The Life of Alexander Hamilton
Courtesy of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_ten-dollar_bill
Alexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1755 on the island of Nevis, in the British West Indies. Hamilton's father James abandoned his family when Hamilton was only a baby and because of this Hamilton grew up in poverty.Hamilton was determined to make something of himself. He took his first job as a clerk at an accounting firm at the age of 11. At the age of 16 Hamilton was sent to New York to get an education by his bosses. He attended King's College (now Columbia) but became entangled with the political movement of the era. He was drawn to the call for revolution against Britain and wrote his first paper about the issue in 1774.
As the American Revolution began, Hamilton joined the New York militia in 1775 where he served in the New York Provincial Artillery Company. He was quickly recognized for his service and in 1777 he was promoted to Lieutenant colonel. Hamilton then became George Washington's assistant and adviser. Later in life Hamilton was appointed inspector general and second in command under president John Adams in the year 1789.
After the war Hamilton became a respected lawyer. He established a practice in New York City and worked on some of the most important cases of the time period. He worked on the landmark case, Rutgers v. Waddington in 1784. This case was integral in establishing the judicial review system. He also assisted in the founding of the bank of New York and the repeal of the Trespass Act. Hamilton's successful law career led to his large involvement of the politics of the time.
Hamilton was a famous proponent of a strong federal government and the leader of the Federalist Party. He was a key factor in the ratification of the Constitution and wrote 51 of the 85 essays in The Federalist Papers about the subject. In 1789, Hamilton was appointed Secretary of the Treasury by George Washington in order to bring the country out of debt. He created economic policies that strengthened the federal government that would have the power to become a wealthy nation. In 1795, Hamilton stepped down as the Secretary of the Treasury leaving behind a strong and stable economy backed by a powerful central government.
Aaron Burr, another politician of the era, blamed Hamilton for many of his own political failures. Hamilton was a political enemy of Burr and did his best to prevent Burr from being elected to any position. After losing his bid for president in 1800 and the New York governorship in 1804, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. It was held in Weehawken, New Jersey on July 11, 1804. In the duel Hamilton was fatally wounded by Burr's bullet. Hamilton died the next day on July 12, 1804 in New York City.
As the American Revolution began, Hamilton joined the New York militia in 1775 where he served in the New York Provincial Artillery Company. He was quickly recognized for his service and in 1777 he was promoted to Lieutenant colonel. Hamilton then became George Washington's assistant and adviser. Later in life Hamilton was appointed inspector general and second in command under president John Adams in the year 1789.
After the war Hamilton became a respected lawyer. He established a practice in New York City and worked on some of the most important cases of the time period. He worked on the landmark case, Rutgers v. Waddington in 1784. This case was integral in establishing the judicial review system. He also assisted in the founding of the bank of New York and the repeal of the Trespass Act. Hamilton's successful law career led to his large involvement of the politics of the time.
Hamilton was a famous proponent of a strong federal government and the leader of the Federalist Party. He was a key factor in the ratification of the Constitution and wrote 51 of the 85 essays in The Federalist Papers about the subject. In 1789, Hamilton was appointed Secretary of the Treasury by George Washington in order to bring the country out of debt. He created economic policies that strengthened the federal government that would have the power to become a wealthy nation. In 1795, Hamilton stepped down as the Secretary of the Treasury leaving behind a strong and stable economy backed by a powerful central government.
Aaron Burr, another politician of the era, blamed Hamilton for many of his own political failures. Hamilton was a political enemy of Burr and did his best to prevent Burr from being elected to any position. After losing his bid for president in 1800 and the New York governorship in 1804, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. It was held in Weehawken, New Jersey on July 11, 1804. In the duel Hamilton was fatally wounded by Burr's bullet. Hamilton died the next day on July 12, 1804 in New York City.