Washington’s Personal Appearance.
The following personal description of the “Father of his country” was written in 1811 by David Ackerson, of South Carolina, to his son William. It has lately been published for the first time:— “In the first place you should know that Washington was not what the ladies call a pretty man. It seems that fate has destined handsome men for other purposes than heroic endeavor. But in military costume he was a splendid figure, such as would impress the memory ever afterward. The first time I was ever brought in contact with the great hero, was three days before the crossing of the Delaware, as I have related to you before. It was under most unfavorable circumstances, as the weather was bitterly cold and a fierce wind was blowing. Washington had a large, thick nose, and it was very red on that day, giving the impression that he was not as moderate in the use of liquors as he was supposed to be. I found afterward that this was a peculiarity. His nose was apt to turn scarlet in a cold wind.” “He was standing near a small camp fire, evidently lost in thought, and making no effort to keep warm. He seemed six feet and a half in height, and was as erect as an Indian, and did not for a moment relax from a military attitude. Washington’s exact height was six feet two inches in his boots. He was then a little lame from striking his knee against a tree. His eye was so gray that it looked almost white, and he had a troubled look on his colorless face. He had a piece of woolen tied around his throat, and was quite hoarse. Perhaps the throat disease from which he finally died had its origin about then. Washington’s boots were enormous. They were No. 13. His ordinary walking shoes were No. 11. His hands were large in proportion, and he could not buy a glove to fit him, and he had to have his gloves made to order. His mouth was his strong feature, his lips being always tightly compressed. On that day they were compressed so closely as to be painful to look at. At that time he weighed 200 pounds, and there was no surplus flesh about him. He was tremendously muscled, and the fame of his great strength was everywhere.”