George Washington 2.22.13 Thought of the Day

“Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience.”-George Washington

1795 – 1823 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

George Washington was born on this day in Westmoreland County, Virginia, USA in 1732. Today is the 281st anniversary of his birth.

Did you know that if your name is George and you went to Mt. Vernon–Washington’s home south of Alexandria Virginia — today you’d get in at a reduced rate?

So much has been said and written about our first president that that (the “George” Discount) is about the only thing I can bring to the table that is new.

Therefor  I decided that for today’s blog I’d focus on images of Washington.

For an excellent biography of the surveyor, soldier, statesman, farmer and cherry-tree-chopper I refer you to the whitehouse.gov bio. Another terrific bio can be found on the Mount Vernon site at mountvernon.org. Indeed if you are anywhere near the Northern Virginia area I strongly suggest a trip to Mount Vernon where you can not only tour Washington’s house and the grounds of his estate, but can explore Ford Orientation Center and the The Donald W. Reynolds Museum and Education Center. If you have a little extra time you might want to drive over to the Washington Grist Mill and Distillery.

Washington was one of the most successful liquor distributors in the new nation. He built a state-of-the-art distillery at Mt. Vernon, where he made rye whiskey, apple brandy and peach brandy. The distillery has been restored in recent years, and is now open to visitors. [Bio.now]

George Washington dollar (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Perhaps the best known image of George Washington is this one done by Gilbert Stuart.

Stuart was inspired by Washington and painted him several times . [Image courtesy: The Library of Congress]

Tompkins H. Matteson’s Washington at Valley Forge. [Image courtesy the Pocontico Hills School Washington site]

General of the Armies [Image courtesy: the US Military Hall of Fame.]

A young George Washington [Image courtesy: The History Channel.]

An etching showing George Washington addressing the troops in 1775 [Image courtesy: The National Archives]

Emanuel Leutze’s famous (and highly stylized) version of Washington crossing the Delaware river.

Washington at Valley Forge. [Image courtesy: the Library of Congress]

Washington was one of artist John Trumbull’s favorite subjects. Here he is resigning as commander and chief.

[Image courtesy Bartleby.com]

George Washington at Mt. Vernon. George Washington seated, half-length, with Martha Washington, and two children. (cropped) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

An older Washington [Image courtesy: The Independent]

English: The equestrian sculpture of George Washington at the center of Washington Circle, a traffic circle and public park, located on the boundary of the Foggy Bottom and West End neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Click HERE to see a forensic model of what George Washington looked like.