Hercules was one of George Washington’s slaves and a famed chef known for his cooking skills. Washington brought Hercules and Hercules’s young son Richmond along to Philadelphia to run the kitchen at the Executive Mansion on High Street. The Washingtons favored Hercules and allowed him to earn an income by selling kitchen scraps. Hercules used his savings to purchase fine clothing and accessories for himself, and, in Philadelphia, he socialized with a community of Black men and women. When Washington learned of the statute that allowed slaves over the age of 28 who had resided in Philadelphia for more than six months to claim freedom, Washington became nervous that Hercules would seek freedom and run away. Though Hercules put on a great show of “theatrics” to convince Washington that he valued his position, Hercules eventually escaped bondage in 1797—on Washington’s birthday, no less.