Did you know that the day George Washington was born was originally and officially 11 February 1731 (sometimes written as 1731/2 for dates between 1 January and 24 March) in his native Virginia? Washington was born 20 years before the British Empire (including its colonies on the North American mainland which would soon break away and form the U.S.) switched from the old Julian calendar to the newer, reformed, Gregorian calendar in 1752.
According to one source,
(http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/explainer/2006/01/whats_benjamin_franklins_birthday.html)
most people were content to go on celebrating their birthdays, etc., on the same days they had always observed -- which sounds a bit like the way the old broadcast TV stations have continued to use their traditional channel numbers after the transition from analog TV to digital TV, even though the stations are no longer broadcasting on the old frequencies. However, among the minority who adjusted their dates of birth to match the new calendar (which was 11 days off the old one and moved New Year's from 25 March to 1 January) was George Washington.
So, instead of 11 Feb 1731, we now remember the date the same way as the man himself: 22 Feb 1732.
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