Who Was Alexander Hamilton?

       Alexander Hamilton was an American orator, statesman, and general, was born in the West Indies, on the island of Nevis, January 11, 1757. His father was James Hamilton, a Scottish merchant, and his motlier the daughter of a French Huguenot named Faucette. After passing some time in a counting house in Saint-Croix he was sent by his friends in 1772 to New York, where the following year he entered King's College. He very soon became connected with the popular cause, which be promoted by speeches and pamphlets of remarkable ability. At the age of nineteen he became captain of an artillery company, and served at the battles of Long' Island, White Plains, Trenton, and Princeton with great credit In March, 1777, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel, and was appointed aide-de-camp to Gen. Washington. of whom he soon became the especial confidant. He rendered efficient services to the commander-in-chief in devising means to sustain the arm and in planning campaigns. He gained distinction at the battle of Monmouth, June, 1778. Two years later he married Eliza, daughter of Gen. Schuyler, and in 1781 retired from Washington's staff. He participated in the siege of Yorktown, where he captured a redoubt by assault in October, 1781. After the surrender of the British army at that place, retaining his military rank, but declining to receive any pay, he devoted his attention to the study of law, and in 1782 was chosen a member of the Continental Congress from New York. He resigned as a member of Congress the year following and began practicing law in New York City.

       "Hamilton," says Chancellor Kent, "by means of his fine melodious voice and dignified deportment, his reasoning powers and persuasive address, soared above all competition; his preeminence was at once universally conceded."

       Hamilton made strenuous efforts to protect the Tories from persecution and to promote anti-slavery measures. He became a member of the New York Legislature in January, 1787, and a member of the Convention which met at Philadelphia in May of that year to form a Federal Constitution. In that capacity he advocated with rare ability the policy-- of which he was the author-- of forming a firm and durable union of the States. He signed the new Constitution in September, 1787. It differed materially from the one that he had proposed, but he used his influence to obtain its ratification by the people of the State of New York. He afterward contributed some political treatises remarkable for the clearness of their style and the profound knowledge of statesmanship which they evince to the New York Gazette and The Federalist in defense of the Constitution.

        Hamilton became the first Secretary of the Treasury in 1789, when the financial affairs of the nation were in an almost desperate condition. Among the measures which he devised were a funding system and a national bank, and the bill to establish the latter was passed by Congress in 1791. He also urged the encouragement of domestic manufactures and the enforcement of a protective tariff. He succeeded in restoring the public credit, and trade and industry rapidly revived.

       Hamilton became the recognized leader of the Federal party, and resigned the office of Secretary of the Treasury, January 31, 1795, m order to resume the practice of law. He was offered, but declined, the position of Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

       When hostilities with the French Directory were anticipated, the army was reorganized in 1798, and Washington agreed to accept the position of general-in-chief provided Hamilton should be placed second in command. Hamilton was appointed inspector-general, with the rank of major-general, and became commander-in-chief in December, 1799, upon the death of Gen. Washington. The army was soon after disbanded, and he returned to the practice of law. In September of the same year many prominent Federalists, including Hamilton, censured President Adams for sending envoys to France. The course pursued by them caused a rupture in the Federal party, which was defeated in 1800, when Jefferson and Burr were respectively elected President and Vice-President of the United States.

       In 1804, Hamilton assisted in defeating Burr, who was a candidate for the office of Governor of New York. Burr challenged him, and a duel was fought between them at Weehawken, where Hamilton received a mortal wound, of which he died July 12, 1804. His death created a profound sensation, and was generally and deeply deplored. His eldest son had been killed in a duel two years previously.

       "Virtue so rare, so pure, so bold," says Fisher Ames in speaking of Hamilton, "by its very purity and excellence inspired suspicion as a prodigy. His enemies judged of him by themselves. So splendid and arduous were his services they could not find it in their hearts to believe that they were disinterested." And the celebrated Talleyrand once said that "I have known nearly all the marked men of my time, but I have never known one on the whole equal to Hamilton." 

Ten Facts About Alexander Hamilton

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