Dates

• Existence: 1757 - 1804

Biography

Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804) was the first United States Secretary of the Treasury.

Alexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1755, in Charleston, Nevis to James Alexander Hamilton and Rachel Faucette. He was orphaned as a child and taken in by a prosperous merchant. In October 1772, after arriving in New York, Hamilton found lodging with Hercules Mulligan, who assisted Hamilton in earning money to pay for his education. He entered King's College, now Columbia University, in New York City, in the fall of 1773. Hamilton was a prolific writer advocating for the American revolutionary cause. Hamilton served as an artillery officer in the American Revolutionary War where he saw the New York and New Jersey campaigns. After meeting Elizabeth Schuyler in 1780, they were married on December 14, 1780, at the Schuyler Mansion in Albany, New York. Together they had eight children. He served for years as an aide to General George Washington but sought a field assignment. In an effort to obtain a field command position, Hamilton left the front in March 1781 to settle with his wife, Elizabeth, close to Washington's headquarters. After repeated requests for assignment, Washington relented on July 31, 1781, and assigned Hamilton as a commander of a battalion of companies. Hamilton led these battalions in the successful Siege of Yorktown. After the Revolutionary War, Hamilton served as a delegate from New York for the Congress of the Confederation. He resigned from law and founded the Bank of New York. In 1786, Hamilton led the Annapolis Convention that would replace the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution of the United States. Hamilton also wrote 51 of the 85 installments of The Federalist papers. He served as the Secretary of the Treasury from September 11, 1789, until January 31, 1795. After resigning as Secretary, he resumed his legal and business activities. Hamilton was a leader in the abolition of the slave trade. Hamilton actively campaigned against Aaron Burr in multiple elections, by which Burr took offense. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel in Weehawken, New Jersey on July 11, 1804. Hamilton was shot in the stomach and immediately transported to the home of William Bayard Jr. in Greenwich Village for medical attention. Hamilton died from his wounds the next day, July 12, 1804.

Citation:

FamilySearch, July 26, 2024 (Alexander Hamilton; b. January 11, 1755, in Charleston, Nevis to James Alexander Hamilton and Rachel Faucette; Hamilton served as an artillery officer in the American Revolutionary War)

Wikipedia, July 26, 2024 (Alexander Hamilton; orphaned as a child; taken in by a prosperous merchant; October 1772, after arriving in New York, found lodging with Hercules Mulligan; assisted in earning money to pay education; entered King's College, now Columbia University, in New York City, in fall of 1773; prolific writer advocating for the American revolutionary cause; saw the New York and New Jersey campaigns; met Elizabeth Schuyler in 1780; married on December 14, 1780, at the Schuyler Mansion in Albany, New York; eight children; served for years as an aide to General George Washington; sought a field assignment; effort to obtain a field command position, Hamilton left the front in March 1781 to settle with his wife, Elizabeth, close to Washington's headquarters; After repeated requests for assignment, Washington relented on July 31, 1781, and assigned Hamilton as a commander of a battalion of companies; Hamilton led these battalions in the successful Siege of Yorktown; Hamilton served as a delegate from New York for the Congress of the Confederation; resigned from law and founded the Bank of New York; In 1786, Hamilton led the Annapolis Convention that would replace the Articles of Confederation with the Constitution of the United States; wrote 51 of the 85 installments of The Federalist papers; served as the Secretary of the Treasury from September 11, 1789, until January 31, 1795; After resigning as Secretary, he resumed his legal and business activities; leader in the abolition of the slave trade; actively campaigned against Aaron Burr in multiple elections; Burr took offense; Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel in Weehawken, New Jersey on July 11, 1804; Hamilton was shot in the stomach; immediately transported to the home of William Bayard Jr. in Greenwich Village for medical attention; died from his wounds the next day, July 12, 1804)

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