King of America Possibilities

One of the fun things about alternative history is going down little rabbit holes. A few years ago, there was an article that mentioned that at a point of crisis, there was a discussion about making George Washington king of America. Obviously he turned it down but a historian played the what if game and traced the likely regal descendant to a regular Joe now living in San Antonio.

What made this exercise even more fun was the fact that George Washington had no natural issue so the line was traced from the descent of his older brother. However, no attempt (that I know of) was made to trace the line of the other primary alternative. Martha Washington had a son by her previous marriage and following his death, George Washington adopted his son (Martha's grandson) and made him his heir: George Washington Parke Custis. So, let us play the what if game. What if instead of following the formal British model, a more Roman model was adopted where the monarch could designate his heir, even if they were not formal blood relations?

George Washington was sworn in as president in 1789. Assuming he was crowned as George I, he would have reigned until his death in 1799. He leaves control to his adopted son George Custis, who is crowned as George II.

George Custis lived until 1857 and had four children but only one survived to maturity: Mary. In 1831, Mary married Robert E. Lee, which would have given our theoretical George II license to royally adopt him and have him crowned as King Robert I upon George II's death.

Robert and Mary Lee had seven children and again we are left playing the what if game as their oldest and heir, George Washington Custis Lee, never married and never had issue. Robert E. Lee died in 1870 and presumably his son would have succeeded him, being crowned as George III. Assuming history played out as it did (which it actually would not have) George III would have died in 1913 and the crown would have then passed to the heirs of his younger brother William Lee, who died in 1891.

The crown would have passed on to his oldest son, Robert E. Lee III, who would have held it until 1922 when he died. I found no record of children from his marriage, so the crown would have then passed to his younger brother, George Lee, who would have carried it until his own death in 1948.

George Lee had two children, the oldest being Robert E. Lee IV, who would have taken over in 1948. Mr. Lee was still alive as of 2010, the last reference I found of him at age 85. His eldest son would then take over for him upon his death.

So in summary, the line of kings would have progressed as follows:

George I (1789-1799)
George II (1799-1857)
Robert I (1857-1870)
George III (1870-1913)
Robert II (1913-1922)
George IV (1922-1948)
Robert III (1948-