Deathbed Scene

Between two and three o'clock Saturday morning, after suffering a fit of fever and shaking, Washington woke his wife and told her that he was unwell. Realizing that he could barely speak and was breathing with difficulty, she wanted to call a servant, but he would not let her do so until daylight. At sunrise Martha summoned Tobias Lear. Seeing the severity of Washington's condition, Lear sent for the General's old friend and physician Dr. James Craik. Since it would be some time before Craik could arrive from Alexandria, Washington requested that his overseer George Rawlins come and bleed him.

Death of Washington, Dec. 14. A. D. 1799. Lithograph by an unidentified artist, c.1850. Lent by The Library Company of Philadelphia.

In the meantime, a mixture of molasses, vinegar, and butter was prepared and offered to Washington in the hope that it would soothe his throat, but he could not swallow it. Soon after daybreak Rawlins arrived and, with some apprehension, began the unpleasant task of bleeding. Washington noticed his hesitation and urged him, "Don't be afraid." Rawlins made an incision and took about half a pint before Martha, fearing that it might be harmful, urged that he stop the bleeding. Washington, however, said "more." As there was no change, Lear applied a solution of ammonium carbonate externally to the throat, and the General's feet were bathed in warm water. At about this time, Washington said that he would like to sit up for awhile. He dressed and then sat by the fire with Martha for almost two hours.

Dr. Craik arrived shortly after nine o'clock and hurried to his friend's bedside. He diagnosed Washington's illness as "inflammatory quinsy," an infection of the throat. He applied a blister of cantharides externally to the throat, hoping to draw the inflammation to the surface, and he performed a second bleeding. Washington inhaled a steaming mixture of vinegar and water, but he could not gargle the potion of vinegar and sage tea offered him. By this time, he was unable even to cough effectively, although encouraged to do so by Dr. Craik. Upon seeing no improvement in Washington's condition, Craik bled him for a third time.

Later that afternoon, Dr. Elisha Dick arrived from Alexandria, and again Washington was bled. The blood was thick and came slowly. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Gustavus Brown came from his home in Port Tobacco, Maryland, to confer with the other doctors. The physicians noted that Washington now appeared able to swallow. Taking advantage of this opportunity and hoping to purge the General of his infection, Craik administered a dose of calomel and repeated portions of tartar emetic.

At about four-thirty in the afternoon, Washington asked Martha to bring two wills from his desk. After receiving them, Washington selected one and asked Martha to burn it, which she did. She took the other and put it safely away. Washington then called Lear to his side and took his hand, saying, "I find I am going, my breath cannot continue long, I believed, from the first attack it would be fatal, do you arrange and record all my late military letters and papers—arrange my accounts and settle my books, as you know more about them than anyone else, and let Mr. Rawlins finish recording my other letters which he has begun."

I pray you to take no more trouble about
me, let me go off quietly; I cannot last long.

–George Washington

Washington then sat in his chair again, but he did not stay there for more than half an hour. Upon his request, he was helped back into bed. Once situated, he addressed the Doctors, "I feel myself going, I thank you for your attentions; but I pray you to take no more trouble about me, let me go off quietly; I cannot last long." Unable to accept Washington's impending death, the doctors ignored his orders and resumed their treatment later in the evening, applying blisters to his legs and feet and a wheat bran poultice to his throat. Nothing changed.

At about ten o'clock that night, Lear saw that Washington wished to speak, and he drew near him. "I am just going!" the General said. "Have me decently buried; and do not let my body be put into the vault in less than three days after I am dead." Lear nodded, unable to speak, and Washington with resolve asked him, "Do you understand me?" Lear responded, "Yes, sir." And George Washington spoke his final words, "Tis well." He withdrew his hand from Lear's to check his own pulse, and then his hand slipped from his wrist. Martha, who was keeping vigil at the foot of the bed asked, "Is he gone?" Lear simply gestured, and she replied, "Tis well. All is now over. I have no more trials to pass through. I shall soon follow him!"

Related readings

Title Page 1 | 2 | Foreword | Introduction | The Final Days | Deathbed Scene | The Funeral | Immediate Response
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