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The surprising ages of the Founding Fathers on July 4, 1776
kottke.org ^
| August 13, 2013
Posted on 07/06/2014 8:35:05 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
It’s not that they were so young, but rather that 20 year olds used to be grown ups.
41
posted on
07/07/2014 3:29:23 AM PDT
by
SampleMan
(Feral Humans are the refuse of socialism.)
To: 2ndDivisionVet
I’ve always assumed they much older.
42
posted on
07/07/2014 4:00:33 AM PDT
by
Pajamajan
( Pray for our nation. Thank the Lord for everything you have. Don't wait. Do it today.??)
To: madison10
Why did I think they were all over 45?
Because they like to wear those powdered white wigs!
In those days, maturity, experience and wisdom is honored. Today, everyone is trying to pretend to be 19 forever. Goldie Hawn is scary.
43
posted on
07/07/2014 4:13:03 AM PDT
by
Dr. Sivana
("If you're litigating against nuns, you've probably done something wrong."-Ted Cruz)
To: Dr. Sivana
Actually, that was pretty rare for colonists.
As for the view that they were old, I think that is mainly the fault of portraits. Not because they were inaccurate, but many times they were painted much later in life. Henry Knox looks very old in his most known pix, but he was only about 25 when it ll started.
Worse, it seems even our media have perpetuated what the portraits started. Movies and shows, and even documentaries, often use oldsters to represent these people. Washington is the worst offended, perpetually shown as old and white haired. But he was only about 51 when the war officially ended! He was only 69 when he died.
44
posted on
07/07/2014 5:34:15 AM PDT
by
the OlLine Rebel
(Common sense is an uncommon virtue.)
To: BunnySlippers; madison10
That was going to be my reply. “Young” is relative. Then they had been working on farms, in the family trade since very young. They were not “young” as we think of it today.
To: the OlLine Rebel
Actually, that was pretty rare for colonists.
George Washington kind of sets the tone, though.
46
posted on
07/07/2014 6:15:46 AM PDT
by
Dr. Sivana
("If you're litigating against nuns, you've probably done something wrong."-Ted Cruz)
To: 2ndDivisionVet
Whittemore was in his fields when he spotted an approaching British relief brigade under Earl Percy, sent to assist the retreat. Whittemore loaded his musket and ambushed the British from behind a nearby stone wall, killing one soldier. He then drew his dueling pistols and killed a grenadier and mortally wounded a second. By the time Whittemore had fired his third shot, a British detachment reached his position; Whittemore drew his sword and attacked. He was shot in the face, bayoneted thirteen times, and left for dead in a pool of blood. He was found alive, trying to load his musket to fight again. He was taken to Dr. Cotton Tufts of Medford, who perceived no hope for his survival. However, Whittemore lived another 18 years until dying of natural causes at the age of 98.If you are looking for a description of a badass, this is it.
To: Dr. Sivana
He didn’t wear wigs generally.
At best he powdered his hair, but certainly not much in war.
48
posted on
07/07/2014 6:42:43 AM PDT
by
the OlLine Rebel
(Common sense is an uncommon virtue.)
To: Migraine
Migrane - please tell why you have Arthur MacArthur. I take it you mean the father and not the brother of Doug?
49
posted on
07/07/2014 9:04:46 AM PDT
by
7thson
(I've got a seat at the big conference table! I'm gonna paint my logo on it!)
To: rlmorel
That makes him one of the 'old guys.' lol
Amazing men, amazing times.
50
posted on
07/07/2014 9:22:17 AM PDT
by
TigersEye
("No man left behind" means something different to 0bama.)
To: 7thson
Yes, the father. CMH winner Civil War. Charged up Missionary Ridge at Chattanooga with his Wisconsin platoon and took out the artillery pieces that were maiming the Union forces down below. He took it on his own initiative, crying out “On Wisconsin!”, and boy did they ever scoot up that ridge.
Sherman saw it and asked “Who sent those boys up that ridge?” The answer was, “Nobody!” On seeing their progress, Sherman declared, “That boy just won himself the Congressional Medal of Honor.”
Then he found he couldn’t live w/o the Army and mad a life of it, fighting Indians and taking a big hand in the protection of the Philippines.
He was making a speech around 1913, I think, at one of those gatherings of the old Civil War units. In the middle of the speech, he keeled over and died in his boots, just like he wanted to.
51
posted on
07/07/2014 12:58:40 PM PDT
by
Migraine
(Diversity is great -- until it happens to YOU..)
To: 2ndDivisionVet
Gilbert Stuart was one of the best known painters of Washington and others; however, he wasn't a Founding Father and actually went to England before the Revolution and didn't return until Washington was in his second term as president.
52
posted on
07/07/2014 1:05:06 PM PDT
by
wagglebee
("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
To: ican'tbelieveit
Don’t care how you slice it...18 is young. Just because they were running businesses and farms does not change their age. Women/girls were getting married and having children anywhere from 14-18. They were still young, but acted like adults not permanent infants. We do not allow our youth to grow up soon enough.
To: Slyfox
You know this how? The Bible does not state: “...and thus the Angel Gabriel visited Mary when she was 15 years of age.”
To: madison10
The regime strives to convince Pajama Boy & Julia that they are still unable to fend for themselves @ age 26 and need the fedgov to take care of them.
55
posted on
07/07/2014 5:35:20 PM PDT
by
nascarnation
(Toxic Baraq Syndrome: hopefully infecting a Dem candidate near you)
To: madison10
I have the advantage of believing in Christian Tradition that includes details like that.
56
posted on
07/07/2014 6:08:37 PM PDT
by
Slyfox
(When progressives ignore moral parameters, they also lose the natural gift of common sense.)
To: Slyfox
Hmmm...the Apocrypha. To each his own.
To: 2ndDivisionVet
“Founding Fathers” gets thrown around a lot. Technically, the Founding Fathers were the men who attended the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia—a total of 55 over all, not all of whom stuck around to sign the document.
To: madison10
you are right, chronologically, they were young. mentally, they were mature, spirit they were uncowed.
To: madison10
60
posted on
07/07/2014 9:04:05 PM PDT
by
Slyfox
(When progressives ignore moral parameters, they also lose the natural gift of common sense.)
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