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What was Hamilton's full name?
Alexander HamiltonBorn into obscurity in the British West Indies, Alexander Hamilton made his reputation during the Revolutionary War and became one of America's most influential Founding Fathers.
What was Alexander Hamilton's middle name?
If Alexander Hamilton ever had a middle name, it has not ever been documented.
What is Alexander Hamilton's title?
the first secretary of the treasuryAlexander Hamilton was a founding father of the United States, who fought in the American Revolutionary War, helped draft the Constitution, and served as the first secretary of the treasury. He was the founder and chief architect of the American financial system.
What was Alexander Hamilton's nickname Why?
After Hamilton served in the battles of Trenton and Princeton, Washington promoted him to lieutenant colonel and made him aide-de-camp, one of a small circle of staff known as Washington's "family." The aides lived and worked together, developing an easy comradeship and telling nicknames; Hamilton was dubbed "the ...
Who is on the ten dollar bill?
Secretary HamiltonThe note includes background colors of orange, yellow, and red. The $10 note features a portrait of Secretary Hamilton on the front of the note and a vignette of the United States Treasury Building on the back of the note.
Is Hamilton played by a black man?
As he formulated his production, Miranda's key decision was to make the race of the actors irrelevant. In the Pantages cast, for instance, the actors playing Hamilton, Burr, Washington and Jefferson are all African Americans.
Is Hamilton on money?
$10 Bill - Alexander Hamilton As the nation's first Treasury Secretary, Hamilton is one of two non-presidents to be featured on U.S. paper currency (the other is Benjamin Franklin). While Hamilton's portrait is seen on the obverse, the reverse shows the U.S. Treasury Building.
Did Alexander Hamilton shoot in the air?
It was the same spot where Hamilton's son had died defending his father's honor in 1801. There are conflicting accounts of what happened next. According to Hamilton's “second”—his assistant and witness in the duel—Hamilton decided the duel was morally wrong and deliberately fired into the air.
How many essays did Hamilton write?
Madison wrote a total of 29 essays, while Hamilton wrote a staggering 51.
Did Hamilton steal cannons?
At 11 o'clock on the night of August 23, Continental Army Artillery captain John Lamb gave orders for his company, supported by Hamilton's volunteers and a light infantry unit, to seize two dozen cannons from the battery at the island's southern tip.
Who was the most important Founding Father?
George Washington, the "father of the country" and the first president of the United States, is America's favorite Founding Father. Thirty-nine percent of Americans pick Washington first among the list of people commonly considered America's founding fathers.
What are 5 facts about Alexander Hamilton?
Top Five Things You Didn't Know about (Alexander) HamiltonHe gained passage to the colonies with the power of his pen. ... He was Washington's right-hand man in the Revolutionary War. ... He was a self-taught lawyer. ... He inspired the first U.S. political party. ... Not only did Alexander Hamilton die in a duel – his son did, too.
What are 5 facts about Alexander Hamilton?
Top Five Things You Didn't Know about (Alexander) HamiltonHe gained passage to the colonies with the power of his pen. ... He was Washington's right-hand man in the Revolutionary War. ... He was a self-taught lawyer. ... He inspired the first U.S. political party. ... Not only did Alexander Hamilton die in a duel – his son did, too.
How did Alexander Hamilton look?
Alexander Hamilton, the titular hero of the play, has a very distinct appearance in many of his portraits. When looking at portraits of him, it's clear that he was a handsome man, with a very prominent nose (that also seemed to be a bit on the thin side).
Who was George Washington's right-hand man?
Hamilton fought with honor in the Revolutionary War Through his efforts as a volunteer, young Hamilton became General George Washington's aide de camp, or his right-hand man. Hamilton also personally led an attack and charge at the Battle of Yorktown on a British redoubt.
What is a famous quote from Alexander Hamilton?
Alexander Hamilton > Quotes“Those who stand for nothing fall for everything.” ... “Men give me credit for some genius. ... “Give all the power to the many, they will oppress the few. ... “The constitution shall never be construed...to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”More items...
What was Alexander Hamilton’s early life like?
Alexander Hamilton was born out of wedlock in Nevis, British West Indies (now in Saint Kitts and Nevis), in either 1755 or 1757, and his father aba...
What did Alexander Hamilton accomplish?
