Ridiculous History CLASSIC: The Weird Life of George Washington, Part 1
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Dec 27, 2025 Historian Christopher Hassiotis joins the discussion to explore the eccentricities of George Washington. They dive into the confusion surrounding Washington's birthday and his surprising lack of a middle name. Hassiotis details Washington's Masonic connections and their impact on social networking and conspiracies. They also uncover Washington's ambitious distillery project near the end of his life, while thoughtfully addressing the complexities of his legacy as a slave owner. Intriguingly, they touch on Washington's hemp farming and moral views too.
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Washington's Birthday Is A Calendar Quirk
- George Washington's birth date shifted due to calendar changes from Feb 11, 1731 to Feb 22, 1732.
- Historical dates can vary by calendar system and trivia depends on the host's pedantic level.
Washington's Late-Life Whiskey Business
- After leaving the presidency in 1797 Washington opened a distillery at Mount Vernon and produced large quantities of whiskey.
- By 1799 Mount Vernon's distillery made about 11,000 gallons and sold unaged rye whiskey in barrels to taverns.
Distillery Was Industrial And Exploitative
- Washington's distillery was a business run by manager James Anderson and enslaved laborers rather than Washington personally tinkering at the still.
- The operation recycled byproducts into vinegar and pig feed, showing plantation-scale industrial practices.