Mason Locke Weems – 1759-1825

Often called Parson Weems, Mason Locke Weems was a traveling book salesman and a writer. In 1800, he published The Life and Memorable Actions of George Washington, inserting into fifth edition (1806) of this extraordinarily popular work the entirely fictitious story of how young George chopped down his father’s favorite cherry tree then owned up to the act because (he said) “Father, I cannot tell a lie.” The story caught on as a parable of the incorruptible character of the future “Father of His Country.”