Alexander Hamilton was a New York delegate to the Constitutional Convention (1787), a major author of the Federalist papers, and the first secretar...
Why is Alexander Hamilton famous?
In addition to his accomplishments as a U.S. statesman, Alexander Hamilton is remembered for his untimely death in a duel with Aaron Burr, who was...
Why is Alexander Hamilton so famous?
statesman, Alexander Hamilton is remembered for his untimely death in a duel with Aaron Burr, who was the U.S. vice president at the time.
Who is Hamilton married to?
Subscribe Now. Eager to connect himself with wealth and influence, Hamilton married Elizabeth, the daughter of Gen. Philip Schuyler, the head of one of New York’s most distinguished families.
What did Hamilton do in 1781?
In November 1781, with the war virtually over, he moved to Albany, where he studied law and was admitted to practice in July 1782.
Why did Hamilton go to Philadelphia?
Hamilton went to Philadelphia as an uncompromising nationalist who wished to replace the Articles of Confederation with a strong centralized government, but he did not take much part in the debates .
What was Hamilton's role in the Battle of Trenton?
In March 1776, through the influence of friends in the New York legislature, Hamilton was commissioned a captain in the provincial artillery. He organized his own company and at the Battle of Trenton, when he and his men prevented the British under Lord Cornwallis from crossing the Raritan River and attacking George Washington ’s main army, showed conspicuous bravery. In February 1777 Washington invited him to become an aide-de-camp with the rank of lieutenant colonel. In his four years on Washington’s staff he grew close to the general and was entrusted with his correspondence. He was sent on important military missions and, thanks to his fluent command of French, became liaison officer between Washington and the French generals and admirals.
What was Hamilton's plan for the Constitution?
Hamilton’s plan had little impact on the convention; the delegates went ahead to frame a constitution that , while it gave strong power to a federal government, stood some chance of being accepted by the people.
When did Hamilton become a delegate?
In 1788 Hamilton was reappointed a delegate to the Continental Congress from New York. At the ratifying convention in June, he became the chief champion of the Constitution and, against strong opposition, won approval for it.
Where was Hamilton born?
Hamilton was born in either 1755 or 1757 on the Caribbean island of Nevis. His father, the Scottish trader James Hamilton, and mother, Rachel Faucette Lavien, weren’t married. Rachel was still married to another man at the time of Hamilton’s birth, but had left her husband after he spent much of her family fortune and had her imprisoned ...
What was Alexander Hamilton's role in the Revolutionary War?
He was an impassioned champion of a strong federal government, and played a key role in defending and ratifying the U.S. Constitution.
Why did Hamilton see victory on the battlefield?
Hamilton “saw victory on the battlefield as a way to win reputation.”. Initially, according to Newton, command of the assault on Redoubt 10 was given to someone else. Hamilton objected, claiming it was his turn and that he had seniority.
How many Federalist papers did Hamilton write?
Along with James Madison and John Jay, Hamilton published a series of 85 essays defending the new document to the American people. Hamilton wrote no fewer than 51 of these Federalist Papers, and they would become his best-known writings.
What did Hamilton write in his pamphlet?
While studying at King’s College in New York (now Columbia University), Hamilton got involved in the colonial cause, writing pamphlets like “A Full Vindication of the Measures of Congress,” in which he defended the First Continental Congress ’s proposal to embargo trade with Britain.
How many affairs did Hamilton have before the duel?
According to historian Joanne Freeman, he was involved in no fewer than 10 affairs of honor (or near duels) before the notorious 1804 duel that took his life.
What happened to Hamilton's father?
Hamilton’s father abandoned the family in 1766 and his mother died two years later. Hired as a clerk in a trading company on St. Croix when he was just 11, Hamilton gained wider attention after he published an eloquent letter describing a hurricane that had hit the island in 1772.
Where was Hamilton born?
Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis in the British West Indies, on January 11, 1755 or 1757 (the exact date is unknown). Hamilton's parents were Rachel Fawcett Lavien, who was of British and French Huguenot descent, and James Hamilton, a Scottish trader.
How Did Alexander Hamilton Die?
Hamilton met Burr at the duel, which began at dawn on July 11, 1804, in Weehawken, New Jersey. When both men drew their guns and shot, Hamilton was severely wounded, but Hamilton's bullet missed Burr.
