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Insights on the Father of His Country

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As Americans observe Presidents’ Day on Feb. 16, 2026 — officially Washington’s Birthday — the legacy of George Washington endures as the nation’s foundational figure. Known as the Father of His Country, Washington led the Continental Army to victory in the Revolutionary War, presided over the Constitutional Convention and served as the first president of the United States from 1789 to 1797.

George Washington
George Washington

Born Feb. 22, 1732, in Westmoreland County, Virginia, Washington rose from a modest planter’s son to become an iconic symbol of leadership, integrity and self-sacrifice. While myths like the cherry tree confession and wooden teeth persist, historical records reveal a more nuanced man: a self-educated surveyor, fearless commander, innovative farmer and reluctant politician who set enduring precedents for the presidency.

Here are 10 key things to know about George Washington, drawn from primary sources, Mount Vernon records and scholarly accounts.

  1. He was largely self-educated. Washington’s formal schooling ended around age 15 after his father’s death in 1743 left limited resources for further education. Unlike his half-brothers who studied abroad, he pursued knowledge independently through reading, correspondence and practical experience. He studied military tactics, agriculture and governance throughout his life, building expertise that served him as a soldier, farmer and president.
  2. His birthday shifted due to calendar changes. Washington was born Feb. 11, 1731, under the old Julian calendar used in colonial Virginia. The 1752 adoption of the Gregorian calendar added 11 days and adjusted the new year start, moving his recognized birthday to Feb. 22, 1732. He preferred the original date, but Feb. 22 became the standard celebration.
  3. He had no biological children. Washington married widow Martha Custis in 1759, raising her two children from her previous marriage and later her grandchildren. He fathered no children of his own, possibly due to infertility from smallpox or other illnesses. Despite this, he treated his stepfamily as his own and arranged for the eventual freedom of enslaved people in his will.
  4. He was an accomplished surveyor and entrepreneur. At 16, Washington began his career surveying land in Virginia’s frontier, earning income and gaining knowledge of western territories. He later became a successful farmer at Mount Vernon, experimenting with crops, introducing mule breeding to the United States and operating one of the nation’s largest whiskey distilleries by the 1790s.
  5. He was fearless in battle and survived close calls. Washington displayed remarkable courage during the French and Indian War and the Revolution. At the 1755 Battle of Monongahela, bullets tore through his coat and horses were shot from under him, yet he emerged unscathed. He led daring retreats and bold maneuvers that preserved the Continental Army, including crossing the Delaware River for the 1776 Trenton victory.
  6. He owned enslaved people but freed them in his will. Washington inherited his first enslaved people at age 11 and owned hundreds over his lifetime. At Mount Vernon, enslaved labor supported his plantation. Influenced by Revolutionary ideals and personal reflections, he arranged in his will for all enslaved people he owned to be freed upon Martha’s death, one of the few Founding Fathers to take such action.
  7. His false teeth were not wooden. A persistent myth claims Washington’s dentures were made of wood. In reality, they were crafted from materials including human teeth (purchased from enslaved people and others), ivory, bone and metal. Severe dental problems plagued him; by his inauguration, he had only one natural tooth left.
  8. He was unanimously elected president — twice. In 1789 and 1796, Washington received every electoral vote cast, the only president to achieve unanimous election. He never actively campaigned and accepted the role reluctantly, viewing it as a duty rather than ambition. His two terms established the two-term tradition, later codified in the 22nd Amendment.
  9. He was an excellent dancer and athlete. Standing about 6 feet 2 inches tall — exceptional for his era — Washington was athletic, excelling in horsemanship, wrestling and other sports. Contemporaries praised his grace on the dance floor, where he enjoyed minuets and other dances, often partnering with women at social events with Martha’s approval.
  10. He set critical precedents by stepping down. After two terms, Washington voluntarily retired in 1797, rejecting calls for a third term or monarchy-like power. His Farewell Address warned against political parties, foreign entanglements and sectionalism. By peacefully transferring power, he reinforced republican principles and democratic governance.

Washington died Dec. 14, 1799, at Mount Vernon from a throat infection, after insisting no revival attempts be made if he appeared dead — reflecting his fear of being buried alive. His estate freed the enslaved people he owned the following year.

