George Washington Freed Slaves Only After His and Martha's Deaths
"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."
About 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.
Key takeaways
- 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.