Mount Vernon, VA- Former President George Washington died on December 14, 1799 at 67 years old, and the cause of his death has remained a topic of debate for centuries. Washington died after a brief, 21-hour illness, during which time he lost about 40 percent of his blood. The former President, in the days preceding his death, experienced discomfort, difficulty breathing, and received medical treatment that ultimately could not prevent Washington’s abrupt departure.
Several different theories have emerged over the years about the cause of Washington’s death. These differing conjectures include croup, diphtheria, or streptococcal throat infection. Some have attributed Washington’s death to a severe inflammation of the glottis, larynx, or upper part of the trachea, which obstructed his airway, while others have suggested a peritonsillar abscess or acute bacterial epiglottitis.
The then-practiced approach of bloodletting has also been scrutinized as a possible main contributor to Washington’s death. Speculation has arisen about whether modern medical advances or alternative procedures could have possibly saved Washington. Despite different perspectives and debates, the details surrounding Washington’s terminal illness and his treatments have remained the focus of much discussion.
In the 215 years since Washington’s passing, contemporary medical professionals have strived to better understand the former President’s death and accurately diagnose his ailment. Despite various retrospective diagnoses and theories, as well as advancements in medical knowledge and practice, the true cause of George Washington’s death continues to be a subject of medical mystery and ongoing research.