Alexander Hamilton

Born: January 11, 1755 or 1757 Died: July 12, 1804

Alexander Hamilton was born on the Caribbean Island of Nevis on January 11 in either 1755 or 1757. Historians disagree on what year he was born partly because his parents were not married when he was born, so there were no official records of his birth. His parents weren’t married because his mother, Rachael, had already married and divorced someone else, and the terms of her divorce made it impossible for her to marry again. Because his parents were not married, Hamilton could not go to the school he wanted to as a child. Hamilton claims to have been born in 1757, but many historians think this may not have been true. Hamilton’s mother was a very smart and curious person, but unfortunately she died when Hamilton was only about ten years old. Hamilton’s father, James, was the youngest of four children and didn’t inherit as much as the others. He had to do many chores as a child, and as an adult he ended up in debt after trying several different jobs, none of which he was good at. James ended up deserting the family when Hamilton was still very young (about 13 years old). 

Like his mother, Hamilton was a very bright child, but his family was often looked down on because of their West Indian background. Hamilton wrote a letter about a hurricane he survived that was so well written and detailed that it was used for relief efforts. Local residents liked it so much that they took up a collection so he could get an education in the colonies. He arrived at the mainland in his early teens. There he went to Kings’ College to study military tactics and history. Hamilton originally supported British rule over the colonies, but was convinced otherwise and he ended up fighting against the British in the American revolution. He also became the secretary of the treasury and an author of the Federalist Papers. 

After the war was over he helped to create a new banking system. He was known for his massive contributions to the government. He was also one of the founders of the New York Post. Hamilton is now considered one of the most prolific writers among the founding fathers, although some people say he didn’t know when to stop. 

Hamilton had eight children. However, his son, Philip, died in a duel at the age of nineteen. Just three years later Aaron Burr got very angry with Hamilton for deciding not to endorse him in a presidential election. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel in Weehawken, New Jersey, the same town where his son had died just three years earlier. Hamilton accepted the challenge. It is unclear exactly what happened, but Hamilton did not survive. A bullet was found in a tree twelve feet above Burr's head. He died on July 12, 1804.