Historic Presidential Funerals of Washington and Lincoln

President George Washington died on December 14, 1799 at the age of 67. Just before he died, he instructed his private secretary: "Have me decently buried; and do not let my body be put into the vault in less than three days after I am dead." We cannot be sure whether Washington was allowing time for his family to mourn, or whether he had a fear, common at that time, of being interred alive.

Because Washington's death occurred before the embalming process was developed, his body was preserved for the funeral rituals by placing it in Mount Vernon's frigid drawing room. His mahogany casket was made by Joseph and Henry Ingle, who operated a furniture, cabinet and undertaking business in Alexandria, Virginia.

Word of Washington's death was spread by messengers and the mail service. In those pre-TV and Internet days, many Americans would learn of Washington's death many weeks after the funeral and entombment were over.

On December 18, Washington's funeral procession -- cavalry, infantry and guards, a Masonic band, clergy, Washington's horse, mourners, dignitaries and his farm manager and workers -- accompanied the body to its final resting place in the family burial vault at Mount Vernon.

In contrast, President Lincoln was honored with 12 separate funerals over a 20 day period that began April 19, 1865 in the East Room of the Executive Mansion in Washington. After that, the funeral train bearing his walnut casket traveled over 1700 miles to Indianapolis, Albany, Cleveland, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Chicago, Columbus, Buffalo, New York and Harrisburg over a 20 day period ending with his burial in Springfield, Illinois on May 2. The grandest funeral coach for the Lincoln funerals, weighing two tons and drawn by 24 horses, was seen in New York City.

This lengthy funeral period was possible only because Lincoln was the first president to be embalmed. Thomas Holmes, who developed the modern practice of embalming, used it during the Civil War to preserve the bodies of officers killed in battle so that they could be returned home for burial.

These impressive funerals were for presidents but we must remember that a dignified funeral is always important to honor the person and the life, no matter whether the deceased is a president or a beloved family member or friend.

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(Research material supplied by Todd W. Van Beck.)