Mason Locke Weems

Parson Weems
Born(1759-10-11)October 11, 1759
Anne Arundel County, Maryland, Province of Maryland
DiedApril 23, 1825(1825-04-23) (aged 65)
Beaufort, South Carolina, US
Resting placeBel-Air
Other namesMason L. Weems
Occupation(s)Book agent and author
Notable workThe Life of Washington
Signature

Mason Locke Weems (October 11, 1759 – May 23, 1825), usually referred to as Parson Weems, was an American minister, evangelical bookseller and author who wrote (and rewrote and republished) the first biography of George Washington immediately after his death.[1] Some popular stories about Washington thought during the 20th century to be apocryphal can be traced to Weems, including the cherry tree tale ("I cannot tell a lie, I did it with my little hatchet"). Weems' biography of Washington was a bestseller that depicted Washington's virtues and was intended to provide morally instructive tales for the youth of the young nation.[2]

  1. ^ Furstenberg, Francois (2006). In the Name of the Father: Washington's Legacy, Slavery, and the Making of a Nation. New York: Penguin Press. pp. 106–145. ISBN 1-594-20-092-0.
  2. ^ Buescher, John. "[Is the Story of George Washington and the Colt a True Story?]" Teachinghistory.org, accessed September 23, 2011.