Whitefield had cross-eyed (strabismus) vision.

Perhaps many people have already known that Whitefield had a cross-eyed (Strabismus) vision but It definitely cannot make him less great. The image of this celebrated Anglican clergyman, known as "the Father of the Great Awakening," and this PBS documentary's account of him provide light on why preachers who offended and made their listeners unhappy with themselves attracted audiences. “Slender, cross-eyed, and handsome, George Whitefield was an Anglican priest and powerful orator with the charismatic appeal.”

George was aware that good preaching differs from a public reading at a bookstore as others were reading their sermons from prepared papers. He spoke from memory or extemporaneously, using gestures that the more austere New England preachers deemed overly theatrical. But people have a sneaking suspicion that there could have been more to his achievement. Perhaps his eyes communicated a real human being, someone who couldn't hide behind being just attractive or thin, a man who weak, sensitive people wouldn't mind hearing an honest word that upset them or made them unhappy with their own pretense-based games of posturing. For many people, such eyes may be a weak point, but it really does not affect the image of Whitefield when he possesses a pair of cross-eyed vision.