Who was Alexander Hamilton? Why is he important?
Alexander Hamilton was one of the many founding fathers from 1780 to his death in 1804. His goal was to create a stable foundation and increase the power of the Central Government.
Who Was Hamilton Before The Fame?
Hamilton was born in Charlestown, Nevis, which is an island in the British West Indies. His father was James Hamilton and his mother was Rachel Faucette Buck. The two did not marry and were very poor. His father left Alexander and his mother when Alexander was only ten years old. His mother died a few years later, making Hamilton and his brothers, James Hamilton Jr, and Peter Lavien, orphans.
Alexander Hamilton was humiliated by other kids because of his family’s poverty and status. When Hamilton was just eleven years old, he started working for St. Croix as an accountant. Throughout his youth, he was intelligent but was rarely noticed, but luckily, local benefactors saw him and raised enough money for him to go to The American Colonies for a proper education.
What Hamilton Did When He Came To America
When Hamilton first arrived in America in 1772 he settled down in New York and got his education at Elizabeth Academy. Followed by getting a degree at Kings College. Now known as Columbia University. He wrote political pamphlets about Patriots because he was against British Rule. The first published essay he wrote is called “A Full Vindication of the Measurements of Congress.”
Hamilton left King’s College in 1774 to pursue his political career. He joined a militia company of student volunteers. He became captain of the artillery company. Also, he had to sell cargo from a merchant to pay for his schooling.
His Service
In 1776, when Hamilton left his job and schooling he joined the Continental Army. He was an officer. He became George Washington’s key secretary, or as some may say, his right-hand-man. Other battles he participated in were: the Trenton, Princeton, and the Battle of Yorktown. He wrote George Washington’s Speeches and assisted on the foreign policy.
Post service
Alexander Hamilton went on to practice law. He got elected to the Congress of Confederation, he attended the Constitutional Convention and helped write the federalist papers. George Washington appointed him as Secretary of Treasury.
A few years back in the 1770s, Hamilton met Aaron Burr. They were friends for a while, and they both worked with the law. Hamilton wanted to go big and go fast. Burr did not. He wanted to take the easy steps and do what was right. Aaron Burr saw Hamilton as childish, and unprofessional. This caused a dispute between the two. Even more so when Hamilton chose Thomas Jefferson, a guy which Hamilton despised, over Burr for president. This led to them going out to settle their disputes through a gun duel. Hamilton got shot by Burr and died on July 11, 1804.
Hamilton’s Family
Hamilton did indeed have a big family. He married Elizabeth Schuyler only a few months after dating her. They met in 1780. They had eight children together: Philip, Angelica, Alexander jr, James Alexander, John Church, William Stephen, Eliza, and Philip the second.
Philip the first. Their eldest son, tried to carry on Hamilton’s legacy. He defended his father’s honor after Hamilton’s name was dragged in the mud. Philip ended up dying in a gun duel to George Eacker near the same spot his father would die under three years later.
Hamilton was a busy man. No one really talked about him for a long time until Lin Manuel Miranda read a book about him, and wrote the famous play many know: Hamilton