On this Presidents’ Day, Washington’s example of selfless service, resilience and restraint remains relevant. As the only president with a state named in his honor and his image on the dollar bill and quarter, he embodies enduring American values amid ongoing national reflection.

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Swisscom AG (SCMWY) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Louis Schmid
Head of Investor Relations

Good afternoon, and welcome to Swisscom’s Full Year Results Presentation 2025. My name is Louis Schmid, Head of Investor Relations. And with me are our CEO, Christoph Aeschlimann; our CFO, Eugen Stermetz; and Walter Renna, CEO of Fastweb + Vodafone.

Let us now start the meeting with the agenda for today on Page 2. As you can see, Christoph presents the first 3 chapters: achievements, where he dives into some of last year’s highlights commercially, operationally and financially; strategy update, where he presents Swisscom’s framework, lead, innovate, perform to grow free cash flow; and the review of our business in Switzerland, covering achievements 2025 and our focus 2026.

Then Walter Renna, CEO of Fastweb + Vodafone, reviews our business in Italy. He will talk about the integration of Vodafone Italia and the industrial performance of our Italian business and its plans going forward. After Walter’s part, Eugen Stermetz, our CFO, will present the financial result 2025, including the guidance 2026. And in the wrap-up chapter, some final remarks from our CEO, Christoph Aeschlimann. After the presentation, we will move directly to the Q&A session.

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With that, I would like to open the meeting and hand over to Christoph for his part.

Christoph Aeschlimann
CEO & Head of Swisscom – Switzerland

Thank you, Louis. Welcome to our 2025

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IHI Corporation (IHICY) Q3 2026 Earnings Call Prepared Remarks Transcript

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Hiromi Oshima
General Manager of Finance & Accounting Division and In Charge of Group Finance & Accounting

I am Hiromi Oshima, Executive Officer in charge of Group Finance and Accounting at IHI. We will now present an overview of our financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2025. The upper section shows the highlights for the third quarter fiscal year 2025.

Orders achieved JPY 1,364.8 billion, a record high for Q3, driven by expanding demand in the nuclear energy and other areas. Revenue decreased from the previous fiscal year to JPY 1,129.3 billion due to rebounding from the progress of large projects in the previous year and the impact of business divestitures, including material handling system. Operating profit was JPY 102.5 billion, remained at the same level as the previous year. Although revenue declined, we maintained the same level of profit as the previous fiscal year, which had achieved a record high. In addition, due to improvements in equity method investment income, including from Japan Marine United and others, profit attributable to owners of parent for the third quarter reached a record high.

The lower section shows forecast of fiscal year 2025. As demand continues to expand in the nuclear energy and other businesses in Energy business, we are revising our order forecast upward by JPY 90 billion. This fiscal year is the final year of our medium-term management plan. As I will explain later, while accelerating structural reforms, we expect to achieve record highs in orders, revenue, operating profit and profit attributable to owners of parent. We will firmly complete the structural reforms this year to prepare for the next fiscal year

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Frederick Wiseman, American documentary filmmaker, dies at 96

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Frederick Wiseman, American documentary filmmaker, dies at 96


Frederick Wiseman, American documentary filmmaker, dies at 96

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BHP Group’s first-half profit jumps 22%, topping estimates

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BHP Group’s first-half profit jumps 22%, topping estimates


BHP Group’s first-half profit jumps 22%, topping estimates

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BlueScope Steel Limited (BLSFY) Q2 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

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Tania Archibald
MD, CEO & Director

Good morning, everyone, and thank you for joining us. I’m Tania Archibald, BlueScope’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer. And with me today is David Fallu, our Chief Financial Officer. Together, we’ll take you through our results materials before we take your questions.

I’d like to begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of the various lands on which we meet and work today and pay my respects to elders past and present. Before I go any further, I need to address the most important issue for our company. In November, a young contractor, Jack McGrath, tragically lost his life whilst working on the #6 blast furnace reline project at Port Kembla. The impact has been profound. A family lost someone they loved and the BlueScope community lost a colleague. I want to acknowledge how deeply this has affected everyone, our employees, our contractor partners and the local community.

The Safe Work New South Wales investigation into the incident is continuing, and we’re cooperating fully. I won’t comment further on the specifics. But what I will say is this, nothing matters more than the safety of

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Dollar Tree opens nearly half of new stores in affluent areas

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Dollar Tree opens nearly half of new stores in affluent areas

Discount retailer Dollar Tree is opening new stores in increasingly affluent areas as it seeks to attract higher-income customers who spend more at the store per trip, a new report finds.

An analysis by Bloomberg News found that 49% of new Dollar Tree stores opened in the last six years were located in wealthier parts of metro areas around the country, up from just 41% in the preceding six years.

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The share of new stores in ZIP codes with significantly higher incomes compared to the broader metro area rose to 19% in the last six years, up from 16% in the prior six years. At the other end of the spectrum, the share opened in ZIP codes with significantly lower incomes declined to 14% from 20% in the comparable periods, Bloomberg found.

Dollar stores have historically seen an uptick in business during economic downturns as more consumers look to economize, but with higher-income households driving much of consumer spending, the shift comes as a way of attracting those shoppers more frequently.

WHY SHOPPERS MAKING SIX FIGURES ARE GIVING DOLLAR TREE A BOOST

People walk by a Dollar Tree store in Brooklyn.

Dollar Tree is opening a rising share of new stores in more affluent areas. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

Dollar Tree says that in the last quarter, 60% of new Dollar Tree customers made at least six figures. About 30% were middle-income households earning between $60,000 and $100,000, while the rest were lower-income households earning under $60,000.

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While these higher-income customers visit Dollar Tree less than their lower-income peers, the company said that they spend an extra $1 on average per visit and if they were to make one additional visit per year, it would boost annual sales by $1 billion.

INFLATION EASED SLIGHTLY IN JANUARY BUT REMAINED WELL ABOVE THE FED’S TARGET

Ticker Security Last Change Change %
DLTR DOLLAR TREE INC. 126.06 -2.37 -1.85%

Dollar Tree CEO Michael Creedon said late last year that the retailer serves “an increasingly broad spectrum of shoppers, from core value-focused households to middle- and higher-income shoppers who are making deliberate choices about how and where they spend.”

He added that the data “demonstrates that Dollar Tree isn’t just for tough times or for those with limited resources.”

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DOLLAR GENERAL SEES INCREASE IN HIGHER-INCOME SHOPPERS LOOKING TO STRETCH THEIR DOLLARS

Dollar Tree

Dollar Tree is looking to attract more higher-income customers. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

“While the average per household spend for our higher income customers is currently lower, even given their higher income, larger average basket size and ability to spend more, this is a simple function of trip frequency,” Creedon said.

He added that “because many of our higher income customers are still early in their relationship with Dollar Tree, their purchase frequency has significant room to grow.” 

Consumers’ shopping preferences have also contributed to the pivot, as more households trade down to offset higher expenses due to inflation.

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The elevated cost of essentials like groceries and household items has forced even more of them to trade down to stores known for their heavy discounting or everyday low-price models, such as Dollar Tree, Dollar General, Walmart and Aldi.

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Tax filing scams seek personal info for identity theft, BBB warns taxpayers

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Tax filing scams seek personal info for identity theft, BBB warns taxpayers

Tax filing season is underway and scammers are looking to take advantage of unsuspecting taxpayers through a variety of ever-evolving scams seeking money and personal information.

The International Association of Better Business Bureaus warns that tax scams typically originate with a phone call and tend to fall into two categories. 

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In one, the supposed IRS agent tells the would-be victim that they owe back taxes and attempts to pressure them into paying with a prepaid debit card or wire transfer, threatening an arrest and fines for noncompliance.

The other popular tax scam tactic involves the scammer claiming they’re issuing tax refunds and asking for personal information to send the would-be victim their refund. That information may later be used for identity theft, and in the case of college students, they may be targeted with a claim that their “federal student tax” hasn’t been paid.

TAX FILING SEASON IS OFFICIALLY HERE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

woman reviewing financial documents

The Better Business Bureau warns taxpayers to be cautious with when contacted by someone claiming to be from the IRS. (iStock)

The BBB report notes that tax scammers may engage in a number of tactics to try to appear legitimate. They may give a fake badge number or name, and the caller ID may indicate that the call is coming from Washington, D.C., or use a serious “robocall” recording that sounds official.

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Scammers may also send a follow-up email that uses IRS logos and colors along with language that makes the email appear legitimate.

When con artists attempt to target victims, they may try to push the would-be victim into taking action immediately before they have a chance to ask questions or otherwise process the information the scammer is throwing at them. 

HERE’S WHEN TAXPAYERS WILL GET THEIR REFUNDS

Internal Revenue Service Building sign

The IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by phone or email, and won’t demand immediate action as taxpayers may appeal its decisions. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

They may also demand payment through methods like wire transfers, prepaid debit cards, or other non-traditional methods because those are harder to reverse or trace. The real IRS will never demand immediate payment, require a specific form of payment, or ask for a credit or debit card number of the phone.

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The BBB notes that the IRS will allow taxpayers to ask questions or appeal any amount of back taxes they owe.

Additionally, the IRS always initiates contact by mail – not by phone calls, texts, emails or social media – so taxpayers aware of that can be better prepared to parry a scammer’s attempts via phone or email. After the IRS sends a mailed letter to a taxpayer with outstanding debts, they may reach out by phone.

DATA BREACH EXPOSES PERSONAL DATA OF 25M AMERICANS

Shot from the Back to Hooded Hacker Breaking into Corporate Data Servers from His Underground Hideout. Place Has Dark Atmosphere, Multiple Displays, Cables Everywhere.

Tax scammers may use a variety of methods to target taxpayers. (iStock)

The IRS has also warned taxpayers about a mailing scam that attempts to trick victims into thinking they have a tax refund

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Taxpayers receive a cardboard envelope with a fake letter that purports to be from the IRS regarding an unclaimed refund, which requests the taxpayer provide personal and financial information.

BBB recommends that taxpayers in doubt about whether phone calls or other outreach are legitimately from the IRS should contact the agency directly to tell them about the claims and request, which should allow them to confirm whether it was actually the IRS reaching out.

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It also suggests filing taxes as early as possible to avoid the threat of identity theft, as a scammer could attempt to use your information to file a fake return.

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Gen Z, Locked Out of Home Buying, Puts Its Money in the Market

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Gen Z, Locked Out of Home Buying, Puts Its Money in the Market

A generation of young people locked out of homeownership has found another way to build wealth: putting money into the stock market.

The share of people 25 to 39 years old making annual transfers to investment accounts more than tripled between 2013 and 2023 to 14.4%, outpacing increases for those 40 and over, according to data from the JPMorgan Chase Institute. The share of 26-year-olds who transferred funds to investment accounts since turning 22 shot up from 8% in 2015 to 40% as of May 2025. The numbers don’t include people investing in 401(k)s.

“We’ve seen really strong, surprisingly strong growth in retail investing in recent years among people who may otherwise be first-time home buyers,” said George Eckerd, the research director for wealth and markets at the institute.

The age range includes young millennials and there is overlap in the numbers between investors and homeowners, but Eckerd was struck by the rise in young and lower-income investors at the same time that home buying activity has fallen. That, he said, has tilted the balance of wealth accumulation toward financial markets for young people.

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Wynnstay Group Plc (WYNSF) Q4 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

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OneWater Marine Inc. (ONEW) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

Operator

Good morning, and welcome to the Wynnstay Group plc Full Year Results Investor Presentation. [Operator Instructions] Before we begin, I would like to submit the following poll. And I would now like to hand you over to CEO, Alk Brand. Good morning to you, sir.

Alk Brand
CEO & Executive Director

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Good morning, everybody. It is a pleasure to talk to all of you. My name is Alk Brand. I’m the CEO of Wynnstay Plc. And today with me is Rob Thomas, my colleague, our CFO, and we’re delighted to talk to you about the results of our previous financial year. We would like to focus on quite a few things in the presentation. So I will focus on some of the highlights of the year, Rob as well, followed by a discussion of our business model, update on some of our changes. Rob will focus on our results and the business review, and then I will come back in on our summary and outlook.

