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Originally Posted by The Batlord
Tbh I think it's weird to call a slave owner a farmer. Like calling someone who owns a railroad a conductor. I'm sure some slave owners did legitimately farm but wasn't he the richest guy in America? I don't think people of his station help out in the fields.
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Ok, how about gentleman farmer? The description meant to point out a distinguishing character trait, not the venal institution of servitude which was a given among most large plantation owners. Washington was apparently preoccupied with seeds, crops and all manner of plantation innovation during his generalship and Presidency and never made a secret of it. “Slavemaster” was less a distinguishing trait than a straight-up FACT.