Today in the US, our government offices, banks, schools and post offices are closed in observation of Presidents' Day. According to the federal government, the holiday observed on this third Monday in February is officially Washington's Birthday. But many Americans call it "Presidents' Day," in honor of both Presidents Washington and Lincoln, whose birthdays are Feb. 22 and Feb. 12, respectively.
I thought it would be fun to list some random facts about these two famous men in honor of the big P. Day today:
- Washington was 6' tall and was known for being strong. It is said that once he threw a rock to the top of a famous Virginia landmark, a 215-foot-high rock formation known as the Natural Bridge. The shot was roughly the equivalent of a quarterback tossing a touchdown pass from his own 30 yard-line into his opponent's end zone (a 70-yard throw).
Interestingly, he never attended any school or college. George was educated as a child by his father and brother, and also self-educated as he became an adult.
- He had no children of his own and outlived both of his stepchildren.
- George did not belong to a political party and was said to be against parties because he thought they created too much division. However, he was considered to be the informal figurehead of the Federalist party.
- Washington was given many nicknames throughout his life:
- Father of his Country
- The American Cincinnatus *(Cincinnatus was a Roman political figure noted for retiring and going back to his farm instead of trying to seize further political power)
- The Sage of Mount Vernon
- The Old Fox - Lord Cornwallis used this name for Washington in a remark in 1777
- The American Fabius *(from the writings of Timothy Pickering, Fabius was a Roman general and politician noted for his military tactics)
- He only took one trip outside of the United States, when he traveled to Barbados with his older half-brother Lawrence in 1751. They went there to find relief for Lawrence's tuberculosis because Barbados had warmer weather.
- Lincoln was 6' 4", making him the tallest US president to date (James Madison was the shortest, standing 5' 4").
- His stovepipe hat was used for carrying notes, letters, and bills inside. It is called a stovepipe because the rise is so tall (with no flair) that it resembles a pipe.
It is said that Abraham and his wife Mary, held seances at the White House in hopes of contacting loved ones who had passed.
- He liked to invent things and was fond of gadgetry. In 1849, he issued a patent for a device for buoying vessels over shoals. It was never made, but this made him the only president to hold a patent since.
- There are no direct descendents of Lincoln. His only son to reach adulthood (Robert Todd Lincoln), had three children: Mary, Abraham and Jessie. Mary's only child, Lincoln Isham, had no children. Abraham lived from 1873-1890 and had no children. Jessie had two children, Mary Beckwith and Robert Todd Lincoln Beckwith, neither of which had any children.
- He created a national banking system with the National Banking Act in 1863, resulting in a standardized currency.
- He was the first president to be assassinated.
- Lincoln was fond of pets, and owned horses, cats, dogs and a turkey.
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