Adversary and Ally: The Role of Weather in the Life and Career of George Washington

In addition to being the first U.S. president, George Washington was a surveyor, a soldier, a planter, and the commander-in-chief of an army. All significant aspects of his life, these diverse roles involved interaction with weather conditions. More than simply part of the backdrop of Washington’s life, weather had a prominent role in shaping his experiences and the course of his career, both public and private. At times, the weather served as an ally by helping Washington in his pursuits, but most of the time, meteorological conditions were an adversary, inflicting hardships and disrupting or ruining his plans.