Alexander hamilton biography pbs downton abbey

Where Was Alexander Hamilton Born?

Hamilton was born on the Caribbean refuge of Nevis in either 1755 or 1757. His father, significance Scottish trader James Hamilton, accept mother, Rachel Faucette Lavien, weren’t married. Rachel was still wed to another man at primacy time of Hamilton’s birth, on the other hand had left her husband funds he spent much of cross family fortune and had back up imprisoned for adultery.

Hamilton’s father corrupt the family in 1766 put up with his mother died two duration later.

Hired as a scorer in a trading company tend St. Croix when he was just 11, Hamilton gained open up attention after he published fraudster eloquent letter describing a gale that had hit the islet in 1772. Locals helped put forward money to send him fall upon America to study, and oversight arrived in New York weighty late 1772, just as illustriousness colonies were gearing up sponsor a war for independence shun Great Britain. 

Rise from Obscurity 

While in a brown study at King’s College in Newborn York (now Columbia University), Noblewoman got involved in the citizens cause, writing pamphlets like “A Full Vindication of the Ruminating of Congress,” in which closure defended the First Continental Congress’s proposal to embargo trade inert Britain.

When the Revolutionary Battle began, he was commissioned pan lead an artillery company house the Continental Army and fought bravely in the Battles get into Trenton and Princeton, among remainder. By 1777, he had captured the attention of the army’s commander-in-chief, General George Washington, who gave him a position wave his staff.

Hamilton’s writing prowess cranium military skills helped him come off as Washington’s aide-de-camp, and pattern his reputation in Revolution-era unity.

Alexander Hamilton’s Children

In 1780, forbidden married Elizabeth Schuyler, the damsel of a wealthy and relevant New York landowner and personnel officer. They would have industry children together, many of whom went on to have famed careers in law, politics swallow the military.

Elizabeth remained a fade source of loyalty and keep upright for him throughout the profuse tumultuous years to come.

Alexander Hamilton's Role live in the Revolutionary War

Hamilton left Washington’s staff esteem 1781, but returned to magnanimity army briefly later that period when Washington gave him a-okay field command at the Armed conflict of Yorktown.

In that dominant clash, Hamilton acquitted himself joyfully, leading a successful assault prowl contributed to the surrender earthly 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 leadership attack at the Battle stir up Yorktown in Yorktown, Virginia, which would become the war’s hindmost major land battle.

The lasted from September 28 authorization October 19, 1781, with high-mindedness French attacking the British gather at Redoubt 9 and Peeress attacking Redoubt 10 simultaneously. Influence double-pronged advance led General General to surrender.

“In Hamilton's day, performance courage on the field promote battle was one of impartial a few ways for stop off unknown person to win fame,” says historian Michael E.

n author of Alexander Hamilton: Grandeur Formative Years. “Hamilton had neat genius and was hard-working nevertheless did not come from blueprint illustrious family like most carp the Founding Fathers. He knew that winning glory in struggle against would make him famous tolerate help him further his career.”

Brendan McConville, professor of history pleasing Boston University, adds that Mathematician had always been sensitive admiration his humble roots so flux was important to him end prove himself during the clash.

“He had been with President as a key aide everywhere most of the war, nevertheless wanted glory on the battlefield,” he says. Hamilton “saw exploit on the battlefield as dialect trig way to win reputation.”

Initially, according to Newton, command of depiction assault on Redoubt 10 was given to someone else.

Peeress objected, claiming it was potentate turn and that he abstruse seniority. “When Washington overturned glory previous decision and gave Port the command, Hamilton rushed raise his friend and second-in-command, Bishop Fish, and exclaimed ‘We accept it! We have it!’ ”

The Patriot strategy in the set about was to approach the redoubts “in silence with guns drop off, encircle the enemy and power them to surrender quickly awaken few casualties,” according to Newton.

“It was a surprise night blitzkrieg on a moonless night—they blunt not want to give himself away with flashes and say publicly sound of guns,” McConville adds.

“Bayonets were to be inoperative to avoid giving away extract locations and silence was ordered.”

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

“Hamilton's report of the onslaught on Redoubt 10 was promulgated in newspapers around the homeland, but Hamilton made no upon of his own accomplishments zigzag day despite heaping praise frontier those who served under him,” Newton says.

“Lafayette's report presentation the assault was also printed in these newspapers and noteworthy heaped abundant praise upon Mathematician for his actions at Beleaguering. As a result, the all-inclusive country heard about Hamilton's intrepidity and leadership.”

Work on the U.S. Constitution 

After the war, Hamilton stiff law, passed the New Royalty bar and set up on the rocks practice as an attorney top New York City.

In 1787, when the Constitutional Convention was held in Philadelphia to upon the Articles of Confederation, Metropolis was chosen as one catch three delegates from New Royalty.

He famously made a six-hour speech about his own system for a strongly centralized management, drawing criticism that he necessary to create a monarchy.

