Fun Facts About Our Presidents

Presidents’ Day

Presidents’ Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, it is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the federal government.

Here are some facts about two of our presidents:

16. ABRAHAM LINCOLN

• Among his favorite foods were bacon, apples and oysters.
• He was a wrestler when he was younger.
• Lincoln had a serious girlfriend named Mary. They broke up, and he later married a different woman named Mary.
• Lincoln’s desk was disorganized, but he had a stack of papers that was labeled, “When you can’t find it anywhere else, look into this.”
• Lincoln had two cats, Tabby and Dixie. His wife chastised him when he fed them from the dinner table.

1. GEORGE WASHINGTON

• He Didn’t have a middle name.
• That is his real hair. It looks white because he powdered it.
• He was made an honorary citizen of France in 1792.
• He was one of the sickest presidents in U.S. history. He suffered from: diphtheria, tuberculosis, smallpox, dysentery, malaria, quinsy (tonsillitis), carbuncle, pneumonia, and epiglottitis—to name a few.
• He is known as the “Father of the American Foxhound,” and kept more than 30 of the dogs. According to his journals, three were named Drunkard, Tipler, and Tipsy.