Health & Fitness
President Washington Dies and Norwegian is First to Reach South Pole - This Day in History – Dec 14th
President Washington dies and Norwegian reaches South Pole - This Day in History – Dec 14th
President Washington dies in Mount Vernon
Find out what's happening in Tredyffrin-Easttownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Back in 1799, the first United States President, George Washington died at the age of 67 in his Virginia Estate in Mount Vernon. Mr. Washington who was born in Virginia’s Westmoreland County served various jobs before becoming president. He had worked as a surveyor, a British Army lieutenant in the French and Indian War and later with the Continental Congress and Continental Army of the Revolutionary War.
Mr. Washington would marry a wealthy widow, Martha Dandridge Custis, in 1759 when he was 27. He would later adopt her son and daughter since he and Martha were unable to have children.
Find out what's happening in Tredyffrin-Easttownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Mr. Washington’s death came within two days of December 12, 1799. According to history.com, “ he rode out into the freezing sleet to survey business affairs on his estate. He returned home late for a dinner engagement and refused to take the time to change out of his wet clothes. On December 13, he developed a severe respiratory infection and died the following day. His last words were "'Tis well."
“The nation plunged into a state of mourning and Washington was eulogized by friends and political foes alike, both at home and abroad. (King George III of England once grudgingly called Washington the "greatest character of the age.") In his will, Washington referred to himself simply as "George Washington, of Mount Vernon, a citizen of the United States.”
Video link for George Washongton is here:
Norwegian beats British to become first to reach the South Pole
Back in 1911, the race to see who would reach the South Pole was won by a 39-year-old Norweigian, Roald Amundsen over Britain’s Robert Falcon Scott.
According to history.com, “In early 1911, Amundsen sailed his ship into Antarctica's Bay of Whales and set up base camp 60 miles closer to the pole than Scott. In October, both explorers set off--Amundsen using sleigh dogs, and Scott employing Siberian motor sledges, Siberian ponies, and dogs. On December 14, 1911, Amundsen's expedition won the race to the Pole and returned safely to base camp in late January. Scott's expedition was less fortunate. The motor sleds broke down, the ponies had to be shot, and the dog teams were sent back as Scott and four companions continued on foot. On January 18, 1912, they reached the pole only to find that Amundsen had preceded them by over a month. Weather on the return journey was exceptionally bad--two members perished--and a storm later trapped Scott and the other two survivors in their tent only 11 miles from their base camp. Scott's frozen body was found later that year.”
After Mr. Amundsen journey he would later develop a successful shipping business to become the first explorer to fly over the North Pole in a dirigible. He would later succeed in reaching this goal but American explorer Richard E. Byrd had beat him to this destination in an aircraft.
In 1928, Amundsen lost his life at the age of 56 when he attempted to rescue a fellow explorer which dirigible crashed off the shores of Spitsbergen, Norway.
Video link for Roald Amundsen is here:
All History facts provided from the link below:
