Unlike my Father’s side of the family, whose mid nineteenth century immigration was compelled by rotting potatoes, the patriarch of my Mother’s American family arrived in 1780 - his 19th year - determined to explore the wilderness and experience liberty in what he referred to as “the freest nation of the universe.”

Uncle Albert Gallatin was from Geneva, Switzerland, and like most from that city spoke French. When he arrived here he didn’t speak English well, but during his first two years his proficiency grew, and in 1782 he was teaching French at Harvard. After a year 's worth of instructing, he left with a certificate attesting to his competent service and a 300 dollar salary.

In Boston, he met a Frenchman, Savary de Valcoulon, who was in America to settle wartime debts owed him by the state of Virginia. Savary didn’t speak English, so he took on Albert as his translator. Together they traveled first to Philadelphia, then Richmond, where Savary settled his affairs. 

At the time there was a lot of land speculation going on, and before leaving Philadelphia Savary purchased 120,000 acres in Virginia, near a large tract on the south side of the Ohio, between the Monongahela and Kanawha rivers known as “(General) Washington’s bottom land”. He offered Albert a quarter interest, to be paid for when he turned 25 and received his small inheritance. Instead of paying interest on this advance, Albert would move to the land and act as superintendent and surveyor. 

Albert explored the area, and in March of 1784 decided to establish an office a few miles north of the Virginia line in Fayette County, Pennsylvania where George’s Creek flows into the Monongahela River. He built a log hut, opened a country store and began attending to business. 

One day General George Washington and his entourage, scouting paths and surveying for a road over the Allegheny Mountains to Washington’s land, arrived at Albert’s humble country store. Because there wasn’t a soul in America who didn’t know of and admire Washington, I’m sure Albert didn’t hesitate a moment before offering his cot for the great General’s comfort that night. 

I extract what follows from records of the New York Historical Society, an account of Albert’s recollections many years later. 

Albert had slept on the floor that night. The next day Washington sat at Albert’s table, documents in front of him, reducing their surveying efforts to a conclusion. Albert, having graduated the University of Geneva at the top of his class in mathematics, as well as philosophy and Latin, watched patiently, even though he had quickly reviewed the figures and calculated the total. 

Before long Albert’s youthful impatience won out, and he pointed at the bottom line, announcing the answer.  

Years later, it was said the look Washington gave him matched the “Who are you to be doing this?” one he once used when Gouverneur Morris made the mistake of being overly familiar, touching Washington on his shoulder. 

After this embarrassing moment passed, Washington went on with the calculations and eventually arrived at his conclusion. He then turned to Albert and said: “You were right, young man.” 

Sometime after that day, the record doesn’t say how long, but it was likely soon, Washington sent Albert an offer to become his land superintendent. Albert Gallatin turned it down. 

It might seem a bit insane to have rejected a job offer from the Father of Our Country, as it was an opportunity to be associated with a great man - even if he was a bit of a prick. But in the span of Albert’s life this was the least important example of his involvement in America’s history, and the most humorous.  

I often call Uncle Albert the Forrest Gump of post revolutionary America. Not because of a mental deficit, obviously, but because he repeatedly shows up at important events in our early history, yet still isn't well known to modern Americans.  

I have skimmed over the details of Albert’s early life, and stopped short of describing his history beyond that day. I intend to write more about him in the future, as I think many will find his contribution to America impressive, inspiring, and also instructive for our times. But for now I’ll leave you with this - our family’s “Washington Slept Here” story.