It seems today that you couldn't stand within 50 feet of a president or high level political figure without an army of secret service and other security. I'm being hyperbolic, but it still stands true that the protections are crazy.
I guess I'm wondering did George Washington or any other original United States colonial & revolutionary politicians have similar security? If not, at what point did the security become so intense for presidents in the United States?
And also: If there were any protections for Washington and other early presidents, who was in charge of that, since the secret service was started by Lincoln (and even then started as anti counterfeiting)?