George Washington named Britain's greatest ever foe

[maximus otter]

George Washington has been named as the greatest foe ever faced by the British.

The American was voted the winner in a contest run by the National Army Museum to identify the country's most outstanding military opponent.

He was one of a shortlist of five leaders who topped a public poll and on Saturday was selected as the ultimate winner by an audience of around 70 guests at a special event at the museum, in Chelsea, west London.

In second place was Michael Collins, the Irish leader, ahead of Napoleon Bonaparte, Erwin Rommel and Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.

At the event, each contender had their case made by a historian giving a 40 minute presentation. The audience, who had paid to attend the day, then voted in a secret ballot after all five presentations had been made.

Dr Stephen Brumwell, who had championed Washington, said: "As British officers conceded, he was a worthy opponent."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/9204961/George-Washington-named-Britains-greatest-ever-foe.html

maximus otter

 

[Insipid Moniker]

I would have a hard time arguing the choice. He was sort of a tremendous badass.

 

[willseeyalater]

Where did William Wallace rank? Of course Wallace lost so his prestige took a hit even though Scotland eventually established themselves as an independent nation. Looked a the Telegraph link and see that the period of history was limited to 17th century to current. Oh well, Wallace would have liked Washington no doubt.

 

[clich]

Wow hitler didn't grace the list. Bet hes rolling over in hell right now

 

[maximus otter]

Wow hitler didn't grace the list. Bet hes rolling over in hell right now

The late, unlamented Herr H. didn't qualify for entry into the poll: He was a politician, not a soldier.

m.o.

 

[Insipid Moniker]

Wow hitler didn't grace the list. Bet hes rolling over in hell right now

I'm not sure he would have made it if he was. He was a skilled orator and manipulator, but from what I've read he was pretty awful at actually commanding battles.

 

[jill jackson]

When I first read the title, I thought about Hitler being the most deadly foe, but then I realized they were talking about cunning. Not, just having weapons and the insanity/willingness to use them.

 

[hung-solo]

greatest indeed. its hell to know that he took a rag tag poor team of run of the mill farmers, made soldiers out of them (not to mention most suffered from starvation, std's, and many other illnesses), took them and whipped up on one of the strongest armies in the world not to mention THE strongest Navy in the world. Washington never gave up. He was a hard leader but a fair one. how he held his rag tag army together for those years and harsh winters should make him one of the best military leaders to ever grace this blue planet. he also did it with style and class. the british raided local farmers for their food. Washington severely punished his soldiers if they stole anything.

if you guys want an outstanding TRUE read on Washington look no further than this book. one of my favs of all time. gives you a more realistic look on how he was as a young man into his military career and late life. the horseshit this man put up with was one for the ages

http://www.amazon.com/Washington-A-...=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1334580110&sr=1-3


william wallace never beat the british. Washington did

 

[willseeyalater]

william wallace never beat the british. Washington did[/QUOTE]

True, I stated that in my mention of him above. One thing he did do was to poke the nose of the English king in a way no other rival on the island had, leading the way for others to take up the fight to be free of English control. Yeah he lost but his leadership led to the Scots being united.

 

[Tommythewho]

There is alot more to GW and his story than most people know. A great man indeed. Too bad they now teach that he was just some "old rich white guy"

 

[hung-solo]

william wallace never beat the british. Washington did

True, I stated that in my mention of him above. One thing he did do was to poke the nose of the English king in a way no other rival on the island had, leading the way for others to take up the fight to be free of English control. Yeah he lost but his leadership led to the Scots being united.[/QUOTE]

you are correct. Wallace has his own personnal space in the UK's history books.

 

[hung-solo]

There is alot more to GW and his story than most people know. A great man indeed. Too bad they now teach that he was just some "old rich white guy"

he grew up somewhat poor. he married up. Washington by Ron Chernow is fantastic. it goes into grand detail of his life growing up, the battles in the French Indian war, his crazy mother, his brothers that was very close to, grandkids, adopted kids, etc etc etc. Washington had his ups and downs. Most downs in retrospect but his downs is what drove him to be the man he turned into. truly a fascinating read. what really made the book for me was the detail in which they talked about Washington's spy game and how he excelled at gathering info.

 

[Piso Mojado]

Where may the wearied eye repose
When gazing on the Great;
Where neither guilty glory glows,
Nor despicable state?
Yes — One — the first — the last — the best —
The Cincinnatus of the West,
Whom envy dared not hate,
Bequeath'd the name of Washington,
To make man blush there was but one!

—George Gordon, Lord Byron Ode to Napoleon Buonoparte

Text here:

http://theotherpages.org/poems/2001/byron0101.html

[youtube]YcthBF0X9RU[/youtube]

 

[Thrustus]

No doubt George Washington beat the Brits, others who fought above their weight and weren't conquered were the Nepalese Ghurkas,New Zealand Maori's and the greatest fighters of all the Israeli's.

 

[Piso Mojado]

http://www.juancole.com/2012/04/was-this-16-year-old-drone-victim-really-a-terrorist-chatterjee.html#more-20103

Waziristan is an inaccessible, remote region on the border of Afghanistan. Few people other than the locals ever travel into the rugged interior. Frequent checkpoints keep journalists and foreigners out. The ubiquitous mobile phones have stopped working since the mobile network was switched off. There is no major industry and little farm-land. Most supplies are driven in by colourfully painted Bedford or Hino trucks, one of the few jobs available. People live as they have for centuries, following old traditions and tribal codes.

More than fifteen years ago, in 1996, Jemima Khan had travelled to the area, with her then husband Imran, and her father, Sir James Goldsmith, the billionaire financier. The tribesmen had regaled the visitors with stories of their fierceness. ‘One of the tribal elders came up to my father and said welcome to Waziristan. I just want to let you know that the last Englishman that came to these parts was 100 years ago, and our great grandfathers shot him,’ she recalled with a laugh. The men were warriors, violence was common, and Kalashnikov rifles carried openly, as they still are today.