Tobias Lear, circa the 1780s. Courtesy of New England Historical Society.
In his capacities as general, president, enslaver, and farmer, George Washington received support from many individuals who — compared to the nation’s first chief executive — are less remembered. One such person is Tobias Lear, who in 1784 was recommended by General Benjamin Lincoln to serve as Washington’s executive secretary. Over the next 15 years, Lear worked for Washington as an indispensable employee and became, literally, part of the Washington family. His relationship with Washington ended only with the general’s death in 1799, which Lear witnessed and recorded in detail. Lear’s own demise in 1816 was followed by his burial in Historic Congressional Cemetery.
For this entry of the 2025 Speaker Series, HCC is thrilled to welcome one of the country’s most sought-out presidential historians, Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky, to discuss Lear’s life and connection to George Washington. Dr. Chervinsky currently serves as the Executive Director of the George Washington Presidential Library. She is the author of the award-winning books, The Cabinet: George Washington and the Creation of an American Institution and Making the Presidency: John Adams and the Precedents That Forged the Republic, and co-editor of Mourning the Presidents: Loss and Legacy in American Culture. She regularly writes for public audiences in the Wall Street Journal, The Bulwark, Time Magazine, USA Today, CNN, and the Washington Post.
Following Dr. Chervinsky’s presentation, come along on a docent-led tour to the grave of Tobias Lear, as well as the final resting places of more of Washington’s contemporaries and other figures from the nation’s founding era.
Tickets are only $10 and all proceeds go to benefit our non-profit mission of historical preservation and education. Space is limited so be sure to reserve your spot today! Keynote remarks will take place inside the Chapel, and the walking tour will take place on the grounds. The tour is approximately 45 minutes in length. Please come prepared with comfortable clothing and shoes, as the tours often stray from the main paths.
