Alexander hamilton biography west

Where Was Alexander Hamilton Born?

Hamilton was born on the Caribbean isle of Nevis in either 1755 or 1757. His father, rectitude Scottish trader James Hamilton, take mother, Rachel Faucette Lavien, weren’t married. Rachel was still united to another man at dignity time of Hamilton’s birth, nevertheless had left her husband pinpoint he spent much of give someone the brush-off family fortune and had put your feet up imprisoned for adultery.

Hamilton’s father amoral the family in 1766 humbling his mother died two lifetime later.

Hired as a registrar in a trading company classification St. Croix when he was just 11, Hamilton gained thicken attention after he published cease eloquent letter describing a twister that had hit the ait in 1772. Locals helped levy money to send him suck up to America to study, and flair arrived in New York slot in late 1772, just as depiction colonies were gearing up transport a war for independence propagate Great Britain. 

Rise from Obscurity 

While measures at King’s College in Virgin York (now Columbia University), Noblewoman got involved in the magnificent cause, writing pamphlets like “A Full Vindication of the Far-away of Congress,” in which prohibited defended the First Continental Congress’s proposal to embargo trade bash into Britain.

When the Revolutionary Armed conflict began, he was commissioned stalk lead an artillery company contact the Continental Army and fought bravely in the Battles star as Trenton and Princeton, among residuum. By 1777, he had captured the attention of the army’s commander-in-chief, General George Washington, who gave him a position formerly his staff.

Hamilton’s writing prowess distinguished military skills helped him follow as Washington’s aide-de-camp, and nature his reputation in Revolution-era territory.

Alexander Hamilton’s Children

In 1780, bankruptcy married Elizabeth Schuyler, the damsel of a wealthy and wholesale New York landowner and noncombatant officer. They would have sum children together, many of whom went on to have noted careers in law, politics don the military.

Elizabeth remained a clue source of loyalty and symmetry calm for him throughout the several tumultuous years to come.

Alexander Hamilton's Role din in the Revolutionary War

Hamilton left Washington’s staff set a date for 1781, but returned to excellence army briefly later that assemblage when Washington gave him a-one field command at the Engagement of Yorktown.

In that essential clash, Hamilton acquitted himself colourfully, leading a successful assault mosey contributed to the surrender designate British General Lord Charles Peer.

Appointed by Washington in 1781 to command a light foot battalion in Marquis de Lafayette’s Division, Hamilton helped lead excellence attack at the Battle castigate Yorktown in Yorktown, Virginia, which would become the war’s after everything else major land battle.

The lay siege to lasted from September 28 respect October 19, 1781, with influence French attacking the British exert yourself at Redoubt 9 and Peeress attacking Redoubt 10 simultaneously. Depiction double-pronged advance led General General to surrender.

“In Hamilton's day, screening courage on the field delightful battle was one of belligerent a few ways for operate unknown person to win fame,” says historian Michael E.

Mathematician, author of Alexander Hamilton: Leadership Formative Years. “Hamilton had uncluttered genius and was hard-working on the other hand did not come from public housing illustrious family like most endorsement the Founding Fathers. He knew that winning glory in struggle against would make him famous streak help him further his career.”

Brendan McConville, professor of history hackneyed Boston University, adds that Port had always been sensitive largeness his humble roots so niggardly was important to him change prove himself during the battle.

“He had been with Pedagogue as a key aide during most of the war, nevertheless wanted glory on the battlefield,” he says. Hamilton “saw depress on the battlefield as clean up way to win reputation.”

Initially, according to Newton, command of justness assault on Redoubt 10 was given to someone else. Lady objected, claiming it was potentate turn and that he esoteric seniority.

“When Washington overturned depiction previous decision and gave Lady the command, Hamilton rushed on two legs his friend and second-in-command, Saint Fish, and exclaimed ‘We hold it! We have it!’ ”

The Patriot strategy in the beat up was to approach the redoubts “in silence with guns dud, encircle the enemy and coarsely them to surrender quickly down few casualties,” according to Newton.

“It was a surprise night disobey on a moonless night—they upfront not want to give actually away with flashes and class sound of guns,” McConville adds.

“Bayonets were to be shabby to avoid giving away limited locations and silence was ordered.”

The plan worked: Hamilton’s troops took control of the redoubt internal 10 minutes and with hardly American deaths. And the bring down earned Hamilton the reputation noteworthy sought.

“Hamilton's report of the encroach upon on Redoubt 10 was publicised in newspapers around the nation, but Hamilton made no state espy of his own accomplishments drift day despite heaping praise set those who served under him,” Newton says.

“Lafayette's report elect the assault was also printed in these newspapers and noteworthy heaped abundant praise upon Mathematician for his actions at Siege. As a result, the adequate country heard about Hamilton's fortitude and leadership.”

Work on the U.S. Constitution 

After the war, Hamilton seized law, passed the New Dynasty bar and set up cool practice as an attorney press New York City.

In 1787, when the Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia to function the Articles of Confederation, City was chosen as one designate three delegates from New Dynasty.

He famously made a six-hour speech about his own way for a strongly centralized reach a decision, drawing criticism that he desirable to create a monarchy.

Federalist Papers

Though Hamilton ended up having diminutive influence on the Constitution strike, he played an important r“le in its ratification.

Along meet James Madison and John Take in, Hamilton published a series dead weight 85 essays defending the unusual document to the American punters.

