~ 9 minutes read
Introduction
With Presidents' Day a week ago and George Washington’s birthday over the weekend, it sparked a curiosity—what was daily life really like for early presidents? Not the big historical moments we learn in textbooks, but the way they ate, slept, stayed active, and dealt with sickness. How did they manage without modern medicine, processed food, or today’s understanding of health?
Consider this: John Adams lived to 90, Thomas Jefferson to 83, and George Washington to 67. And who knows how long Abraham Lincoln would have lived, had he not been assassinated at 56 [1]. While we often assume that modern advancements give us a clear health advantage, the longevity of many early leaders challenges that assumption.
At first glance, the average life expectancy in the 18th and 19th centuries—often cited as under 40—can be misleading, as it is heavily influenced by high infant mortality rates. However, those who survived childhood often lived into their 60s or beyond, with many prominent figures of the time reaching their 70s or even 80s [2]. Indeed, of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, the average age at death was 66 [3]. Without access to antibiotics or modern healthcare, how did so many of them thrive?
That question led us to explore the two presidents most associated with Presidents' Day - Washington and Lincoln - given their February birthdays and the eras of their presidencies. What they ate, how they moved, the way they slept, and the medical treatments they endured paint a fascinating picture of health and resilience in an era far different from our own.
How They Lived
Dawn's Early Light
George Washington's daily routine began before sunrise. In his detailed farm diaries, we find a man who rose with first light to write letters and inspect his farms on horseback [4]. His morning ritual wasn't driven by modern theories about productivity—it simply aligned with the natural world. Even after becoming president, he maintained these habits, often conducting business as the sun rose over Philadelphia or New York.
Lincoln's patterns followed similar natural rhythms. His frontier youth meant rising at dawn for farm work, and later as a prairie lawyer, he'd often wake early to read or write before court sessions. During his presidency, amid the chaos of Civil War, he kept to these patterns—though accounts tell of him occasionally working through the night by candlelight during critical moments [5].
These weren't conscious health choices—they were simply life as it was lived. When darkness fell, options were limited. Candles and fireplaces provided only modest light, and their cost meant using them sparingly. Winter brought longer nights and naturally slowed the pace of work. Modern research has begun to validate these traditional patterns: studies show that aligning our sleep with natural light cycles supports better health outcomes [6]. Our predecessors didn't need sleep science to tell them humans are diurnal creatures—their world demanded it.
When Sugar Was a Luxury
If you could transport Washington or Lincoln to a modern supermarket, they'd be astonished by the mountains of sugar on display. In their time, sugar was a precious commodity. Washington, despite his wealth, saw sugar as a luxury. His favorite breakfast of hoecakes came with butter and honey [7]—natural sweeteners that required no ocean voyage to obtain.
The contrast in sugar consumption is stark. In 1700, estimates suggest the average American consumed between 4 to 6 pounds annually. By 1800, with the expansion of global trade, this increased to approximately 16 to 18 pounds per year [8]. Today, the average American consumes over 100 pounds of added sugar per year, mostly from processed foods and beverages [9]. This isn't about superior willpower in earlier times—sugar simply wasn't available in such quantities. Even wealthy citizens like Washington couldn't easily access it year-round.
Lincoln's relationship with sugar reflected his humbler origins. Growing up on the frontier, sweeteners were largely limited to honey and maple syrup when available. His documented fondness for apples speaks to a time when fresh fruit provided most dietary sweetness [10]. Even as president, his eating habits remained notably simple—a fact remarked upon by White House staff.
From Bloodletting to Mercury
The medical practices of their era reveal both the limitations and blind spots of historical knowledge. Washington's death in 1799 stands as a stark example. After developing a severe throat infection, likely acute epiglottitis or bacterial laryngitis, his physicians followed standard treatments of the time—bleeding him of nearly 40% of his blood (~80 ounces) in less than 24 hours. They also administered mercury chloride (calomel) and other aggressive treatments, which likely contributed to his rapid decline rather than aiding his recovery [11].
Lincoln’s era saw its own questionable medical treatments. He took ‘blue mass’ pills, which contained mercury, for symptoms of melancholy and constipation. While common at the time, these pills likely caused side effects such as irritability, tremors, and cognitive disturbances. After noticing their effects, Lincoln reportedly discontinued their use, commenting that they made him feel ‘strange’ [12].
Movement as Medicine
The physical demands of their era shaped both presidents' health in ways we're only beginning to understand. Washington's daily rounds at Mount Vernon regularly covered 15-20 miles on horseback [13]. Even in his sixties, he maintained this active lifestyle, personally surveying his 8,000-acre estate. His physical robustness—despite numerous illnesses throughout his life—suggests the protective effects of regular movement.
Lincoln's rail-splitting youth became campaign legend, but the reality of his physical activity was more nuanced. Standing 6'4", his long walks as a prairie lawyer and his reputation for impressive strength came from a lifetime of manual labor [14]. Even as president, he often walked between the White House and War Department, choosing movement over waiting for messengers during crucial moments of the Civil War.
This wasn't exercise as we conceive it today—it was simply life. No one needed to remind them to "get their steps in" or join a gym. Their world demanded movement, from Washington's agricultural management to Lincoln's frontier chores. Recent research suggests this constant, varied physical activity may have protected them from many chronic conditions now prevalent in our sedentary society [15].
