Alexander Hamilton- Biography

Alexander Hamilton is the Greatest American for multiple reasons. Born on the eleventh of January in 1755 in Charlestown, British West Indies was Alexander Hamilton. Son of James Hamilton and Rachel (Fawcett) Lavien. Alexander would then grow up to be quite an accomplished Politician. Alexander Hamilton was an illegitimate child meaning that he was born without his parents being married. He had a difficult upbringing in the West Indies. His father was an aristocratic. Although said to be a great politician Alexander’s father was an aristocratic and unsuccessful Scottish trader. He abandoned the family when Alexander was 10 years of age. When Alexander was 11 years old he started to work in the West Indies office in a New York mercantile. When his mother died in 1768, Alexander was taken under the wing of her relatives. His relatives and other sponsors had recognized Alexander’s exceptional intelligence and energy and they arranged for him to go to preparatory School in New Jersey; Alexander was then enrolled at King’s College (which is now Columbia University) in 1773. Following the war, Alexander Hamilton married Elizabeth Schuyler, who was a member of one of New York’s wealthiest and most distinguished families. Alexander settled down so he would be able to practice law in New York City. He soon though, got caught up in National Politics. Alexander Hamilton’s last years were being spent in the midst of Political turmoil. Through some various political intrigues Alexander managed to show dissension in his very own Federalist Party and to incur the enmity of several important political leaders that were both Federalist and Republican parties. Along with Jefferson, these included John Adams (1735-1826), a Federalist and the second President of the United States, and Aaron Burr (1756-1836), a Republican and was Jefferson’s Vice President. In 1804 Hamilton had opposed Burr’s unsuccessful bid to be governor of New York, on the grounds of some insulting remarks that Hamilton had allegedly made about him. Aaron Burr challenged his old rival to a duel that followed the election. Alexander Hamilton died in the duel at Weehawken, New Jersey, on July 11, 1804.

"Hamilton, Alexander (1755-1804)." Student Resource Center- Gold. Gale, 1999. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.

"Alexander, Hamilton." Biography Resource Center. Gale. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.

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1st Influence- Alexander Hamilton's Accomplishments and Occupations

Throughout Alexander Hamilton’s political career he had many accomplishments and occupations. It is interesting how someone can be so involved with political matters and achieve so much. Alexander Hamilton had occupations such as being an American Statesman. He was also an early advocate for a National Government that was energetic. Alexander was an architect of a National Economic program. Also a Controversial leader of the Federalist Party in which he was instrumental in developing which was the Nation’s first political party. Was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Alexander Hamilton was George Washington’s secretary of the Treasury which included the forming of the First National Bank. In 1772, Hamilton had gained a measure of fame with his “Hurricane Letter” that was in the Royal Danish American Gazette. In October 1787 and May 1788 Alexander wrote a series of essays that were published in a New York newspaper. These essays that comprised of The Federalist Papers, effectively argued the case for a strong National Government. Throughout years Alexander Hamilton managed to go through quite a lot of occupations and events that he was involved with. (Going in Order). In 1772 Alexander published the famous “Hurricane Letter”. A couple years later in 1774 Alexander then published” A Full Vindication of the Measures of the Continental Congress.” Then in 1776 he commisioned as Captain of New York Provincial Artillery Company. Next, happening in 1777, Alexander was appointed Washington’s Aide-De-Campe, and then was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. Then in the year of 1781 he commanded a successful bayonet assault on British Redoubt No.10 at the battle of Yorktown. In 1782 Alexander had admitted to the bar; he was appointed Delegate to the Continental Congress from New york. After this he was elected to the New York Assembly; then the delegate to the Annapolis Convention. In the years 1787 and 1788 Hamilton published a majority of the Federalist Essays; this led to the fight for radification of the Constitution. He was then appointed Secretary of the Treasury in 1789. Then in 1795 Alexander resigned as secretary of the treasury and then returned to New York for Law Practice. Hamilton was then appointed Inspector General of the Army. In the year 1804 Alexander Hamilton was mortally wounded in a duel with Aaron Burr. Alexander was then buried in Trinity Churchyard, New York City. All that Alexander Hamilton achieved can be very influential. It shows that you can accomplish your goals as well.

"Hamilton, Alexander (1755-1804)." Student Resource Center- Gold. Gale, 1999. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.

Carson, Ed T., and Mary Bonk. "Hamilton, Alexander (1755-1804)." Student Resource Center- Gold. Gale, 1999. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.

"Alexander, Hamilton." Biography Resource Center. Gale, 1998. Web. 26 Feb. 2010.

Picture: https://www.nyhistory.org/web/crossroads/images/medium/alexander_hamilton_by_unid.jpg

2nd Influence- His Views

Alexander Hamilton’s views were influential in the way that, people saw what his views were and they had formed an opinion. Alexander argued for a strong National Government that had almost unlimited power over the states. His views however, were in the minority and were particularly unpopular in New York. Hamilton had defende the colonist’s cause when they were protesting the actions of the British Government which brought on the War of Independence and Hamilton upheld recent decisions of the Continental Congress. Alexander Hamilton was the opposite of a populist. He thought that the government, in his opinion, should not be ran by amateurs but instead be ran by a trained and educated elite. In many of Hamilton’s views he was strongly opposed by Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), the author of the Declaration of Independence and future president, who had believed that the American Republic rested firmly on an agrarian democracy. One important duty of the federal government, Alexander argued, was to promote a strong capitalist economy with a strong currency and public investment in infastructure.Hamilton had encouraged new industry in the South and the North by protecting infant U.S. industries until those industries were able to compete on an equal basis with imports.

"Alexander, Hamilton." Biography Resource Center. Gale. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.

Picture: http://www.anistor.gr/english/enback/ahamilton.jpg

Fun (Interesting) Facts: Alexander Hamilton

· Alexander Hamilton was an illegitimate child
· He had a difficult upbringing in the West Indies
· His father was aristocratic and also unsuccessful Scottish Trader- He abandoned the family when Alexander was 10 years old
· At the age of 11 Alexander Hamilton began to work in the West Indies office of a New York mercantile firm
· At the time of Hamilton’s death:
Lewis and Clark were exploring the Louisiana Purchase Territory
Napoleon had proclaimed Emperor of France
The president of the United States was Thomas Jefferson

"Hamilton, Alexander (1755-1804)." Student Resource Center- Gold. Gale, 1999. Web. 24 Feb. 2010.

"Alexander, Hamilton." Biography Resource Center. Gale. Web. 25 Feb. 2010.

Picture: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/alumni/Magazine/images/Fall2002/Hamilton.jpg

What did Alexander Hamilton get appointed to in 1798?

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What was Alexander Hamilton elected to in 1786?

Areas of Strength

Areas of Improvement