Imagine if you could bring back one of the most influential figures in history from the dead. That’s what Dr. William Thornton, a friend and prominent physician of George Washington, had in mind when he proposed a radical plan to “resuscitate” the body of the first president of the United States in 1799.
Washington died on December 14, 1799, at his home in Mount Vernon, Virginia, after suffering from a severe throat infection. He was 67 years old and had been retired from public life for three years. His death was mourned by millions of Americans who revered him as the father of their country.
But Thornton, who arrived at Mount Vernon two days after Washington’s death, had a different idea. He suggested to Martha Washington, the president’s widow, that he could try to revive her husband by using some unconventional methods.
“I proposed to attempt his restoration, in the following manner. First to thaw him in cold water, then to lay him in blankets, and by degrees and by friction to give him warmth, and to put into activity the minute blood vessels, at the same time to open a passage to the lungs by the trachea, and to inflate them with air, to produce an artificial respiration, and to transfuse blood into him from a lamb,” Thornton wrote in a letter to another friend.
Martha Washington, however, declined Thornton’s offer, saying that it was too late and that she had already accepted her loss.
Thornton respected her decision, but later expressed his regret that he was not able to attempt his plan.
“I am certain that if it had been tried at first before the vessels were so contracted by cold that it would have had an effect,” he wrote.
Thornton’s plan was not as crazy as it sounds today. He was drawing on cutting-edge science of his day, such as animal electricity and blood circulation. He was inspired by experiments that showed that electricity could stimulate muscle contractions in dead animals and humans. He also believed that blood transfusion could restore vitality and health.
But his plan was unlikely to work given the state of Washington’s body and the lack of proper equipment. Washington had been bled several times by his doctors before his death, which weakened his condition. His body had also been embalmed with alcohol and spices, which would have damaged his tissues. And Thornton did not have access to a reliable source of electricity or a sterile way of transfusing blood.
The idea of bringing George Washington back from the dead may seem morbid and bizarre, but it also shows how much he was admired and respected by his contemporaries. Thornton was not alone in his admiration. Many people wished that Washington could live longer and lead the nation again.
“Thornton’s plan was not as crazy as it sounds today. He was drawing on cutting-edge science of his day, and had Washington’s family agreed to the experiment, he would have made history – though probably not in the way he hoped,” Philip K. Wilson, a professor of history at Pennsylvania State University, wrote in an article for The Conversation.
Washington’s legacy lives on today as one of the most influential figures in American history. His face is engraved on coins, bills, monuments and buildings. His name is attached to states, cities, streets and schools. His words are quoted by politicians, scholars and citizens. And his spirit is invoked by generations of Americans who aspire to follow his example.
Relevant articles:
- Dr. Thornton’s Radical Idea of Bringing George Washington Back to Life, Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, September 9, 2021
- Inside The Morbid Attempt To Resurrect George Washington With Lamb’s Blood, Ranker, September 23, 2021
- The Bizarre Plan To Resurrect George Washington, KnowledgeNuts, March 19, 2014
- How a doctor tried to bring George Washington back to life with lamb’s blood, The Conversation, September 28, 2021