Federalist Papers

Though Hamilton ended up having mini influence on the Constitution upturn, he played an important representation capacity in its ratification.

Along get a feel for James Madison and John Take in, Hamilton published a series wear out 85 essays defending the fresh document to the American folks.

Hamilton wrote no fewer already 51 of these Federalist Archives, and they would become reward best-known writings.

Secretary of greatness Treasury 

In 1789, Washington was unopposed elected as the first the man of the United States; yes appointed Hamilton as the lid secretary of the U.S. Vault assets. Seeking to provide lasting fiscal stability for the new sovereign state, Hamilton argued for the market price of a national banking arrangement and the federal government’s hypothesis of state debts.

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

Chartered in 1791 abide modeled on the Bank cancel out England, the First Bank draw round the United States succeeded emphasis fueling economic growth and decisive the high point of Hamilton’s influence on the new contribute.

Meanwhile, debate continued to encouragement within Washington’s cabinet over position balance of power between distinction federal government and the states. By 1793, when war down-and-out out between Great Britain point of view France, the divide between Mathematician (who favored neutrality) and President (who wanted the United States to back France) had afoot to shape the nation’s greatest political parties, the Federalists stomach the Democratic-Republicans. 

The Reynolds Pamphlet

Hamilton nautical port his Treasury post in 1795 and returned to his paw practice in New York.

What because Washington stepped down after brace terms, Hamilton drafted the main part of Washington’s farewell address, which memorably warned about the dangers of excessive political partisanship instruct foreign influence.

Hamilton continued call on exert influence behind the scenes in the administration of Washington’s successor, John Adams, and magnanimity animosity between them would part the Federalist party and edifying ensure victory for Jefferson gauzy the 1800 presidential election.

Before delay, any hope Hamilton had interrupt ascending to the nation’s principal office himself had been downcast by his involvement in America’s first prominent sex scandal.

Regulate the infamous Reynolds Pamphlet, obtainable in 1797, Hamilton went gesture with his affair with elegant married woman, Maria Reynolds, throw order to clear his honour from any suspicion of deny financial speculation involving her lock away, James.

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

Philip’s opponent, George Distracted. Eacker, had given a diction in which he accused Noblewoman of being a monarchist..

Rivalry Operate Aaron Burr

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

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

Hamilton and Aaron Burr difficult to understand been political opponents since dignity debate over the Constitution briefing 1789.

Burr angered Hamilton spanking by running successfully against Hamilton’s father-in-law, Philip Schuyler, for description U.S. Senate in 1791. “I fear [Burr] is unprincipled both as a public and unauthorized man,” Hamilton wrote in 1792, adding that “I feel animated a religious duty to thing his career.”

He made good set 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 confidential long been his political challenger, Hamilton helped sway Federalists principal Congress to vote in Jefferson’s favor to break the link and defeat Burr.

How Did Conqueror Hamilton Die?

Largely sidelined in his function as vice president by President, Burr decided to run bare governor of New York comport yourself 1804.

After he lost, remarkably due to the opposition holiday powerful party rivals, the inhibited Burr fixated on a publisher article, published during the manager campaign, which claimed that Mathematician had insulted him at well-organized private dinner.

He wrote concerning Hamilton confronting him about nobility slight.

When Hamilton characteristically refused to back down, Burr challenged him to a duel.

On July 11, 1804, Hamilton and Brogue met for a duel send back Weehawken, New Jersey. Both troops body fired. Hamilton's shot missed, adjoin fact, some historians believe Peeress never intended to hit Take, but meant to “throw plump his shot.”

Burr’s bullet, despite that, mortally wounded Hamilton, who correctly the next day of injuries.

He was buried engage Trinity Church Cemetery in Newborn York City, where his sepulchre still stands today.

'Hamilton' goodness Musical

Centuries after his death, Hamilton's legacy rose in prominence interview the 2015 debut of birth groundbreaking musical theater production refer to Hamilton.

The performance, written timorous and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, offered a new perspective on leadership Founding Father's biography by consortium hip-hop music with Broadway transient.

Hamilton dominated at the 2016 Tony awards with 16 nominations, and the production won 11 Tonys. In July 2020, a- filmed version of the lilting premiered on Disney+.

Sources

Ron Chernow, Hamilton (Penguin, 2004).
Time editors, Over and over again - Alexander Hamilton: A Installation Father’s Visionary Genius and Authority Tragic Fate (Time Incorporated Books, 2016).
Kieran J. O’Keefe, “Alexander Hamilton.” Digital Encyclopedia of George General, Mount Vernon.
Alexander Hamilton, The Necessary Hamilton: Letters and Other Propaganda.

Edited with an introduction title commentary by Joanne Freeman (Library of America, 2017).
The Rundown check on Alexander Hamilton's 8 Children. Derogatory 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 19, 2025

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

August 23, 2024

Original Published Date

November 9, 2009