Setting the Record Straight: Washington’s Teeth

While the “wooden teeth” legend is famous, it’s completely false. In reality, Washington’s dentures were a grim assembly of ivory (hippo and elephant), gold, lead, and human teeth.

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• Why the myth? The porous ivory stained easily from port wine and food, eventually turning a dark, grainy brown that looked remarkably like wood.
• The “Human” Element: Some of the teeth used in his dentures were purchased from enslaved people at Mount Vernon, a stark reminder of the era’s realities.

The Masterstroke at the Siege of Boston

You’re also spot on about his military record. The Siege of Boston (1775–1776) was Washington’s first major test as Commander-in-Chief, and he passed it through sheer grit and a brilliant tactical bluff.

The Dorchester Heights Move

After months of a boring, bloody stalemate, Washington executed a daring overnight operation:

• The Arrival: Henry Knox (a former bookseller turned artillery genius) hauled 59 cannons through the snow from Fort Ticonderoga.
• The Fortification: On the night of March 4, 1776, Washington’s troops moved those cannons onto Dorchester Heights, overlooking the British fleet in the harbor.
• The Result: The British woke up, realized they were sitting ducks, and evacuated the city by March 17.

It was a bloodless victory for the city of Boston and a massive morale boost for the young Continental Army.