We all know George Washington – the commander of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and the first President of the United States after the Constitutional Convention of 1787. But what we really don’t know is just what the father of our country really looked like.
All we have really had to go by for years are some old paintings and one dollar bills. His profile is certainly recognizable but it’s hard to grasp the finer details of his face and really see him as a living breathing individual. This AI model gives us a pretty good idea of what the man would have looked like in real life.
Though not a Founding Father, behind every great man is a strong woman! The wife of George Washington, Martha Washington was the inaugural first lady of the US. Also known as Lady Washington, she played a large role in the American Revolution. Martha even followed her husband to his winter encampments for eight years, keeping up morale among the officers.
Surprisingly, Martha was not fully supportive of George becoming the first President. She didn’t enjoy the restrictions placed on her life by assuming the title of the first lady. Seen in paintings, postage stamps, the $1 Silver Certificate, and coins, we have an indication of how she might have appeared. This AI image gives us a clearer view of the historical woman.
Probably one of the most respected and most controversial of all the founding fathers would have to be Thomas Jefferson. The man was integral to the American Revolution in many ways. He was the author of the Declaration of Independence and served as a statesman and diplomat. Of course, he was also the third president of the United States. He was also a lawyer, philosopher and architect – a man of many talents.
And then there’s the dark side of his legacy. The man was a plantation owner, having owned more than 600 slaves during the course of his life. And he even had relations with at least one of them, but given the fact that Sally Hemings was enslaved, you could hardly say it was consensual.
John Adams played a tremendous role as a founding father of the United States. The statesman, attorney, and diplomat was elected vice president twice and became the second president of the United States starting in 1797. During the American revolution, he assisted Thomas Jefferson in drafting the Declaration of Independence.
Despite all of his work during the American Revolution, his reputation was tarnished by some of his acts as president – a role he served only one term. Among his most controversial decisions was building up the Army and Navy in the Quasi-War with France, as well as the Alien and Sedition Acts, which sought to limit people from speaking out against the government.
One thing he did have going for him, that none of the other founding fathers can say: he never owned slaves.
Abigail Adams was the wife and closest advisor of John Adams. She is one of only two women to have been married to one president and mother of another—John Quincy Adams. Her life is one of the most documented of the first ladies due to the many letters she wrote to her husband during the Continental Congresses.
John frequently sought her advice on government matters, so when he is credited with his variety of achievements, Abigail played a big part in his success. She has consistently ranked among the three most highly regarded first ladies by historians. While we see her image in paintings and currency, this AI image does a better job of really nailing the details.
Benjamin Franklin is not only a founding father but probably one of the most significant American philosophers as well. He was also a writer, scientist, inventor and publisher. Although he was never a president, he served his country as a statesman and diplomat. He assisted in drafting and signing the Declaration of Independence and became the first United States Postmaster General.
You’ve seen his portrait, undoubtedly, many times in various forms - not only in paintings but on the $100 bill. His published autobiography is still read to this day, and many of his inventions, at least in some form, are used to this day. But this man is such a legend now that it is hard to imagine him as a real-life individual, but thanks to AI, we can get a better idea.
Probably best known at this point for the musical about him, Alexander Hamilton was a revolutionary and statesman who clearly knew how to get on people’s nerves as he ended up getting shot and killed in a duel with Aaron Burr. That’s the legacy he left behind, but if you’ve seen the musical or read about him, you know there’s a whole lot more to him than that.
For instance, Hamilton was the first secretary of the treasury, he was an elected representative for the Congress of the Confederation, and one of George Washington’s most trusted cabinet members. Hamilton has had numerous portraits depicting him and none of them look exactly the same, here AI takes a shot to help build a more realistic visage.
John Jay may not be the most popular of the founding fathers, but he was certainly one of the most integral. He was a statesman, diplomat, and patriot. He was also an abolitionist, which separates him from most of the founding fathers. Nevertheless, he still owned a number of slaves.
John Jay was a leader in the Federalist party and played a significant role in the direction of the US foreign policy in the 1780s. John Jay was elected to the first continental congress and served as president for the second continental congress. Following the American Revolution, he served as Secretary of Foreign Affairs.
Statesman and diplomat James Madison has been labeled by posterity as the Father of the Constitution for his role in drafting and promoting the Constitution of the United States and its Bill of Rights. He had served on the Continental Congress during the Revolution and helped organize the Constitutional Convention.
James Madison would go on to become the fifth secretary of state and the fourth president of the United States. Generally considered to be a good president, there are not a whole lot of negatives in terms of his work as a public servant. There’s a fair share of portraits of the man, but here AI gives us a chance to imagine what he’d look like in real life.
As the wife of James Madison, Dolley Madison was the fourth first lady of the US. She helped to create the idea that members of each party could socialize, network, and negotiate without violence by holding social functions to which she invited members of both political parties. Before, founders would meet with only one party at a time.
She also helped to furnish the brand-new White House. When it was set on fire, she saved the portrait of George Washington. She is highly regarded among first ladies, ranking among the top six. Her likeness can be seen in portraits, films, and coins, but AI takes it to the next level with this image.
Samuel Adams isn’t just something you enjoy at Octoberfest—he was a statesman, philosopher, and leader in the American Revolution. He shaped the political culture of the US by designing many of the principles of American republicanism. He became a part of a movement to oppose British efforts to tax the colonies without their consent, which led to the Boston Tea Party.
He’s also known to be somewhat controversial. He was praised in the 19th century as leading colonists towards independence early on, but British historians painted him as someone who provoked “mob violence”. While we’ve seen his likeness in paintings and beer cans, this AI image provides more detail and perhaps a more accurate version of this founding father.
You’ve probably heard the phrase, “Give me liberty, or give me death!” but don’t know who said the famous words. Patrick Henry was an attorney, politician, and orator who served as the first and sixth governor of Virginia and spoke those courageous words long ago.
He served as a delegate to the First Continental Congress, where he signed the Petition to the King, later drafting the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Constitution. As a slave owner, he hoped to see an end to slavery but had no plan after ending the import of slaves. This AI image gives us a glimpse of the enthusiastic orator.
Known as one of the most influential justices to ever serve in the Supreme Court, John Marshall was a politician and lawyer, eventually serving as the fourth Secretary of State. He joined the Continental Army during the Revolutionary war, serving in multiple battles.
Marshall helped implement the principle of separation of powers which helped to create the three branches of government as independent and co-equal branches of government. Though he’s not as well-known as some of the others on this list, he played an extremely important role in the foundation of our nation.
George Mason was a politician and delegate to the US Constitutional Convention of 1787 and was one of only three delegates who refused to sign the Constitution. His writings opposing ratification have had a significant influence on political thought. We feel like he is not as well known as he should be!
He added multiple clauses to the Constitution before deciding he couldn’t sign it. The reason? A lack of a bill of rights. He wanted to end the slave trade though he was a slaveowner himself. It was his fight for a bill of rights that led to their eventual creation.
The fifth president of the United States, James Monroe, was a statesman, lawyer, and diplomat. He’s perhaps best known for the Monroe Doctrine, a policy opposing European colonialism and asserting U.S. dominance. He held multiple titles throughout his career, as he was a man of many talents.
Though he was born into a slave-owning family, he supported the colonization of Africa by freed slaves—Liberia’s capital Monrovia is named in his honor. With just a few portraits of this historical figure, it can be hard to imagine what he really looked like. This AI image helps solidify the details.
