Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father of the United States, one of the most influential interpreters and promoters of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the first Secretary of the Treasury.
He was born in the West Indies in 1755 or 1757, orphaned at a young age, and educated in the 13 original colonies. He joined the Continental Army in 1775, rising to the rank of lieutenant colonel and serving as General George Washington's aide-de-camp.
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After the war, he studied law and began a successful career in New York City.
In 1787, Hamilton was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, where he was a leading advocate for a strong central government.
He also played a key role in drafting the Federalist Papers, a series of essays that argued in favor of the ratification of the Constitution.
After the Constitution was ratified, Hamilton was appointed Secretary of the Treasury by President George Washington.
In this role, he helped to establish the Bank of the United States, the Coast Guard, and the U.S. Mint. He also developed a plan for the national debt that helped to stabilize the nation's finances.
Hamilton was a controversial figure, and his policies were often opposed by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. He resigned as Secretary of the Treasury in 1795 and returned to New York City, where he practiced law and founded the New York Post. In 1804, he was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr.
Hamilton was a brilliant and ambitious man who played a major role in shaping the early republic. He was a strong advocate for a strong central government and a national economy.
Family Overview
Alexander was a rags-to-riches story and held the same distinction as George Washington and Barack Obama in that they were raised by a single mom.
His father, who had two children, became fearful of being accused of bigamy and abandoned Hamitlon's mother. His mother then died and left Alexander Hamilton and his brother as orphans.
He would serve in the Revolutionary War and become a trusted soldier to General Washington. This would eventually carry over to his presidency.
He married Eliza Schuyler, the daughter of Senior General Philip Schuyler, and the two had a decent marriage until Hamilton committed adultery, which broke her heart. She would forgive him, and they would reconcile.
However, shortly after their reconciliation, he died after a duel with Aaron Burr.
Family Tree Chart
James Alexander Hamilton (1717 - 1799) - He was born in Scotland and died in the Virgin Islands. Alexander Hamilton would never know him since he abandoned the family shortly after his birth.
Rachel Fawcett (1729 - 1768) - She had a failed marriage and then two children out of wedlock. James abandoned her, and she would die when Alexander was 13 years old, leaving him as an orphan.
Spouse:
Eliza Schuyler (1757 - 1854) - She was the daughter of General Philip Schuyler and was a remarkable woman, outliving her husband by fifty years. After Alexander's death, she moved to Washington to be with close friend and confidante Dolley Madison, with whom she raised funds for local orphanages and poor houses until her death in 1854 at the age of 97.
Children:
Philip Hamilton (1782 - 1801) - His death devastated much of his family. By all accounts, he was an honorable man. He challenged an individual to a duel and took a bullet through his body that became lodged in his arm. He died shortly after.
Angelica Hamilton (1784 - 1857) - Following the death of her brother, Philip, in a famous duel with George Eaker, Angelica had a mental breakdown and went into a state that has been described as "eternal childhood." Angelica was cared for by her mother for most of her life and was eventually placed in the care of a doctor in New York. She never married and never had any children.
Alexander Hamilton Jr. (1784 - 1857) - He was the third child and second son of Alexander Hamilton. He graduated from Columbia University a few weeks after his father was killed in the infamous duel with Aaron Burr. He later went on to become a lawyer. He was also a veteran of the War of 1812.
James Alexander Hamilton (1788 - 1878) - He lived until he was 90 years old, and he was a War of 1812 veteran. He would witness the atrocities of the Civil War and what his grandchildren would endure. He and his wife had five children.
John Church Hamilton (1792 - 1882) - He was well-educated and became a historian and biographer. He and his wife had many children that would carry on the Hamilton legacy.
William Stephen Hamilton (1797 - 1850) - He was a military man but unfortunately died prior to California becoming a state while in California. He died of cholera. He never married or had any children.
Eliza Hamilton (1799 - 1859) - She was born the year George Washington died. She married but did not have any children.
Philip Hamilton (1802 - 1884) - He was named after his older brother, which Phillip the Second would never know because the elder Phillip died in a duel. He was 83 or 82 when he passed away.
Siblings:
Peter Lavien (1746 - 1780) - He was the half-brother of Alexander and died during the American Revolution.
James Jacob Hamilton (1753 - 1835) - He was the full brother of Alexander and was abandoned by his father as well. He was a veteran of the American Revolution and would outlive his brother due to the infamous duel.