George Washington’ Death

On 12 December 1799, George Washington rode his horse across his estate to review the progress of his farming. Snow turned into hail and rain... Wanting to be on time for dinner, he didn't change and stayed in his wet clothes.

The next morning he felt a sore throat. The following morning, the situation had gotten worse. His wife Martha Custis called for the doctor. That day, he and several colleagues and assistants tried bleeding Washington and preparing different mixtures for him to drink.

In one day, he had lost over a third of his blood. He passed away on the evening of 14 December. When the news crossed the Atlantic, Napoleon, who was the ruler of France at that moment, ordered a 30 days mourning in honour of the first President of the United States. To this day, it is the longest mourning ever decided by any French head of state.