So I’m happy to say that the past financial year was a successful one and was the first year of our Project Genesis. We are now in year 2 of a 3-year project to improve the financial results of the business. And I’m pleased that after year 1, looking back, we can say that it’s been a very successful year.

So with that, I’m going to hand over to my colleague, Rob, and I’m looking forward to discussing this with our investors today. Thank you for joining us.

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Rob Thomas
CFO & Executive Director

Thank you, Alk, and good morning, everyone. As Alk mentioned, we are pleased with

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GOP senators urge permanent divestment of Lukoil assets

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GOP senators urge permanent divestment of Lukoil assets

FIRST ON FOX – A group of Republican senators is urging Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to ensure that any sale of Russian energy giant Lukoil’s foreign assets results in permanent divestment from Moscow, warning against what they describe as potential “shell game” proposals that could return control to Russia. 

In a letter Monday, Sens. Tim Sheehy, R-Mont., Steve Daines, R-Mont., and John Barrasso, R-Wyo., voiced support for President Donald Trump’s sanctions strategy targeting Russia’s energy sector, but raised concerns that some proposed deals may undermine the administration’s foreign policy goals.

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The senators said certain proposals under consideration could amount to temporary “caretaker or custodial arrangements” designed to revert ownership back to Lukoil if U.S. sanctions are lifted or tensions between Washington and Moscow ease.

They also warned that other potential transactions could involve a “buy-and-flip” approach that might place strategic oil and gas assets into the hands of U.S. adversaries, including China, potentially jeopardizing American national security and global energy stability.

INSIDE THE SEA WAR TO CONTAIN ‘DARK FLEET’ VESSELS — AND WHAT THE US SEIZURE SIGNALS TO RUSSIA

Split photo of Sens. Tim Sheehy, Steve Daines and John Barrasso.

Steve Daines, John Barrasso, and Tim Sheehy are urging Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to ensure that any sale of Russian energy giant Lukoil’s foreign assets results in permanent divestment from Moscow. (Pete Marovich-Pool/Getty Images; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images; Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images / Getty Images)

The letter follows the Treasury Department’s October 2025 sanctions on Lukoil and the Office of Foreign Assets Control’s requirement that the company divest its non-Russian holdings to non-blocked entities. 

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It also comes amid ongoing divestment talks, including Lukoil’s Jan. 29 announcement of a conditional, non-exclusive agreement to sell its subsidiary Lukoil International GmbH, which holds its international assets, to the Carlyle Group, a U.S. investment firm.

The transaction would not include assets in Kazakhstan, according to the company.

LINDSEY GRAHAM SAYS TRUMP BACKS RUSSIA SANCTIONS BILL

Tanker trucks parked near the PJSC Lukoil Oil Company tank storage facility in Brussels, Belgium.

Tanker trucks are seen near the PJSC Lukoil Oil Company tank storage in Neder-Over-Heembeek on Nov. 15, 2025, in Brussels, Belgium. (Thierry Monasse / Getty Images)

Lukoil International GmbH maintains operations and minority interests in oil and gas fields in Iraq, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Egypt and the Republic of the Congo, among other countries.

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It also has stakes in several pipelines and owns refineries and thousands of retail stations across nearly 20 European countries.

‘THEY WERE SPYING’: SULLIVAN SOUNDS ALARM ON JOINT RUSSIA-CHINA MOVES IN US ARCTIC ZONE

An industrial worker monitors fuel being pumped into rail tank cars at a large refinery complex.

A worker oversees the loading of oil supplies into freight wagons at the Lukoil-Nizhegorodnefteorgsintez oil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on Dec. 4, 2014. (Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

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The senators described the portfolio as strategically significant to global energy markets and warned that any sale must ensure the assets remain permanently outside Russian control.

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“We cannot allow U.S. adversaries to regain control over these valuable assets that have funded so much of Russia’s aggression and must prioritize bids from firms that seek to invest in and build these assets to further American national interests,” Sheehy, Daines and Barrasso wrote.

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