Mason Locke Weems - Primary sources

Clergyman, bookseller, and writer, born in Ann Arundel Co, Maryland, USA. Criticized for his sprightly informality as an Episcopal clergyman, he was well-known for his uplifting sermons, moral tracts, and fictionalized biographies, especially for his best-selling life of George Washington. The fifth edition (1806) saw the first appearance in print of the story of young Washington and the cherry tree. From about 1794, he travelled between New York and Georgia selling books and preaching sermons.

Mason Locke Weems (October 11, 1756–May 23, 1825), generally known as Parson Weems, was an American printer and author known as the source for almost all of the half-truths about George Washington, "the Father of his Country," including the famous tale of the cherry tree.

Although the story is often retold as if Weems had been trying to deify President Washington, in its context Weems seems rather to have been trying to praise Washington's father, and to make a point about enlightened parenting.

Weems was born on October 11th, 1759 (1756, by some accounts) in Anne Arundel County, Maryland.

Financial hardship forced Weems to seek other employment, leading to his second career as a book agent and author. Other notable works by Weems include "Life of General Francis Marion" (1805);

Weems died on May 23, 1825 in Beaufort, South Carolina of unspecified causes.

Primary sources

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Parson Weems Online Books by Parson Weems A History of the Life and Death, Virtues and Exploits of General George Washington by Mason Locke Weems (abridged) Works by Parson Weems at Project Gutenberg Mason Locke Weems at NNDB Mason Lock Weems at FamousAmericans.net