Gemmabeta: > I was the last to consent to the separation; but the separation having been made and having become inevitable, I have always said, as I say now, that I would be the first to meet the friendship of the United States as an independent power.
George III
TooShiftyForYou: TIL there are statues of six American presidents scattered across London.
Washington
Lincoln
FDR
Eisenhower
JFK
Reagan
[Source](https://www.guidelondon.org.uk/blog/around-london/statues-6-american-presidents-london/)
thr33beggars: Just like how Neil Armstrong said he would “never leave the Moon, under any circumstances,” so they left him on the Moon and hired man who looks just like him to serve as his body double.
mrshatnertoyou: Not just any US soil but Virginian soil.
I_are_facepalm: *I have some soil for you Georgie, here, take it*
RossParka: I can’t find a reliable source for the alleged Washington quote or the alleged imported American soil. Most web sites say “it is rumored” or words to that effect, and they disagree about Washington’s exact words (London/English soil/British soil). It sounds like the sort of story that tour guides are fond of making up. It may be true, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
solsangraal: >The statue shows Washington resting upon a ‘fasces’; a collection of wooden rods which the Romans employed as a symbol of authority.
TYAL that the ‘fasces’ is now a symbol of fascism
sunbro29: No one has gotten over a bad break-up as well as the English.
T800Architect: What would be interesting is if it was considered *still* U.S. soil i.e. acts like the embassies do.
ABSOLUTELY__BASED: Wait… there’s a statue of a traitor erected in Britain?
Fizzy_Pharynx: Why didn’t they just make a statue with no feet instead? Honestly, some people just don’t think things through.
Drew_Ferran: I see you went to https://www.reddit.com/r/politics/comments/7gdgnx/comment/dqic89p
ASK_IF_IM_PENGUIN: For those wondering, the reason there is a statue of George Washington in London is because it was a gift from Virginia. It is obviously symbolic of our relationship – I can’t imagine there would be a similar statue of Bush, Obama or Trump… unless the latter makes his own of course, which isn’t out of the question. Its a nice sentiment. I wonder (quite genuinely) where he’d rather be today, considering the current US President’s tweets about religion – Britain, or the US.
There are also statues of Lincoln, Roosevelt, Eisenhower, Reagan and JFK.
SuchCoolBrandon: They could have put it on concrete instead of soil. Probably would be better for the statue’s foundation anyway.
Kloppical: As a Brit the American Revolution is one of my favorite historical stories, the whole thing is so incredible and inspirational the way they overcame seemingly impossible odds.
The thing that surprised me was most was how the founding fathers were desperate to mend relations with Britain, but after MANY attempts to get their grievances recognised, King George really gave the Americans no option but to start the revolution. Also how many of the key players in the Revolution were British born, British educated and trained and had massive influences on the outcome of many aspects of the revolution.
I’m doing it no justice, washington was an incredible man who pulled off mission impossible. (he also has the key to the gates of bastille)