6. Facing the Constant Threat of Death or Capture
Leading the Continental Army during the American Revolution, George Washington was a prime target for British forces. In 1776, a plot orchestrated by British-appointed New York Governor William Tryon and loyalist Mayor David Matthews aimed to assassinate Washington by turning members of his personal guard against him. The conspiracy was uncovered when Thomas Hickey, a member of the guard, boasted about it while imprisoned for counterfeiting. Hickey was subsequently court-martialed and executed by hanging on June 28, 1776. This foiled plot underscores the personal danger Washington faced; had he been lost, the entire revolutionary movement could have collapsed. (Smithsonian Magazine)
