to modern historians, this is accredited to the mercury oxide he was prescribed to treat smallpox which he acquired in Barbados. It’s quite possible that some of his dentures, particularly after they had been stained, took on a wooden complexion, but wood was never used in the construction of any of his dental fittings. His teeth were constructed of materials including bone, hippopotamus ivory, human teeth, brass screws, lead, and gold metal wire.

 

Now on to the Cherry tree. Parson Weems, a biographer, fabricated the story after Washington’s death to accredit the president with the ability to not tell a lie even at the youthful age of 6.

 

Another well know myth was the time he throw a silver dollar across the Potomac River. The Potomac is over a mile wide at Mount Vernon and Washington could not have thrown it that far. Besides, there were no silver dollars when Washington was a young man. The origin of the tale is believed to come from his step-grandson who said he once threw a piece of slate across the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg, which was much narrower than the Potomac.

 

Lastly, he is claimed to be the first President in the States, but this title actually belongs to John Hanson. Hanson was the first President under the provisions of the Articles of Confederation. Washington was the first President of our second government under the Constitution.