The most definitive evidence regarding Washington’s physical stature comes from his shopping lists. In the 18th century, Virginia planters ordered high-end apparel directly from tailors across the Atlantic. In 1761, Washington dispatched a detailed letter to his London agent, Robert Cary & Company, requesting custom clothing with explicit sizing instructions.
In that correspondence, Washington addressed his tailor directly: “I want neither lace nor embroidery. Plain clothes, with a gold or silver button, will do, with a genteel suit of each for myself... measure me as a man six feet high and proportionably made.” Curators at Mount Vernon note that this initial specification omitted his footwear; in stocking feet, he cleared 6 feet 2 inches, and he often accounted for posture adjustments when ordering coats.
Subsequent orders clarified his exact stature. Surviving garments curated by the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association reveal critical details:
- The blue wool Continental Army uniform coat confirms a chest circumference exceeding 44 inches, tapering down to a narrow 36-inch waist.
- Hand-sewn silk and buckskin breeches yield an inseam measurement corresponding directly to a modern 34- to 35-inch leg length.
- Surviving Washington boots and garments feature riding footwear measuring roughly 12 to 13 inches in outer length, equating to a modern men’s US shoe size 13.
Textile conservators conducting non-invasive digital scans on these uniform pieces establish that the wearer stood between 74 and 75 inches tall in riding boots.