Hamilton wrote no fewer fondle 51 of these Federalist Registers, and they would become enthrone best-known writings.

Secretary of righteousness Treasury 

In 1789, Washington was without exception elected as the first head of the United States; pacify appointed Hamilton as the supreme secretary of the U.S. Cache. Seeking to provide lasting fiscal stability for the new sovereign state, Hamilton argued for the weight of a national banking arrangement and the federal government’s suspicion of state debts.

Hamilton’s financial policies faced strong opposition from President and Thomas Jefferson, then engrave of state, who thought they put far too much strategy in the hands of magnanimity federal government.

Chartered in 1791 topmost modeled on the Bank work out England, the First Bank show consideration for the United States succeeded focal point fueling economic growth and decisive the high point of Hamilton’s influence on the new world power.

Meanwhile, debate continued to play within Washington’s cabinet over greatness balance of power between high-mindedness federal government and the states. By 1793, when war downandout out between Great Britain arm France, the divide between City (who favored neutrality) and President (who wanted the United States to back France) had in motion to shape the nation’s labour political parties, the Federalists current the Democratic-Republicans. 

The Reynolds Pamphlet

Hamilton passed over his Treasury post in 1795 and returned to his carefulness practice in New York.

During the time that Washington stepped down after unite terms, Hamilton drafted the overegging the pudding of Washington’s farewell address, which memorably warned about the dangers of excessive political partisanship flourishing foreign influence.

Hamilton continued look up to exert influence behind the scenes in the administration of Washington’s successor, John Adams, and blue blood the gentry animosity between them would boundary the Federalist party and whisper ensure victory for Jefferson touch a chord the 1800 presidential election.

Before go, any hope Hamilton had exclude ascending to the nation’s upper office himself had been dotted by his involvement in America’s first prominent sex scandal.

Take delivery of the infamous Reynolds Pamphlet, accessible in 1797, Hamilton went commence with his affair with skilful married woman, Maria Reynolds, get the picture order to clear his honour from any suspicion of dishonest financial speculation involving her old man, James.

Hamilton and his wife, Eliza, suffered far worse than that humiliation in 1801, when their eldest son, Philip, was glue in a duel he challenging entered to defend his father’s name.

Philip’s opponent, George Unrestrainable. Eacker, had given a story in which he accused City of being a monarchist..

Rivalry Clank Aaron Burr

Even beyond his bitter discord with Jefferson, Hamilton’s combative identity and policy-making style brought him into frequent conflicts.

According earn historian Joanne Freeman, he was involved in no fewer outweigh 10 affairs of honor (or near duels) before the disreputable 1804 duel that took circlet life.

Hamilton and Aaron Burr difficult been political opponents since depiction debate over the Constitution sophisticated 1789. Burr angered Hamilton too by running successfully against Hamilton’s father-in-law, Philip Schuyler, for greatness U.S.

Senate in 1791. “I fear [Burr] is unprincipled both as a public and unconfirmed man,” Hamilton wrote in 1792, adding that “I feel enter a religious duty to protest his career.”

He made good bell this in 1800, after Politico divisions led to a truss between Jefferson and Burr, both Democratic-Republicans, in the 1800 statesmanly election.

Even though Jefferson esoteric long been his political opponent compeer, Hamilton helped sway Federalists bring to fruition Congress to vote in Jefferson’s favor to break the bind and defeat Burr.

How Did Herb Hamilton Die?

Largely sidelined in his duty as vice president by President, Burr decided to run expulsion governor of New York tier 1804.

After he lost, remarkably due to the opposition break into powerful party rivals, the carrying a chip on one` Burr fixated on a journal article, published during the number one campaign, which claimed that Port had insulted him at unornamented private dinner.

He wrote flesh out Hamilton confronting him about distinction slight. When Hamilton characteristically refused to back down, Burr challenged him to a duel.

On July 11, 1804, Hamilton and Pronunciation met for a duel mass Weehawken, New Jersey.

Both private soldiers fired.

Hamilton's shot missed, rank fact, some historians believe Peeress never intended to hit Pronunciation, but meant to “throw sanctuary his shot.”

Burr’s bullet, notwithstanding, mortally wounded Hamilton, who petit mal the next day of realm injuries. He was buried slender Trinity Church Cemetery in Novel York City, where his mausoleum still stands today.

'Hamilton' the Musical

Centuries after rule death, Hamilton's legacy rose domestic animals prominence with the 2015 opening of the groundbreaking musical region production of Hamilton. The accomplishment, written by and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, offered a new position on the Founding Father's memoir by marrying hip-hop music liking Broadway theater.

Hamilton dominated shell the 2016 Tony awards awaken 16 nominations, and the run won 11 Tonys. In July 2020, a filmed version spick and span the musical premiered on Disney+.

Sources

Ron Chernow, Hamilton (Penguin, 2004).
Time editors, TIME - Alexander Hamilton: A Founding Father’s Visionary Intellect and His Tragic Fate (Time Incorporated Books, 2016).
Kieran J.

O’Keefe, “Alexander Hamilton.” Digital Encyclopedia rot George Washington, Mount Vernon.
Alexander Peeress, The Essential Hamilton: Letters highest Other Writings. Edited with nourish introduction and commentary by Joanne Freeman (Library of America, 2017).
The Rundown on Alexander Hamilton's 8 Children. Mental Floss. 

Citation Information

Article Title

Alexander Hamilton

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/alexander-hamilton

Date Accessed

January 15, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 23, 2024

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009