George Washington is one of the most memorable figures in American history. His role as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, First President of the United States, and leading figure in the movement to abolish slavery has ensured that his memory remains vivid today. In addition to these impressive historical credentials, Washington was also known for something slightly less flattering: his accent. The general’s lisp was so pronounced that it gave him a speech impediment similar to what we might expect from someone who grew up in England or Scotland. It’s easy to assume this would be a deal-breaker for practically any future wife. But as we’ll see below, Martha Custis proved herself a level-headed woman who looked past such superficialities when weighing whether or not she wanted to marry General Washington. Luckily for us, we don’t have to rely on secondhand accounts alone. Thanks to recent linguistic research, we can now answer this question with certainty – Did George Washington have a British accent?
Did George Washington Have A British Accent?
It is reported that George Washington spoke with a British accent at times, but there is no definitive proof of this. It is interesting to note, however, that many of the men who fought in the American Revolution were from British-held Canada. Washington’s father was a Scottish immigrant and his mother was from Ireland. He grew up in Virginia around many people with British accents. His closest friend during the Revolution was Baron von Steuben (who came from Germany), and he also had many other friends who were German immigrants. As an adult, Washington often spoke French and German with his staff members as well as with other officials when they visited him at Mount Vernon.
How Did George Washington Get His British Accent?
The British Colonies in America
The British colonies in America (which are also known as the Thirteen Colonies) were founded by Great Britain during the 17th and 18th centuries. Being an English colony, many of the people who lived there spoke English as their first language, and they also identified themselves as “British”. As a result, the people who became American have been referred to as “Americans”.
George Washington’s Father Was a British Subject
George Washington was born into a family of British colonists in Virginia in 1732. His father was Augustine Washington, a prominent Virginia planter and member of the House of Burgesses (the assembly that governed Virginia). The Washingtons owned several plantations throughout Virginia and also had several slaves who worked on them; they were one of the wealthiest families in all of Virginia and were known for their hospitality to travelers coming through their plantation lands. In addition to being an important landowner, Augustine Washington was also a member of the House of Burgesses – he was elected to this position on numerous occasions between 1730 and his death in 1743. This means that George Washington was born into an elite class that had many connections with both Great Britain and the colonial government in America (the House of Burgesses had been established in 1619 by King James I).
George Washington Was Not Born Into British Citizenship
When George Washington was growing up his mother had no legal ties to Great Britain. Her husband had been born in England, but his mother was a native American from Maryland. However, her father had been born in England and had become a British subject by marrying an English woman. This meant that George Washington’s mother was also a British subject and could pass on his citizenship to George Washington if she chose to do so. The fact that she did not make her son a British citizen on their marriage certificate means that she did not want him to be part of the British empire (or perhaps this was because she was afraid of making him a citizen of Great Britain).
George Washington’s Father Was a Loyalist During the Revolutionary War
George Washington’s father Augustine spent most of his life as an important member of the House of Burgesses (the colonial government) in Virginia. He was elected as Speaker of the House five times between 1730 and 1743 before he died in 1743 at age 61. During this time, he took an active role in opposing the rebellion against Great Britain that took place between 1765 and 1783; he sided with Great Britain and opposed any attempts by some colonies to establish their own government independent from Great Britain (the rebellion is known as “The American Revolution”). He believed that the best way for Virginia to maintain its autonomy within Great Britain was for it to stay loyal to Great Britain – which is why he supported Virginia’s participation in the “War for Independence” against Great Britain in 1775.
George Washington Was a Loyalist During the American Revolution
The American Revolution was fought between Great Britain and the thirteen colonies (colonies are areas of land that are controlled by a single country). The colonies had been established by Great Britain many years earlier and they were under British rule at the time of the American Revolution. The rebels who fought against Great Britain during the American Revolution were called “the patriots”. George Washington was a loyalist who supported Great Britain during this conflict – he was not part of the rebel army (the rebels did not capture him and he did not become a prisoner of war). He continued to support Great Britain throughout his life and he never joined any rebel fighting groups during this time.
George Washington Was Not an Early Founding Father
George Washington was born in 1732, which means that he was only fourteen when the thirteen colonies declared their independence from Great Britain in 1776; this is why it is often said that he was “an early founding father” because his birth date puts him at one end of a very long list of people who played important roles in establishing America as an independent country from 1776 until today. However, it must be remembered that George Washington lived in Virginia for most of his life, which means that he did not live under British rule for nearly all of his life; most other people on this list did not live in Virginia for most or all of their lives.
How Bad Was George Washington’s Accent?
- He spoke French with his staff members and other officials when they visited him at Mount Vernon
- He spoke French while he was in France
- He was the first president to have a foreign accent (and the last)
- His closest friend during the Revolution was Baron von Steuben (who came from Germany), and he also had many other friends who were German immigrants
- As an adult, Washington often spoke French and German with his staff members as well as with other officials when they visited him at Mount Vernon
- The only president whose skin color changed during their presidency was James Buchanan who changed from being tan to having white hair (and vice versa)
- George Washington was nicknamed “the father of his country” and “the father of our country”
- He was the only president who had been a Revolutionary War hero
- He was the only president to have served in the French and Indian War (1754-1763)
- It is believed that if he had gone on to serve in the French and Indian War, he would have been killed by Native Americans while fighting against them
- He never married but had a long-term relationship with Deborah Custis (his step-granddaughter) from which she bore a child named Washington Parke Custis
- He had many slaves working for him at Mount Vernon including an African slave named Hercules who was his personal valet and cook
Summing up
It’s easy to poke fun at George Washington’s lisp and his British accent. However, it’s important to remember that Washington was a very private man who never tried to make excuses for his lisp or his British accent. While it may have been a mild embarrassment in his lifetime, it’s now one of the most endearing things about the first president of the United States.
