Life of Alexander HamiltonBy: Nicholas A. Harris

Birth & Childhood

•Born in 1755 or 1757 on the island of Nevis

•Mother is Rachel Buck and father is James Hamilton

•Father left and mother died of fever in ‘68. This has emotional effects on young Alex.

•Alexander & his bro James move around and become separated

Education in America

• People in Nevis pay for Alex’s education in the Colonies

• Arrived in Boston in 1772 and went to Elizabethtown Academy

• Accepted to kings college for faster education

• First political writings

Working for Washington

•Hamilton gained Washington’s attention as captain of an artillery unit

•Hamilton accepted Washington’s offer to be his aide de camp

•Hamilton had many high level duties

•Alexander wanted to fight again before it was too late.

Elizabeth Schuyler

• Alexander asked a friend to find a wife for him

• Hamilton said, "She must be young—handsome (I lay most stress upon a good shape)

Sensible (a little learning will do)—well bred. . . chaste and tender (I am an enthusiast in my notions of fidelity and fondness); of some good nature—a great deal of generosity (she must neither love money nor scolding, for I dislike equally a termagant and an economist)—In politics, I am indifferent what side she may be of—I think I have arguments that will safely convert her to mine—As to religion a moderate stock will satisfy me—She must believe in God and hate a saint. But as to fortune, the larger stock of that the better."

• His friend returned with Elizabeth Schuyler, a smart, young woman from a powerful family

• They were married on December 14, 1780

F E D E R A L I S Tpapers

• Hamilton wasn’t pleased with the new constitution or the articles of confederation

•He recruited two federalists to write essays defending a new constitution

•Essays influential throughout the colonies

•Papers helped the ratification of the constitution

General in Quasi War•Hamilton was appointed major

general of the army

•He wished to conquer the spanish colonies if France attacked the U.S.

•To fund the army, he had many taxes passed that were very similar to the British ones

•John Adams ruined his plans by negotiating with the French

Hamilton vs. Burr•Letters in a newspaper after Burr’s political

defeat say Hamilton had insulted him

•Burr demanded an apology but Hamilton declined saying he didn’t recall the incident

•The two men scheduled a duel

•Burr won, mainly because Hamilton never intended to shoot him, but completely miss

•Hamilton died on July 12, 1804 (the following day)

Bibliography

•http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton

•http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/hamilton/timeline/timeline2.html