Washington bought 9 teeth from Black Americans
In 1784 Washington purchased nine teeth from unknown African Americans to be transplanted into his own gums as dentures.
Snapshot · The Rest Is History
683. Washington: Hero of the Revolution (Part 1)
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Jun 28, 2026
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Out of Valley Forge: Monmouth Courthouse and the War Transformed
At 1:09:30 · chapter starts 1:07:50
In mid-June 1778, Washington receives the intelligence coup of the campaign: the British in Philadelphia have asked for their laundry back from the local washerwomen — a clear sign of imminent departure. The Continental Army marches in pursuit. By 22 June the whole force has crossed the Delaware into New Jersey, and on 28 June, in almost unbearable 40-degree heat that kills several soldiers by sunstroke, they meet the British at Monmouth Courthouse. The result is a draw, with around 350 casualties on each side, but even British observers note the transformation: Washington's men are professional, disciplined, and formidable — von Steuben's work made visible. Ten days later, the French fleet sails into Delaware Bay with 10 ships of the line, 4 frigates, and 4,000 soldiers, converting a colonial rebellion into a global war. American independence, while not yet inevitable, is now probably more likely than not. Monmouth Courthouse is also, fittingly, the last major battle Washington fights in the northern theatre.
Washington's Shocking Teeth: From Decay to One Remaining Tooth
By 1789, when Washington became the first US president, he had exactly one working tooth. His decay had started in 1760. By 1784 he was buying nine teeth from unknown Black Americans for transplantation. His dentures were held together with crude wire mesh. George III called him the greatest man in the world — but he could barely smile.
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