George Washington Stratocaster

George Washington Stratocaster; hand-drawn portrait of the first president of the United States playing his 1972 signature Fender Stratocaster “Independence” in 1797, age 55.

Washington was a Founding Father and the first president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797.
As commander of the Continental Army, Washington led Patriot forces to victory in the American Revolutionary War against the British Empire.

He is commonly known as the Father of the Nation for his role in bringing about American independence.

On December 12, 1799, Washington inspected his farms on horseback in inclement weather for five hours. He then dined with guests without putting on dry clothes.
He had a sore throat the next day but was well enough to mark trees for cutting. Early the following morning, he awoke to an inflamed throat and difficulty breathing.
He ordered his estate overseer, George Rawlins, to remove nearly a pint of his blood (bloodletting was a common practice of the time).

Doctors continued bloodletting of approximately five pints, but Washington’s condition deteriorated further.
Washington died between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. on December 14, 1799, with his wife Martha seated at the foot of his bed. His last words were “‘Tis well.”
He was 67.

Modern medical authors have largely concluded that he likely died from severe epiglottitis complicated by the treatments he was given, which included multiple doses of calomel (a purgative) and extensive bloodletting, likely resulting in hypovolemic shock.

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