Episode overview

683. Washington: Hero of the Revolution (Part 1)

The Rest Is History · 29 June 2026 · 5 Egleze moments

What happened in this episode?

On this episode of The Rest Is History, hosts Tom Holland and Dominic Sandbrook examine George Washington's crucial winter at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War, revealing uncomfortable truths behind America's founding mythology. The episode marks the start of a four-part series on the Founding Fathers for the 250th anniversary of American independence. Sandbrook dismantles the romanticized Reagan-era narrative of Washington kneeling in prayer at Valley Forge, tracing it to fabrications by Parson Weems, and exposes deeper contradictions in Washington's character. The general who became a symbol of republican virtue purchased nine teeth from enslaved African Americans for his dentures and freed his slaves only after death, despite claiming to long for their freedom. The hosts reveal that more Americans died at Valley Forge from disease than in any Revolutionary War battle, with 2,000 men—one-sixth of the army—succumbing primarily to dysentery, typhus, and typhoid. Washington's desperation led him to propose making trade with the British punishable by death and to send troops to forcibly seize food from local Welsh Quaker farmers. The episode highlights Baron von Steuben, the openly gay Prussian officer who professionalized the Continental Army while living with two young male companions he later adopted as heirs. French entry into the war following Benjamin Franklin's diplomacy at Versailles proved decisive, shifting global strategic balance against Britain. Holland and Sandbrook argue Washington's true genius lay not in tactical brilliance but in his marble-like dignity and self-control, deliberately performing the role of Roman republican hero to hold together a fractious coalition that any other commander would have lost.

What are the key points?

Washington purchased nine teeth from enslaved African Americans in 1784 to transplant into his gums and had only one working tooth by his presidency.
Washington freed his slaves only through provisions in his will after both he and Martha died, despite expressing desire to set them free during his lifetime.
More Americans died at Valley Forge from disease than in any single Revolutionary War battle, with 2,000 casualties representing one-sixth of Washington's army.
Washington proposed making trading with British troops punishable by death and sent 1,000 men to forcibly seize livestock from local farmers.
Baron von Steuben, the Prussian officer who professionalized the Continental Army, lived openly with two young male companions he adopted as heirs.
French entry into the war in February 1778 following Benjamin Franklin's diplomacy fundamentally shifted strategic balance against Britain globally.
Washington's leadership success stemmed from his dignity and self-control rather than tactical brilliance, deliberately performing the role of Roman republican hero to unite fractious colonial forces.

Which topics are covered?

History Military Controversial

How is this page sourced?

Programme: The Rest Is History
Published: 29 June 2026
Original episode: Open the original source ↗

Egleze verifies the speaker, source and timestamp for each linked moment. Unless a moment is explicitly marked independently verified, statements remain attributed claims by the named speaker rather than established facts.

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5 moments from this episode

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History

More Americans Died at Valley Forge Than Any Battle of Revolutionary War

at 34:35 · Attributed speaker claim

More Americans died at Valley Forge than at any battle of the entire war. Well, I mean, that is illustrative. Of the impact of dysentery on the patterns of history, isn't it? I have to say, I was really struck by that. And that's partly because the battles are basically glorified punch-ups in fields. But, you know, 2,000 people died at Valley Forge, which was the sixth of Washington's army.

Historian Dominic Sandbrook revealed that 2,000 Americans died at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-1778, representing one-sixth of Washington's army and exceeding casualties from any single battle of the Revolutionary War. The deaths were primarily from disease including dysentery, typhus, and typhoid, highlighting how disease rather than combat shaped the war's toll.

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History

Washington Considered Selling Food to British Punishable by Death During Revolution

at 44:38 · Attributed speaker claim

Washington is very disappointed by this. Interestingly, Washington does not think that selling to the highest bidder is the American way. So Washington, at various points, talks about making trading with the British punishable by death. He sends 1,000 men out to basically requisition all the livestock from the local fields. So basically steal it. To steal it, exactly.

During Valley Forge, when local Welsh Quaker farmers sold food to British troops in Philadelphia rather than the Continental Army, Washington proposed making trading with the British a capital offense and sent 1,000 men to forcibly seize livestock from locals. This authoritarian response contradicts the Revolution's free market rhetoric and shows Washington's willingness to use extreme measures when desperate.

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History

George Washington Freed Slaves Only After His and Martha's Deaths

at 53:24 · Attributed speaker claim

He never actually does set them all free though. I thought he did in his will. Well, not in his lifetime exactly. He doesn't set them free in his lifetime. There's a complication because actually Martha owns most of them. Exactly. But he kind of makes provisions for when she dies that they will be set free.

Despite expressing desire to be free of slavery and saying he longed to set his slaves free, Washington never freed them during his lifetime. Most were owned by Martha, and he only made provisions in his will for their eventual freedom after both he and Martha died. The discussion reveals Washington's moral contradiction: acknowledging slavery was wrong while perpetuating it throughout his life.

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History

Baron von Steuben Transformed Continental Army While Living Openly With Young Male Companions

at 1:00:38 · Attributed speaker claim

When he died in 1794, he left them his estate. He adopted them, he made them his heirs, which was actually very common for gay men to do in the late 18th century. This was a way for you to establish a kind of formal relationship. So it worked out well for him. Worked out well for him and for them, actually.

The Prussian officer who professionalized the Continental Army at Valley Forge, Baron von Steuben, lived openly with two handsome young officers in their early twenties, Benjamin Walker and William North, whom he adopted as heirs. Historians note this was a common practice for gay men in the 18th century to formalize relationships. Despite arriving with suspiciously handsome young aides and being discharged from the Prussian Army under murky circumstances, his sexuality did not prevent him from becoming a founding father and American citizen.

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History

Washington Bought Nine Teeth from Enslaved Africans for His Dentures

at 1:10:53 · Attributed speaker claim

In 1784, so a year after the war ended, he bought 9 teeth from unknown African Americans, and these teeth were then transplanted into his gums. And by the time he became president in 1789, for all that George III said he was the greatest man in the world, he had just one working tooth left.

Historian Dominic Sandbrook revealed that George Washington purchased nine teeth from enslaved African Americans in 1784 and had them transplanted into his gums as dentures. By the time he became president in 1789, Washington had only one working tooth remaining. This disturbing detail illustrates the intimate connection between slavery and even the most revered Founding Father's personal life.

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