Alexander Hamilton

“The constitution shall never be construed…to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.”

Alexander Hamilton

Biography for Alexander Hamilton

• Birth Date:  January 11, 1755 or 1757
• Education: King’s College, Columbia University
• Birth Place: Nevis, British West Indies (Caribbean Islands) (Legal Immigrant)
• Death Date: July 12, 1804 (Lost to Aaron Burr in Gun Dual)
• Death Place: New York City, NY
• Burial Place: Trinity Church (Downtown Wall Street District)

Facts about Alexander Hamilton

Hamilton wasn’t a big presence at the 1787 Convention in Philadelphia because he was the minority voice in the New York delegation. He played a huge role in helping secure the Constitution’s ratification as one of the three authors of The Federalist papers, along with Madison & Jay. Hamilton wrote roughly 51 of the 85 essays, which are still consulted today by scholars and the Supreme Court. Hamilton’s authorship wasn’t made public until after his death in 1804.

We know Hamilton was born on January 11; what’s in doubt is the year he was born. Hamilton, a native of the Caribbean island of Nevis, repeatedly said he was born in 1757. But official Nevisian records cite 1755 as his birth year. Alexander Hamilton lied about his age and to this day we still don’t know which day he was born.

We do know that Alexander Hamilton was not born in the United States. Hamilton was born out of wedlock to Rachel Fauccette and James Hamilton on island of Nevis in the Leeward Islands, then part of the British West Indian colonies. Alexander Hamilton would be consider a legal immigrant to America.

A result of personal bitterness and a long fought political feud, Alexander Hamilton was challenged to a duel by the American Politician & Lawyer Aaron Burr. The duel took place in Weehawken, New Jersey early in the morning of 11 July 1804 and resulted in Hamilton’s death. Burr’s shot hit Hamilton in the abdomen area above the right hip, fractured a rib, tore through his diaphragm and liver, and lodged in his spine. Hamilton fell instantly. Interestingly, before the duel Hamilton had already told confidants and made clear in valedictory letters that he intended to throw away his shot, possibly by purposefully shooting wide of Burr. In any case, Hamilton certainly fired his pistol, missing Burr’s head and snapping a branch behind him.

“The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sunbeam, in the whole volume of human nature, by the Hand of Divinity itself, and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power.”

Alexander Hamilton

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“Men give me credit for some genius. All the genius I have lies in this; when I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me. My mind becomes pervaded with it. Then the effort that I have made is what people are pleased to call the fruit of genius. It is the fruit of labor and thought.”

Alexander Hamilton

“There are seasons in every country when noise and impudence pass current for worth; and in popular commotions especially, the clamors of interested and factious men are often mistaken for patriotism. ”

Alexander Hamilton