George Washington had little serious competition for greatest Virginian of the 18th century. Historian Charles Hobson stated the case unequivocally: "Without question the greatest Virginian of the 18th century was George Washington. He was the one indispensable man." Historian Sara Bearss agreed and wrote that Washington was her choice for "greatest Virginian of all times and for greatest American of all times." It would be difficult, if not impossible, to refute that characterization of such an essential national figure.

George Washington had little serious competition for greatest Virginian of the 18th century.

Historian Charles Hobson stated the case unequivocally: "Without question the greatest Virginian of the 18th century was George Washington. He was the one indispensable man." Historian Sara Bearss agreed and wrote that Washington was her choice for "greatest Virginian of all times and for greatest American of all times." It would be difficult, if not impossible, to refute that characterization of such an essential national figure.

Washington's career is so well known that it hardly needs summarizing. As commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution he was the one absolutely indispensable person in the country.

Students of the period cannot imagine that any other American could have held the young nation's Army together during hard times. No other general could have saved it from destruction when battles went against us. No other man could have withstood the criticism in Congress. No other soldier could have had Washington's combination of boldness and prudence. No one could have managed the whole affair half as well as the lion of Mount Vernon in fact did.

As the first president of the United States, Washington lent his great personal prestige to the office, endowing it with dignity and giving the new government a chance to succeed. Polls taken of historians and political scientists almost always rate Washington at or near the top in presidential greatness -- and such an honorific is rightly deserved.

Washington was also the only prominent founder of the Revolutionary period who freed his slaves. Late in life he decided that slavery and American liberty were incompatible. He hoped that his example would lead other Americans to do the same.

Unfortunately, very few followed the great man's lead.

Political scientist Larry Sabato summed up Washington's influence and greatness: "The indispensable man without whom there could have been no United States of America." Waite Rawls, director of the Museum of the Confederacy, agreed: "George Washington is the very epitome of what Americans cherish." That was the case during Washington's life, and continues to be the case today.

Attorney General Bob McDonnell concurred with the continued historical significance of the general: "Time and again Washington's character was all that stood between freedom and tyranny." Archivist and historian Ervin Jordan went even further: "If American democracy has a face, it is Abraham Lincoln's. If Virginia has a favorite son, it is Robert E. Lee. But if America can be personified by a single human being, it is George Washington."

Historian James Sweeney wrote at length about Washington's accomplishments and his example and concluded, "He set precedents that should be followed by leaders of the United States in the 21st century."

George Washington truly earned the title "greatest Virginian of the 18th century." No case was clearer; no Virginian was greater -- then or ever.