ALEXANDER HAMILTON

ALEXANDER HAMILTON



TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Early Life and The Mighty Pen

Education
“Right Hand Man”

Family Life
The Federalist Papers

Congress
The Reynolds Pamphlet

Death of a Son
Death and Legacy

EARLY LIFE

On approximately January 11, 1755/57, in Nevis, Leeward Islands, Alexander
Hamilton was born out of wedlock to Rachel Faucets and James Hamilton. Along
with his older brother James Jr., the young family moved to St. Croix, Virgin
Islands, when Alex was in his early toddler years. Starting life anew in St. Croix,
he was entered into schooling with a Jewish headmistress, the Church of England
not allowing him entry as he was born out of wedlock, his education being
supplied by a large supply of books he kept dear to him. For years he continued
this same life, his father working for their living, his brother joining in his
schooling career, until he reached 10 years old, his father abandoning them, riddled
with debt. Hamilton was forced to continue his schooling and try to provide for his
family for the next few years, until his mother and himself both contracted a
terrible sickness, killing Rachel yet sparing him.

The tragedy only seemed to continue however, as all she owned was given
to her previous family after death. And only months after moving in with Peter
Lytton, said cousin committed suicide, leaving nothing for the young boy. These
frequent renewals of tragedy inspired him to make a new life for himself, so Alex
created a nearly superhuman work ethic and got himself a job at a trading charter
known as Beekman (later Kortright) and Cruger. His superiors loved him, paying
him the money he needed for survival and giving him multiple chances to advance
his already exemplary academic skills, specifically in literature and writing. There

was no way he could’ve know that this position would end up publicizing the letter
that wrote his path to New York.

“It seemed as if a total dissolution of nature was taking place. The
roaring of the sea and wind, fiery meteors flying about it in the air, the
prodigious glare of almost perpetual lightning, the crash of the falling
houses, and the ear-piercing shrieks of the distressed, were sufficient to

strike astonishment into Angels.”

.
In 1772 Alexander wrote to his father of the violent hurricane he had just
survived. In it he wrote detailed accounts of the storm: “It seemed as if a total
dissolution of nature was taking place. The roaring of the sea and wind,
fiery meteors flying about it in the air, the prodigious glare of almost
perpetual lightning, the crash of the falling houses, and the ear-piercing
shrieks of the distressed, were sufficient to strike astonishment into
Angels.” This was just one of the descriptions in the distressed letter, and the
writing style was so elegant and praised that when he introduced it to a local priest
he was immediately urged to publish it in the paper, which he soon consented to.
When the locals read it they were astonished that such a young man had written
such a piece. They soon started a fund to send him to college on the mainland, his
managers and close cousin being key donators. Eventually enough money was
raised to send him off, where he started life anew in New York City.

EDUCATION

As soon as Hamilton arrived in NYC he began his academic career at
Elizabethtown Academy, NJ, where he soon met Aaron Burr, a man that would be
in his life until the day he died. While studying he continued practice on both his
French and English literary skills, impressing peers and teachers alike. He
continued this studious path all the way through his schooling, in which he was
eventually granted a scholarship to King’s College.

Throughout his college years he began to find more and more interest in the
growing revolution, meeting several others involved in the rebel’s cause and
joining a militia alongside close friends Marquise De Lafeyette, John Laurens, and
Hercules Mulligan. These men were quite influential in his life, encouraging him
to finish the education that eventually found him an important job in law, and
introduced him to the “Father of the Nation”, General George Washington.

KINGS COLLEGE 1770
(NOW COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY)

“RIGHT HAND MAN”

Hamilton attracted the attention of many military leaders, his skills shining
to everyone, already a fierce abolitionist. But that wasn’t what truly attracted the
big shots. When Samuel Seabury, a young Tory, began speaking against the rebel
cause in public and print, Alex published multiple pages of what he called The
Farmer Refuted, basically just burning Seabury and confronting almost every Tory
in the area with his writing. And when George Washington heard, he knew he had
to get Hamilton on his staff-and he succeeded. Alex became his “right hand man”
and wrote almost every speech and letter Washington gave, as well as fought
alongside him in combat.