How many trespass cases did Hamilton take?
Hamilton went on to take an additional 45 trespass cases and proved to be instrumental in the eventual repeal of the Trespass Act, which had been established in 1783 to permit rebels to collect damages from the Loyalists who had occupied their homes and businesses.
Why did Hamilton turn down the opportunity to house the nation's capital?
Lacking their state loyalties, Hamilton went so far as to turn down New York’s opportunity to house the nation's capital in favor of securing backing for his economic program, dubbed the "dinner table bargain."
What was Hamilton's affair with Reynolds?
Hamilton's affair with Reynolds is considered one of the first sex scandals in the country’s history. In a letter to his wife dated July 4, 1804 (just days before his fateful duel with Aaron Burr ), Hamilton wrote, “Fly to the bosom of your God and be comforted.
Why did Hamilton meet with other delegates?
In 1787, while serving as a New York delegate, he met in Philadelphia with other delegates to discuss how to fix the Articles of Confederation, which were so weak that they could not persist in keeping the Union intact. During the meeting, Hamilton expressed his view that a reliable ongoing source of revenue would be crucial to developing a more powerful and resilient central government.
How old was Hamilton when his mother died?
But the family was soon dealt another sad blow. After working tirelessly to make ends meet, his mother became ill and died in 1768 at the age of 38 .
Where is the painting of Alexander Hamilton?
Her painting of Alexander Hamilton, a copy of John Trumbull's contemporary portrait which hangs in New York's City Hall, was painted on commission for the Treasury Department.
Who did Hamilton fight with?
Desirous of a strong, centrally controlled Treasury, Hamilton did constant battle with Thomas Jefferson, then Secretary of State, and Albert Gallatin, then a Congressman, over the amount of power the Department of the Treasury should be allowed to wield.
What was Hamilton's first interest in the Revolutionary War?
Facing a chaotic treasury burdened by the heavy debt of the Revolutionary War, Hamilton's first interest when he took office was the repayment of the war debt in full. "The debt of the United States ... was the price of liberty,'' he affirmed, and he then put into effect, during 1790 and 1791, a revenue system based on customs duties ...
What was Hamilton's attack on the debt?
Hamilton's attack on the debt helped secure the confidence and respect of foreign nations. He introduced plans for the First Bank of the United States, established in 1791 which was designed to be the financial agent of the Treasury Department. The Bank served as a depository for public funds and assisted the Government in its financial ...
When did Hamilton leave the mint?
The Mint became an independent agency in 1797 and was eventually transferred to Treasury in 1873. Under personal financial pressure, his office paying only $3500 a year, Hamilton resigned in 1795 and joined the New York bar.
Where was Alexander Hamilton born?
Act One. Alexander Hamilton was born in the West Indies region of the Caribbean. According to the musical, Hamilton's father left him and his mother, who died from a fever when he was 12. He then moved in with a cousin who committed suicide, which left him to fend for himself as he had no one else. A room inside Alexander Hamilton's House.
Who did Hamilton select for President?
As the Election of 1800 approaches, Alexander Hamilton is frequently asked about who he will promote for president. Shockingly, Hamilton selects Jefferson, claiming that Burr has no beliefs and stands for himself. (" The Election of 1800 ").
What did Jefferson and Hamilton argue about?
After Thomas Jefferson returns from France in 1789, Jefferson and Hamilton debate over the merits of Hamilton's financial plan during a Cabinet meeting. Washington pulls Hamilton aside and tells him to figure out a compromise to win over Congress. (" Cabinet Battle #1 ").
What happened to Philip Hamilton's son?
After his eldest child, Philip Hamilton, challenges George Eacker to a duel, he is mortally wounded and dies from infection (" Blow Us All Away "). Hamilton and Eliza become increasingly depressed after their loss and they move uptown (" It's Quiet Uptown ").
What did Hamilton write to John Laurens?
During his revolutionary days, George Washington made John Laurens and Alexander Hamilton share a bed. During the Revolutionary War, Hamilton wrote an entire letter detailing why he didn't want a convicted spy, John Andrè, to be hanged.
Why did George Washington send Hamilton home?
