Stonewall Jackson (@1776Stonewall)

History Nugget, 1783 - General George Washington Resigns As Commander In Chief: On September 3, 1783, Nearly 4 months before George Washington resigned his military commission, the treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the American War of Independence. America was now united. George Washington could have become king, that's what the people wanted. In fact he was asked to become king, but instead the great General simply retired back to his farm, his work finished - or so he thought. He would come out of retirement 6 years later to become our first President, and once again could have been King, but he decided that 2 terms as President was enough, and again gave up power - something not many people willingly do, never less twice. Because of his Patriotism and selflessness George Washington is often compared to the great Roman General "Cincinnatus", who was also a farmer who came out of retirement to become the leader of Rome temporarily to fight off an invasion against the Aequi in 458 BC. Cincinnatus also could have become the Emperor of Rome, which would have made him the most powerful man in the world, but like Washington centuries later, Cincinnatus simply retired to his farm when his job was done. P.S: Did you know that in 1798, shortly before Washington's death, that he was actually called out of retirement yet again in a growing conflict with France known today as the "Quasi War"? Ever hear of it? What happened here was France was quite upset with us for remaining neutral in their growing conflict with Great Britain. France felt that we owed them a massive favor because they helped us so much, and basically funded, our war against Great Britain. However we were dead broke and still in our infancy as a country, and were in no position to go back to war against England just yet. As a result to our unwillingness to help, the French Navy began harassing American vessels. Over 300 American ships were seized by French privateers in the Caribbean. And so in March of 1798 Congress re-established the U.S. Navy and authorized the use of military force against France. Ever the Patriot, a nearly 70 year old George Washington was called to action by President John Adams. The great man left his beloved farm and wife again and began training the troops for a war with France. Adams was going to reinstate Washington as Commander in Chief - but the war never fully materialized into anything major. But that is the legacy of George Washington, the Father of our country. Never was he unwilling to give up his comfortable life and risk it all to defend his beloved country.