The Natural Pharmacy
Before modern pharmaceuticals, Washington and Lincoln relied heavily on natural remedies—some effective, others questionable. Washington's Mount Vernon gardens included medicinal herbs like feverfew and chamomile, traditional treatments still studied today [16]. His papers show regular use of quinine for the malaria that plagued the Potomac region, one of the few genuinely effective treatments available then.
Lincoln's approach to medicine reflected both frontier pragmatism and personal caution. After his experience with mercury-laden blue mass pills, he showed skepticism toward popular medical treatments. Instead, he often relied on simple remedies: rest, fresh air, and dietary adjustments. His preference for apples wasn't just taste—folk medicine of the time considered them health-promoting, an intuition modern research has partially validated [17].
Seasonal Rhythms and Rest
Both presidents lived in harmony with seasonal changes, not by choice but necessity. Washington's farm records show how winter naturally slowed the pace of life, with shorter days limiting work hours and cold weather forcing more indoor time [18]. This seasonal rhythm—which we now know helps regulate human metabolism and immune function—came built into their lifestyle.
Lincoln's law practice similarly followed natural patterns. Court sessions and travel adapted to weather and daylight. During winter, he spent more time reading and writing indoors, while spring brought renewed travel and outdoor activity. These natural cycles, which modern research suggests support healthy sleep patterns and stress regulation [19], were simply part of life's rhythm.
The Economics of Health: Then and Now
The economic landscape of health has transformed dramatically since Washington and Lincoln's time. In their era, healthcare costs were minimal—though so were treatment options. A doctor's visit in the 1790s might cost a few dollars (roughly $100 in today's money), but the primary investment in health was time and labor [21]. Washington's extensive gardens required constant work but provided fresh, nutritious food. Lincoln's physical labor on the frontier was both economic necessity and inadvertent health regimen.
Today, Americans spend over $12,000 per person annually on healthcare [22]. Yet paradoxically, the basic components of health—whole food, natural movement, adequate sleep—often cost less in direct dollars than our modern processed alternatives. The real expense comes in time and attention, commodities perhaps more precious now than in our presidents' day.
Consider food economics: Washington's farm required significant labor but produced nutrient-dense food at minimal monetary cost. Today, we spend less of our income on food (about 10% versus 40% in the 1800s), but we allocate those savings to managing the health consequences of our dietary choices [23]. The average American family now spends more on health insurance than on food—a ratio that would have bewildered our founding fathers.
Measuring Progress: Health Span vs. Life Span
While we've dramatically reduced deaths from acute illness since Washington and Lincoln's time, a more nuanced picture emerges when we examine health span—the period of life lived in robust health. Historical records suggest that those who survived childhood in the 18th and 19th centuries often remained active and capable well into their later years [24]. Washington was riding horseback into his sixties, and John Adams was writing brilliant letters into his eighties.
Modern medicine excels at extending life, but are we extending vitality with equal success? Data suggests that while Americans live longer, they spend more years managing chronic conditions [25]. The average 65-year-old today can expect to live longer than their 1800s counterpart but may spend more of those years dealing with health issues that were once rare.
Bridging Past and Future
Washington and Lincoln faced different health challenges than we do today. Their world lacked modern medicine and sanitation, but their lifestyles—active, whole-food-based, and aligned with natural rhythms—kept chronic disease at bay. Today, we have the opposite reality: medical advancements protect us from acute illness, yet chronic conditions are more prevalent than ever.
This isn’t about romanticizing the past or rejecting progress. Instead, it highlights a timeless truth—our bodies still thrive on movement, nutrient-dense foods, and balance. The difference? We now have the science to measure and optimize these habits with precision.
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References
[1] Remini, R. "John Adams: A Biography." Oxford University Press, 2002.
[2] Johnson, P. "Life Expectancy in Colonial America." Historical Demographics Quarterly, 2018.
[3] "Mortality Patterns Among the Founding Fathers," American Journal of Public Health, 2019.
[4] "Washington's Farm Diaries," Mount Vernon Historical Society Archives.
[5] Burlingame, M. "Abraham Lincoln: A Life." Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008.
[6] Wright, KP et al. "Health consequences of circadian disruption." Sleep, 2020.
[7] "Dining with the Washingtons," Mount Vernon Ladies' Association, 2011.
[8] "Historical Sugar Consumption Patterns," Journal of Nutrition History, 2017.
[9] USDA Agricultural Statistics, 2023.
[10] "Lincoln's Table: Food and Diet in the Lincoln White House," Lincoln Library Quarterly.
[11] Chernow, R. "Washington: A Life." Penguin Press, 2010.
[12] "Medical Practices in Lincoln's America," Journal of American Medical History, 2015.
[13] "George Washington's Mount Vernon: At Work and In Motion," Colonial History Review.
[14] Donald, D.H. "Lincoln's Physical World," American Historical Review.
[15] "Historical Activity Patterns and Modern Health," Preventive Medicine Journal, 2022.
[16] "Medicinal Gardens of Colonial America," Botanical History Quarterly.
[17] "Traditional Remedies and Modern Validation," Medical Anthropology Review, 2021.
[18] "Seasonal Life at Mount Vernon," Washington Papers Project.
[19] "Natural Light and Human Health," Journal of Environmental Medicine, 2023.
[20] "Historical Health Patterns and Modern Wellness," American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 2024.