General George Washington sends Hamilton home during the war for disobeying direct orders and engaging in a duel with General Charles Lee (" Meet Me Inside "). However, soon after he was summoned back, (" Guns And Ships ") to finish the war at the Battle of Yorktown. (" Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down) ").
Why did Hamilton get outraged by John Adams?
They get in a fight with Adams bashing Hamilton for being an orphan; Hamilton's response being very harsh to Adams's weight.
Where was Alexander Hamilton born?
Childhood & Early Years. Alexander Hamilton was born out of wedlock in Charlestown, the capital of the island of Nevis, in British West Indies . His father, James Hamilton, was a Scottish trader and his mother, Rachel Fawcett Lavien, was a married woman of British and French Huguenot descent. There is an ambiguity about the year of Alexander’s birth.
Who was Alexander Hamilton's biological father?
Soon after Rachel’s death, Alexander Hamilton found home with Thomas Stevens, a merchant. According to many, Stevens might have been Hamilton’s biological father because Hamilton had a striking resemblance with Stevenson’s son, Edward. That only Alexander was given a home, not James, could be another reason for this assumption.
What did Hamilton do after he worked for the company?
After work, Hamilton spent his time reading in the library of Reverend Hugh Knox, gaining extensive knowledge in literature, history and science. Concurrently, he also started publishing an occasional poem in the local paper.
What was Hamilton's main cause of escape?
Although he supported revolutionary cause, he was against attacking the Loyalist. On May 10, 1775, as an angry mob came to attack Myles Cooper, the then President of King's College, Hamilton is believed to have helped him to escape by keeping the mob engaged with his talk.
How many children did Hamilton have?
They enjoyed a very close relationship, and had eight children; Philip, Angelica, Alexander, James, John, William, Eliza and Philip. In the summer of 1791, Hamilton met Maria Reynolds, married to some James Reynolds. Eventually the two began an illicit affair that lasted until June 1792.
What did Hamilton do to help the government?
In this new avatar, Hamilton founded the nation’s financial policy, helping the government to tide over the chaos it had inherited from the revolution. A supporter of strong federal government, he also played significant role in the ratification of the new constitution and held slavery morally wrong.
What was Hamilton's first interest in the Continental Congress?
Very soon he started supporting the Patriots against the Loyalists, convinced that they had valid grudges against England.
Who was Alexander Hamilton married to?
On December 14, 1780, Alexander Hamilton married Elizabeth Schuyler, daughter of Philip Schuyler, a Revolutionary War general, and Catherine Van Rensselaer Schuyler. Both the Schuylers and Rensselaers were very wealthy and prominent New York families. It was a happy marriage that produced eight children.
What college did Hamilton attend?
In 1773, Hamilton was entered at King's College (Now Columbia). Even as a young man he had a strong grasp on political issues concerning British and American government, which he exhibited in a series of anonymous pamphlets so discerning, they were attributed to John Jay. He was only 17 at the time.
What was Hamilton's job in 1776?
On March 14, 1776, Hamilton was commissioned Captain of the New York Provincial Company of Artillery. He exhibited great skill and intelligence in his duties with artillery, and Nathanael Greene noticed.
Where did Hamilton spend the winter?
Hamilton spent the winter of 1777-1778 with Washington and the Continental Army at Valley Forge. It was during this winter that Brigadier General Horatio Gates tried unsuccessfully to incriminate Hamilton during the Conway Cabal.
