As Americans enjoy a day off work and the myriad of shopping deals that come with it, let's not forget the historical figures at the core of Presidents Day. The holiday, observed every third Monday in February, is technically in honor of George Washington's Birthday—the nation's first president, whose leadership spanned from 1789 to 1797, according to Fox 10 Phoenix. However, the day has morphed into a broader celebration, informally acknowledging all U.S. presidents, and in popular practice, specifically conjuring the legacy of President Abraham Lincoln as well.
The origin of the holiday traces back to 1879, but the version we know today really began to take shape with the Uniform Monday Holiday Act of 1971. George Washington himself reportedly didn't make a big fuss over his February 22 birthday, but the day was recognized during his presidency—except during his last year in office. This was a time when, according to historians cited by Fox 10 Phoenix, his popularity waned and political division was rampant.
Turning to presidential mortality, a somber reminder of the office's weight, there have been eight commanders in chief who passed away while serving. The White House records William Henry Harrison as having the briefest presidency, lasting just 32 days before succumbing to pneumonia. Assassinations claimed four, beginning with Abraham Lincoln in 1865 and concluding with John F. Kennedy in 1963, as reported by Fox 10 Phoenix.
Adding more presidential lore, the holiday also recognizes President Lincoln, who led the nation through the Civil War and advanced the end of slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment. In a twist of historical coincidence, three U.S. Presidents—Jefferson, Adams, and Monroe—died on Independence Day, adding to the holiday's poignant backdrop. The oldest president upon taking office remains Joe Biden, who was 78 at his inauguration, marking a shift from the youthful Kennedy, who still holds the distinction of being the youngest elected at 43, according to The U.S. Embassy in Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
