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Alexander HamiltonSecretary to George WASHINGTON during the Revolutionary War, first US Secretary of the Treasury. Died the day after a duel with his political enemy Aaron Burr, Vice President of the United States under Thomas JEFFERSON.
Date of Birth: 12.01.1757
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Alexander Hamilton: A Biography
- American Revolution
- Political Career
- The Federalist Papers
- Secretary of the Treasury
- Later Years and Duel
Alexander Hamilton: A Biography
Early Life and EducationAlexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1755, on the island of Nevis in the British West Indies. After his father abandoned the family and his mother passed away when he was 13, Hamilton began working at an accounting firm to support himself. In 1772, he moved to America and enrolled at King's College (now Columbia University), where he wrote political articles for the "New-York Journal."
American Revolution
During the American Revolution, Hamilton formed an artillery company and became its captain. He caught the attention of General Nathanael Greene, who introduced him to George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the American army. In March 1777, Washington appointed him as his aide-de-camp with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Hamilton served in this position for nearly four years and participated in the siege of Yorktown in 1781.
Political Career
After the war, Hamilton pursued a legal career in New York but remained involved in politics. As a member of the Continental Congress in 1782-1783, he witnessed its ineffectiveness and became a strong advocate for a national union and a strong central government. He was also a participant in the unsuccessful Annapolis Convention of 1786 and later served as one of New York's three delegates to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
The Federalist Papers
Although Hamilton did not make significant contributions to the creation of the federal constitution, he played a crucial role in its ratification. He defended the constitution in the press and during the New York Ratifying Convention. He authored the majority of the Federalist Papers, a collection of essays promoting the constitution, which have become a classic in political science.
Secretary of the Treasury
After the constitution came into effect, Hamilton was appointed as the Secretary of the Treasury by President George Washington in April 1789. He held this position for over five years and was responsible for stabilizing the nation's economy, establishing the dollar as the primary currency, and creating the First Bank of the United States. Hamilton also successfully convinced Congress to assume both state and national debts to establish trust in the new government.
Later Years and Duel
After resigning as Secretary of the Treasury in January 1795, Hamilton returned to New York and focused on his family and legal practice. He served in the military as a major general during the undeclared war with France in 1798. The presidential election of 1800 ended in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, and the decision was left to the House of Representatives. Hamilton vehemently opposed Burr and used his influence to ensure Jefferson's victory.
In June 1804, Burr, informed of Hamilton's derogatory remarks about him, demanded an explanation or a public apology. Unable to apologize, Hamilton accepted Burr's challenge to a duel. The duel took place on July 11, 1804, in Weehawken, New Jersey. Hamilton intentionally did not fire his weapon and was fatally shot, ending his career.