Hamilton's Childhood in The Caribbean
Rise from Obscurity
- While studying at King’s College in New York (now Columbia University), Hamilton got involved in the colonial cause, writing pamphlets like “A Full Vindication of the Measures of Congress,” in which he defended the First Continental Congress’s proposal to embargo trade with Britain. When the Revolutionary War began, he was commissioned to lead an artillery company in the Continen…
Work on The U.S. Constitution
- After the war, Hamilton studied law, passed the New York bar and set up a practice as an attorney in New York City. In 1787, when a federal convention was held in Philadelphiato overhaul the Articles of Confederation, Hamilton was chosen as one of three delegates from New York. He famously made a six-hour speech about his own plan for a strongly centralized government, dra…
Hamilton as Secretary of The Treasury
- In 1789, Washington was unanimously elected as the first president of the United States; he appointed Hamilton as the first secretary of the U.S. Treasury. Seeking to provide lasting financial stability for the new nation, Hamilton argued for the importance of a national banking system and the federal government’s assumption of state debts. Hamilton’s financial policies faced strong o…
Feud with Adams and The 'Reynolds Pamphlet'
- Hamilton left his Treasury post in 1795 and returned to his law practice in New York. When Washington stepped down after two terms, Hamilton drafted the majority of his farewell address, which memorably warned about the dangers of excessive political partisanship and foreign influence. Hamilton continued to exert influence behind the scenes in the administration of Was…
Hamilton’s Rivalry with Aaron Burr
- Even beyond his bitter feuding with Jefferson, Hamilton’s combative personality and policy-making style brought him into frequent conflicts. According to historian Joanne Freeman, he was involved in no fewer than 10 affairs of honor (or near duels) before the notorious 1804 duel that took his life. READ MORE: Burr's Political Legacy Died in the Duel with Hamilton Hamilton and Aa…
Sources
- Ron Chernow, Hamilton(Penguin, 2004) Time editors, TIME - Alexander Hamilton: A Founding Father’s Visionary Genius and His Tragic Fate(Time Incorporated Books, 2016) Kieran J. O’Keefe, “Alexander Hamilton.” Digital Encyclopedia of George Washington, Mount Vernon. Alexander Hamilton, The Essential Hamilton: Letters and Other Writings. Edited with an introduction and co…
Who Was Alexander Hamilton?
Early Life
- Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis in the British West Indies, on January 11, 1755 or 1757 (the exact date is unknown). Hamilton's parents were Rachel Fawcett Lavien, who was of British and French Huguenot descent, and James Hamilton, a Scottish trader. At the time of Hamilton's birth, Rachel was married to John Lavien, a much older merchant whom she had been pressure…
Military Career
- In 1775, when the Revolutionary Warbegan, Hamilton became part of the New York Provincial Artillery Company and fought in the battles of Long Island, White Plains and Trenton. In 1777, after Hamilton fought in that year's battles of Brandywine Creek, Germantownand Princeton, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the Continental Army. During his early service in the fight for A…
Wife and Children
- On December 14, 1780, Hamilton married Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, the daughter of Revolutionary War general Philip Schuyler. By all accounts, they enjoyed a strong relationship throughout their marriage and would have eight children together, despite the revelation that Hamilton had once conducted an extramarital affair with a married woman, Maria Reynolds. Hamilton's affair with R…
End of The War
- Growing restless in his desk job, in 1781 Hamilton convinced Washington to let him taste some action on the battlefield. With Washington's permission, Hamilton led a victorious charge against the British in the Battle of Yorktown. The British surrender after this battle would eventually lead to two major negotiations in 1783: the Treaty of Parisbetween the United States and Great Britain, …
Law Career
- After completing a short apprenticeship and passing the bar, Hamilton established a practice in New York City. The majority of Hamilton's first clients were the widely unpopular British Loyalists, who continued to pledge their allegiance to the King of England. When British forces took power over New York State in 1776, many New York rebels fled the area, and British Loyalists, many of …
Politics and Government
- Hamilton's political agenda entailed establishing a stronger federal government under a new Constitution. In 1787, while serving as a New York delegate, he met in Philadelphia with other delegates to discuss how to fix the Articles of Confederation, which were so weak that they could not persist in keeping the Union intact. During the meeting, Hamilton expressed his view that a r…
Secretary of The Treasury
- When Washington was elected president of the United States in 1789, he appointed Hamilton as the first secretary of the treasury. At the time, the nation was facing great foreign and domestic debt due to expenses incurred during the American Revolution. Ever a proponent for a strong central government, during his tenure as treasury secretary, Hamilton butted heads with fellow c…
Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton
- During the 1800 presidential elections, Thomas Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, and John Adams, a Federalist, were vying for the presidency. At the time, presidents and vice presidents were voted for separately, and Aaron Burr, intended to be Jefferson's vice president on the Democratic-Republican ticket, actually tied Jefferson for the presidency. Choosing Jefferson as …
Duel
- During his first term, Jefferson often left Burr out of discussions on party decisions. When Jefferson ran for re-election in 1804, he decided to remove Burr from his ticket. Burr then opted to run independently for the New York governorship but lost. Frustrated and feeling marginalized, Burr hit his boiling point when he read in a newspaper that Hamilton had called Burr "the most u…