Since Hamilton, I’ve had a fascination with George Washington.
I take that back. My fascination began when I could read the markers to commemorate his stops in my town, Wallingford Connecticut to gather provisions for his troops in 1775 and after his election on a New England tour in 1789.
Years later, there was Hamilton and the dreamy Christopher Jackson in the role of our leader which prompted a visit to Mount Vernon on our trip last year to Washington DC.
I never read Hamilton and I’ve never read Ron Chernow’s biography of Washington. I have read “You Never Forget Your First: A Biography of George Washington” by Alexis Coe, published in 2020. It is a lighter biography and although she does spent a little time in the beginning bashing the men-centric biographies written about him, I appreciated the timeline, list of family, friends, enemies, likes, and dislikes, and even diseases survived. All that, the biography, and index come in at 261 pages compared to 900+ for Chernow’s version.
Since I have visited Mount Vernon and read a biography, I’m now reading “Travels with George: In Search of Washington and His Legacy“ by Nathaniel Philbrick. He’s the author of quite a few books, and one sitting on my shelf, “Mayflower”, that I might have to dig into after this.
Although I’m not far in, I like an author who gets into the story – He’s traveling the routes Washington took for four tours! The first is his Inauguration route from Mount Vernon to New York City. Second is his New England Tour, which will take him through Wallingford on his way to Boston. Visiting the states that ratified the Constitution. He was using his popularity to talk to farmers and others along the route to create a feeling of unity. The third trip was to Rhode Island after they ratified the Constitution in 1790. The last, and the longest was the Southern Tour going as far south as Savannah Georgia and back north through Augusta.
I was surprised to read that Rhode Island was a hold out but I also didn’t realize that Rhode Island was a major hub in the transatlantic salve trade during the 1700s. This was both because of numerous natural harbors conducive to trading, the shipbuilding industry, and economic incentives. Maybe I had learned this, but forgot it over time.
Back to George!
One of the stops he made on his way through Wallingford was to the Nehemiah Royce house, constructed in 1672 where George address the townspeople in front of the house in 1789.
I have a feeling as I read this book, I will have more to say about George, and I know I’m not done telling you about the Royce House and its restoration. Stay Tuned!
What historical figure has been your favorite to read about? Let me know and I may add it to my list.
Thoughts From The Passenger Seat 