Presidents Day 2026: What's the truth about George Washington’s death?

Key takeaways

• George Washington's death wasn't as peaceful as school children have been taught.
• Treatments for his illness included "bleeding," which "virtually guaranteed his death."
• His last words were: "Tis well."

After a life of action and harrowing battles, George Washington died peacefully in his bed at Mount Vernon. Or so many school children are taught. In reality, the nation's first president died a slow and bloody death that was far from a pleasant end of life.

In his book "Becoming George Washington," award-winning author Stephen Yoch says the founding father was a lifelong believer in "bleeding" (removing blood) as a medical treatment to balance body humors. "Because of this, Washington and his physicians virtually guaranteed his death by excessive bleeding," explained Yoch.

How did Washington spend his last days?

Yoch says that on Dec. 12, 1799, Washington ignored a blanket of snow and hail and mounted his horse for a five-hour tour of his farms. He chose not to change out of his wet clothes when he arrived home because dinner was ready and he did not want to inconvenience his guests.

The next morning, even though the snow had fallen even harder and he was starting to feel sick, Washington went down to the Potomac River to inspect another part of his sprawling plantation. That night, he retired for the evening in a cheerful mood and said the best treatment for the cold was to "let it go as it came."

His wife Martha thought he looked terrible, but Washington chose to sit up late in the library reading. In the middle of the night, he woke Martha with throat pain and shortness of breath. Once again, he rejected medical treatment and wanted to rely on his body's restorative powers.

In the morning, Martha would wait no longer and called for Dr. James Craik, one of Washington's oldest friends and a trusted physician who had served with him since the French and Indian War 40 years earlier.

"Washington always believed that bleeding improved his health," said Yoch. "As a young man, he frequently turned to bleeding to address his repeated illness throughout the French and Indian War and it's only through sheer luck that his physicians didn't kill him then."

Unfortunately, he wasn't so lucky in December of 1799. While waiting for Craik to arrive, Washington ordered Albin Rawlins, a local clerk, to bleed him. When the clerk hesitated, Washington gently but firmly pressed him. When the cut was not large enough Washington told him to press on, over Martha's protests, until nearly a pint of blood had been drained.

When Craik finally arrived, he immediately drew more blood and applied a treatment of dried beetles to Washington's inflamed throat. Craik summoned another doctor, Elisha Cullen Dick. As soon as Dick arrived, he and Craik siphoned off even more blood, which "came very slow, was thick and did not produce any symptoms of fainting."

What were Washington's last words?

Historians estimate that Washington surrendered five pints of blood all together, or about half of his body's total supply. Washington probably suffered from a virulent bacterial infection of the epiglottis, Yoch says in the book. As it swells, the epiglottis closes off the windpipe, making breathing and swallowing extremely difficult and eventually impossible.

Yoch said that while Washington may have died anyway, "the loss of blood guaranteed his death." When Washington finally ordered the bleeding to end, he reportedly said, "Doctor, I die hard, but I am not afraid to go." His last words were: "Tis well."

For more information on George Washington's life as well as the life of other important historical figures like Benedict Arnold, visit Yoch.com.

Historical fiction writer Stephen Yoch is based in Minneapolis/St. Paul. He is the author of "Becoming George Washington" and "Becoming Benedict Arnold."