When hostilities ended with England in 1782, some people wanted to establish a monarchy with George Washington as king. Washington intervened; putting an end to an idea that he strongly believed was wrong for the country. Just like the Roman farmer Cincinnatus, who centuries before served his country without question and without ambition, Washington longed to return to his beloved Mount Vernon, but the quiet life on his farm was not to be. Washington soon returned to public life as our nation’s first president; declaring at his inauguration that “God is the great Lord and Ruler of nations.”