The Death of George Washington

Throughout his life George Washington demonstrated a capacity to face danger with determination and to suffer hardship with dignity. At no time were these qualities more evident than in his final struggle on December 14, 1799. On that morning, at home on his Mount Vernon estate, George Washington was mortally stricken with a frightening illness. Although he would perish before the day was out, Washington demonstrated great physical courage throughout what quickly became a brutal struggle. In this final battle Washington secured his most personal victory and enduring legacy. George Washington died as he lived, the model of a virtuous life courageously lived. In this engaging narrative Peter Henriques distills years of scholarly and medical research, bringing the final hours of George Washington into dramatic focus. His work lends new insight into the great man's attitudes toward life and death, and in so doing, reveals the true nature and quality of Washington as a national hero.