George Washington Faqs: Real Height, Physical Build, Weight, and Daily Health
By James H. Sterling
Historical consensus settles George Washington's real height at 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm). In an era prone to hyperbole, Washington was candid with his suppliers about his exact physical dimensions. Writing to his London tailor, Richard Washington, in 1761, he requested clothing tailored for a man "six feet high & rather slender than otherwise." Later archival entries and orders for customized riding equipment consistently specify boots and riding breeches scaled for a 6-foot-2 frame.
Confusion occasionally arises because of a post-mortem measurement taken on December 15, 1799. As Washington lay on his deathbed at Mount Vernon, his longtime friend and physician Dr. James Craik recorded his corpse at 6 feet 3.5 inches. Anatomists emphasize that spinal decompression occurs immediately after death when skeletal tension relaxes. While lying flat, the human spine naturally elongates by an inch or more. In active life, Washington carried himself upright at 6 feet 2 inches.
Contemporary observers regularly noted his alignment. Continental Army general Benjamin Lincoln remarked that Washington possessed the natural carriage of an athlete, maintaining an unbent posture even under freezing campaign conditions. He did not slouch to accommodate shorter contemporaries, nor did he exaggerate his height through raised heels, choosing standard flat-soled English riding boots throughout his adult life.
James Sterling reports on renewable energy developments, climate policy, ecological conservation, and green tech innovations around the globe.
