His Excellency the General on Memorial Day

 

Washington's Tomb from a 1907 postcard

The New Tomb of General George Washington, called such because his body was moved to this new structure in 1831 due to the deteriorating conditions of the original family vault. 

The original tomb circa 1818

The new marble sarcophagus was finished in 1837 and was produced by Joseph Struthers of Philadelphia. The General lies in the tomb with his wife and 23 other family members.

The General died December 14  1799 after suffering an acute throat infection and was laid to rest. Some details of the preparations from his personal secretary Tobias Lear. (Of local interest, Lear was briefly married to Fanny Bassett, daughter of Burwell Bassett I of Eltham.)

Tuesday – Decr. 17.

           Every preparation for the mournful ceremony was making. – Mr. Diggs came here in the forenoon, and also – Mr. Stewart Adjutant to the Alexa. Regt. to view the ground for the procession. – About one o’clk the Coffin was brought from Alexa. in a stage. – Mr. Ingle the Cabinit maker, and Mr. McMunn, the plumber came with it, also Mrs Grater, with the shroud. – The body was placed laid in the Coffin, at which time I cut off some of the General’s hair & gave for Mrs. Washington. –

The Mahogany Coffin was lined with lead, soddered at the joints – and a cover of lead to be soddered on after the body should be in the Vault. – The whole put into a case lined & covered with black cloth. –

You can take a virtual tour of the vault site here.

And from 2023 here. 

The Tomb of Washington- Mount Vernon

A digression.

Did you know that George Washington is still holds the highest rank of any member of the United States Armed Forces? This is thanks to a resolution of Congress passed during the nation's Bicentennial, the purpose of which was to give Washington the rank that had originally been created for him but through a quirk of history had never been  bestowed.

Joint Resolution

to provide for the appointment of George Washington to the grade of General of the Armies of the United States.

Whereas Lieutenant General George Washington of Virginia commanded our armies throughout and to the successful termination of our Revolutionary War;

Whereas Lieutenant General George Washington presided over the convention that formulated our Constitution;

Whereas Lieutenant General George Washington twice served as President of the United States of America; and

Whereas it is considered fitting and proper that no officer of the United States Army should outrank Lieutenant General George Washington on the Army list: Now, therefore, be it George Washington. General of the Armies of the United States, posthumous appointment.

Effective date.Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) for purposes of subsection (b) of this section only, the grade of General of the Armies of the United States is established, such grade to have rank and precedence over all other grades of the Army, past or present.

(b) The President is authorized and requested to appoint George Washington posthumously to the grade of General of the Armies of the United States, such appointment to take effect on July 4, 1976.

Approved October 11, 1976.