Rules of Civility & Decent Behavior In Company and Conversation began as a school exercise in 1744 for George Washington, who became the first president of the United States of America. Washington copied a translation of these rules by Francis Hawkins', which was first published in England around 1640.

The majority of the 110 rules originated from a French etiquette manual written in 1959 by the Jesuits, who were members of the Society of Jesus, a Roman Catholic order of men noted for educational, charitable and missionary works and teachings.