The Founding Fathers are often portrayed as paragons of virtue, but history books often gloss over their darker sides. They were, after all, human with imperfections and flaws. Let’s delve into ten shocking and gruesome facts about America’s Founding Fathers, revealing the unsettling truths they don’t teach in school.
Washington’s Loophole
George Washington exploited a loophole in Pennsylvania’s Gradual Abolition Act of 1780. This law allowed enslaved people to petition for freedom after living in Pennsylvania for six months. Washington, however, secretly sent his enslaved people out of state every six months to reset the clock, preventing them from gaining freedom. This cruel exploitation kept his slaves in bondage.
Do No Harm?
During the yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia in 1793, Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, employed controversial treatments. He believed in purging the body through bloodletting and induced vomiting. These methods, instead of curing patients, weakened them, exacerbating the epidemic. His practices were so ineffective that other doctors demanded he cease treatment.
King Adams?
John Adams, the second president, harbored monarchical aspirations. He insisted on calling the President “His Majesty” and proposed the title “His Highness, the President of the United States of America, and Protector of the Rights of the Same.” Further fueling concerns, Adams passed the Alien and Sedition Acts, which criminalized criticism of the government, leading many to believe he sought to establish a monarchy.
Wife in the Basement
Patrick Henry, known for his “Give me liberty or give me death” speech, confined his wife, Sarah, to the basement due to her severe postpartum depression. Unable to understand or cope with her mental illness, he kept her under constant supervision and restraint for four years until her death, reflecting the era’s lack of understanding and treatment of mental health issues.
A Poisoned Patriot
George Wythe, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, was poisoned by his grand-nephew, who feared being cut out of Wythe’s will. Despite a slave witnessing the act, the grand-nephew was acquitted because Virginia law at the time prohibited Black people from testifying against white people in court. This injustice highlights the racial inequalities of the era.
Ben’s Bones
During renovations of Benjamin Franklin’s London home in 1998, over 1,200 pieces of human bone were discovered. These remains, belonging to approximately 15 individuals, including children, suggest Franklin was secretly involved with an underground anatomy school. He likely supplied bodies for scientific study, as the practice was considered morally wrong at the time, showcasing his commitment to scientific advancement despite societal norms.
Tortured for Freedom
Richard Stockton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey, faced severe repercussions for his patriotism. Captured by the British, he endured brutal torture in Provost Prison, leading him to recant his pledge of allegiance. Upon his release, he found his estate ransacked and his library, one of the foremost in the colonies, destroyed, illustrating the personal costs of fighting for independence.
No Rest for the Dead
Thomas Paine, the intellectual behind “Common Sense,” experienced a disturbing fate after his death. His remains were exhumed by William Cobbett in 1819 with plans for a more respectful burial in London, but they never made it. Instead, Paine’s body parts were scattered and sold off by Cobbett’s descendants, leaving him without a proper resting place and highlighting the disrespect he faced even in death.
The Homeless Founding Father
John Hart, the oldest signer of the Declaration of Independence, faced immense hardship when British forces invaded his farm in New Jersey. He was forced to flee, leaving behind his 13 children and destroyed property. Hart lived in caves to evade capture, sacrificing his home and way of life for the cause of independence, showcasing the personal devastation suffered by ordinary patriots.
What a Way to Go…
Gouverneur Morris, a New York Senator and drafter of the Constitution’s Preamble, met an unfortunate end. Known for his scandalous affairs and eccentricities, he died at 64 after attempting to cure a urinary tract blockage with a self-performed surgery using household tools. His demise serves as a bizarre and darkly humorous conclusion to a life filled with notoriety.
These shocking facts reveal the Founding Fathers as complex and flawed individuals, challenging the idealized images often presented in history. Their stories are filled with gruesome secrets and unsettling truths, proving that even the creators of a great nation were not above reproach.
What do you think about these shocking revelations? Leave your comment below!
