George Washington (1732–1799), the first president of the United States, did not live to see the 19th century and passed away weeks before the New Year on December 14, 1799, due to a severe throat infection called acute epiglottitis. In a last-ditch attempt to save the president, Dr. William Thornton braved freezing weather to reach Mount Vernon, but couldn’t make it in time. But Thornton was undeterred by this and believed that he could bring Washington back to life. Although he wasn’t the president’s doctor, Thornton was confident that he could save him with a rare surgical procedure known a…