sort of truly magnificent impact he would have in world history?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/9204961/George-Washington-named-Britains-greatest-ever-foe.html
GEORGE WASHINGTON NAMED BRITAIN'S GREATEST EVER FOE.
"Treason doth never prosper; what's the reason? For if it prosper, none dare call it treason." - attributed to sir John Harrison.
Had America lost the War of Independence, aka The Revolutionary War, his place in history would read rather differently. And it's likely that none of us would be around to read about it.