They worked together like this for a year or so until Hamilton became bored
with doing such little fighting and so much writing. So he did the only thing he
could think of after so many requests for promotion: he threatened to resign.
Though it wasn’t taken seriously at first, Washington did not want to lose the key
member of his troops, and after a month promoted him to Lieutenant Colonel. He
held this position until the battle of Yorktown, after which he resigned for
retirement, only to be appointed as New York’s delegate for the Congress of
Confederation only a year later.

Though this year was filled with the joy of their victory over Britain,
unfortunately Hamilton lost his closest friend John Laurens a few weeks after
Yorktown. The troops had not heard of the war’s end, the British killing Laurens in
his attempt to free and recruit the slaves. Laurens happened to be, or at least was
speculated to be from their many love letters, much more than a friend to him, his
death only adding to Alexander’s long list of sorrows.

FAMILY LIFE

In 1780, after dating for about 3 months, Hamilton married Elizabeth
Schuyler, daughter of wealthy Gen. Phillip Schuyler. Still in the midst of the
revolution, the young couple was eager to marry soon and moved to Harlem
together, Hamilton refusing to accept money from his father in law and making it
on his own. About two years later, Eliza gave birth to their first child Philip
Hamilton, on January 22, 1782. Overjoyed at his son’s birth, according to family
and friends he spent every free moment with his young family. The next year he
resigned from Congress, though not completely giving up work. Over the next year
he worked diligently and established America’s first national bank, the bank that
kept the nation from crumbling into ruins, becoming an accomplished lawyer in the
meantime. Over the course of their marriage the couple had 8 children all together,
each doing something different to uphold their father’s pride and legacy.

Elizabeth (Eliza) Schuyler Hamilton

THE FEDERALIST PAPERS:

Hamilton chosen for New York Delegate

After being chosen as one of New York’s
delegates for the Constitutional Convention,
Hamilton rushed off to Philadelphia to join
the action. While there he made countless
speeches on behalf of the new Constitution.
To support it further, he wrote 51 of the 85
essays entitled The Federalist Papers,
defending the document, James Madison
writing 29 and John Jay only 5. In the end
they ended up ratifying the Constitution, and
though it wasn’t perfect in his eyes Hamilton
signed as the 27th signature.

CONGRESS

In 1789 Hamilton was appointed the first Secretary of Treasury by
President Washington, his political rival Thomas Jefferson earning the position of
Secretary of State. During his terms he fought with almost every other cabinet
member, ensuring that his financial system would be instated. At the time this
system of covering state debt was America’s saving grace, eliminating the
dangerous debt hanging over them all. But as a Federalist he was met with constant
fights from the Democratic-Republicans, specifically Thomas Jefferson and old
friend James Madison. With his continuous efforts to end slavery, the stress upon
him to establish his financial system, and the opposition of the opposite party
Hamilton was the definition of stressed. He had more work then he could handle,
especially after announcing the foreign neutrality the president had passed, so
when Washington decided not to run for another term the surprise was truly
overwhelming for him. And to make matters worse, Jefferson had announced his
campaign as well.

In between the stress he also had Aaron Burr to deal with. Once his rival
in law and military position, Burr had now taken the spot of Hamilton’s father in
law in the cabinet, something he took to great offense. So the hatred between the
two continued to grow as Hamilton’s temper returned once more. When Adams
was elected in 1796 one of the president’s first decisions was to fire the young
secretary, having a strong grudge against him for his tough stances despite sharing
a political party. But this was only the beginning of the fight.

Soon after the loss of his job Hamilton wrote a large pamphlet attacking president
Adams, though there is suspicion that Aaron Burr released said writing in his own
attack attempts. Though he knew it could kill his career, almost exactly what it did

at the time, the paper managed to confine Adams to a single term.

Hamilton’s writing on John Adams

THE REYNOLDS PAMPHLET

Hamilton was what you would call a “ladies man”. Before marriage he
was known to flirt was many of the women he was acquainted with, including
Eliza’s sister Angelica, who he always remained close to. However he had always
stayed faithful to his beloved wife, treating her above every other woman. That is
until 1791 arrived.

Alone for a few weeks, and under unbearable stress, Alex was greeted
one morning by a woman named Maria Reynolds, begging him for help. She
claimed that she had been cheated and beaten by her husband and that he had left
her and her daughter alone with nothing. Aiding her with a loan, he walked her
home and when she seduced him, thus began a yearlong affair. About a month into
this her husband, who blackmailed him for over $1000 in the course of the year it
lasted, confronted him.

He was never caught though, careful to avoid any similar subject until
the day the money was found by Jefferson, Burr and Madison and reasoned as
treason, which he narrowly avoided being charged with. The guilt building up
along with the fear he published a document know as The Reynolds Pamphlet in
1797, explaining and admitting to the entire affair. His wife was one of the first to
read it, soon after practically erasing herself from his history and confining his
quarters to the home office for the next 4 years.

About three years later this scandal didn’t seem to matter much to the public
though. In the closing election between Hamilton’s two worst political rivals, all
the people wanted was Hamilton’s opinion. Eventually the vote came to a tie,
Hamilton reluctantly lending support to Jefferson, who won by a landslid because
of this.

DEATH OF A SON

What was so important about 1801? You guessed it- more tragedy!
His life seems to be full of it actually. In November of 1801 Hamilton’s 19 year
old son Philip challenged George Eacker to a duel after he slandered Alexander’s
name in a public speech. Terrified, he went for his father’s advice and was told to
aim for the sky and show peace. This may have seemed like a good tactic for the
two, but sadly it didn’t end well.

When turning around as the duel commenced Philip immediately
aimed to the sky, and the count began: 1, 2, 3 ,4 ,5 ,6,7-Eacker fired at 7, killing
the young Hamilton. He died at his parent’s side later that night, their sadness
greater than any before. Seeing his devotion to her back again, and the pain he was
suffering alongside her, Eliza forgave her husband and welcomed him back into
her life. The sorrowful family moved uptown and continued life, mourning for
their lost loved one.

RIP

Philip Hamilton
1782-1801

DEATH AND LEGACY

In 1804 Hamilton made his final political blow at Burr. He claimed
him to be a dangerous man with unlawful intentions, the senator having tried to
claim more power recently. And to him this was the finals straw, the last time he
would be challenged or humiliated by Alexander. Burr challenged Hamilton to a
duel at Weehawken in New Jersey, dawn of July 11, 1804. Before leaving for the
duel, Alex left a letter to his wife saying where he was going, closing with “Adieu,
Best of wives and best of women. Give our children an embrace for me.” And with
that he left to row across the Hudson to his death.

Once he arrived the two opponents faced each other, their seconds
meeting then returning to the edges to officiate the duel. They turned, counting to
10 when Alexander shot up, and away from Burr to show that he would not shoot
him. But Burr refused to do the same, shooting him in the ribs and leaving a fatal
wound. He died the next day, Angelica and Eliza by his side.

Though the world may have lost a truly great person that day, Burr
later saying something similar in his quote “I should have realized the world was
wide enough, for both Hamilton and me.” he was not forgotten thanks to Eliza.
When her husband passed her suffering knew no bounds, but she Eliza’s strength
persevered and she kept his legacy alive. She wrote of his many great
accomplishments, fought to, free the slaves, raised money for the Washington
Monument, and established the first Private Orphanage in New York City, raising
children who had lost their parents just like her dear husband had. Her children
wrote of him too, helping to clear his name alongside their mother’s tireless efforts.
She never forgot him either. In her last days, she was noted to greet visitors and
have tea with those at the White House and other monuments, telling them all “I
am going to see my Hamilton soon”, smiling at the thought. So thanks to this great
woman, we can now see the amazing story of the of Alexander Hamilton, and his
wife, two people who brought a revolutionary change to our Nation, and hope for
future generations.

THE MUSICAL

The musical Hamilton captures the amazing life and death of Alexander Hamilton,
shining a new light on him. It frames his as a person, showing the good and bad of
his life as well as those apart of it. If you have any interest in American history, or
learning more about him I urge you to listen to the Broadway hit Hamilton, one of
my absolute favorite musicals. From its amazing songs to the emotion and thrill in
every scene it is truly a wonder, created by and starring Lin Manuel Miranda. The
original cast recording can be found on YouTube, and through this link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp9HUc9HraQ&list=PLUSRfoOcUe4avCXP
g6tPgdZzu--hBXUYx