“We look in vain for a man who, in an equal space of time, has produced such direct and lasting effects upon our institutions and history,"
- Henry Cabot Lodge
"In every relation which you have borne to me, I have found that my confidence in your talents, exertions, and integrity has been well placed. I the more freely render this testimony of my approbation, because I speak from opportunities of information w[hi]ch cannot deceive me and which furnish satisfactory proof of your title to public regard. My most earnest wishes for your happiness will attend you in retirement."
- George Washington writing to Alexander Hamilton
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| Possibly one of the most significant pictures in American History. The first time George Washington became acquainted with Alexander Hamilton. The two men would go on to be, in my humblest opinion, the most important two components needed for ensuring that our nation would become what it is today. |
Well it was only two weeks late but finally, without further delay, the whole Alexander Hamilton story.
This is one of my favorite sections because I consider Alexander Hamilton one of my biggest motivating factors for everything that I’m doing. As well, it gives me a chance to teach so many people about a subject in Hamilton that I am very passionate about. I’m a teacher; it’s almost sick how much I will just love knowing that I will be able to educate a ton of people about Hamilton.
I will first begin by stating that the following words will not do the Alexander Hamilton story justice. Ron Chernow’s biography of Hamilton will though, so if this piques your interest, go check out that book. It’s upward of 800+ pages but I promise you it reads like an Oscar winning movie. (Steven Spielberg, make it happen!) On that note as well, please email me if you spot any factual errors and I will also be finishing citations for some of the information in this section very soon. For now, just know that the majority of the information cited here is my recollection of the facts as told by Chernow in the book listed above.
Without further ado, my abbreviated version of the Alexander Hamilton story. Be warned... It's not exactly a quick read, Hamilton wouldn’t have had it any other way:
Alexander Hamilton’s mother was not married when she gave birth to him in the Caribbean on a small island called Nevis. As such, he would have to carry the title of illegitimate child for the rest of his unbelievably inspiring life. Personally though, I think that just makes his story all the more compelling.
Fortunately for America, this young Hamilton became a self-sustaining individual at a very early age and began working on a dock after moving to St. Croix, taking inventory for all the shipping coming in and out of the dock. No surprise at all that he flourished in this role and essentially ran the entire operation much on his own, given his role as the first treasurer of our nation.
In addition to manning the docks, Hamilton also began writing for a news publication on the island.
Now, without this job as a writer, Hamilton may never have had the chance to make it to America at all. A bunch of people who worked with the newspaper banded together (again, people working together. Common theme much?) and collected enough funds to send the young Hamilton to America to go to get an education. A remarkable gesture that was so important in the grand scheme of history that it is extremely difficult to fathom all that would unfold from that point on.
Alex began attending King’s College in New York City, or as it is known today, Columbia University. He immediately recognized the value of reading early on in life and it was no surprise again that he would immediately begin making his way into the public eye by way of his intelligence and writing. He became involved in politics and the revolutionary cause very early in his time in America and the Revolution would obviously soon become his catalyst for vaulting to the very front of public attention.
(Are you confused by the fact that I have not mentioned any dates yet? I’m a history teacher and don’t care about dates? Pretty much, context is much more important in my opinion and we always have the ability to fill in the blanks later thanks to this wonderful Internet tool. Just know everything is factual and the story should flow nicely.)
Hamilton chose law as the profession he would pursue but it wouldn’t be until after the war that he really would have a chance to flourish with that career. In all honesty, law would become only a very small percentage of his professional life, and one that really never made him much money at all due to his genuine commitment to doing well for others. It was never about Alex, it was always about honor, a lesson we can all benefit from.
In addition to his unbelievable penchant for writing quality work at an alarming rate, he was also noticed for his mastery of being an orator when giving speeches among other things during the early revolutionary movements.
So what we have in Alexander Hamilton up through his teenage years is a very bright young man with an incredible rigor displayed in whatever task he undertook, writing, reading, studying, being an orator. Now lets fast-forward to the Revolutionary War.
Hamilton joined a NY voluntary militia company; being his typical self, he would study up on military history and tactics and eventually that led to his becoming a Lieutenant. This would become a common theme for Hamilton, if he didn’t possess credentials for a job, he would go ahead and study up like a champ and pretty much become an expert at whatever the subject was. That’s a lesson for anyone to learn from, I’ve taken it to heart completely.
So he quickly moved up the ranks while leading his men and eventually he would raise an entire artillery unit only to become its Captain. Early in the war, Nathaniel Greene and Henry Knox, both prominent subordinates to the legend himself, George Washington, would request that Hamilton become their aide. He respectfully declined and continued to lead his men.
Then, during Washington’s retreat from Manhattan, Hamilton put on an impressive display at every turn as the Continental Army made their away across the Delaware River into Pennsylvania,. He would continue to lead his men with fine skill and play key roles in the fighting that occurred after the Continental Army crossed back over the Delaware River to regain momentum in the war..
General Washington took notice the entire time.
This time, Alexander Hamilton could not decline a request to leave his men, Washington asked Hamilton to serve as his aide and he honorably accepted the promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. This very moment may well be the beginning of the most significant partnership in American History, for without it, I am unsure what American History would even look like. Obviously it’s arguable but you will soon see why I hold that opinion.
Hamilton became Washington’s proverbial go-to guy. He crafted the majority of Washington’s correspondences throughout their four years together just as he would eventually be a brilliant influence on Washington’s policies as President of the United States. Washington entrusted him as superior to some generals at times, a very rare action for any General in war. It all showed just how much faith the wise Washington had in Hamilton’s abilities, such high praise that there’s really no way to put it into words.
One day, and I’m blanking out on the date again, (I promise to clarify eventually) George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and the Marquis de Lafayette would sit down for lunch along the Passaic River right in front of this magnificent part of nature, The Great Falls in what is now today, Paterson, NJ. This would be another highly significant moment in American History as you will soon learn.
Around this time as well I believe, Hamilton would meet Elizabeth Schuyler at a party of sorts. Seriously sorry about the lack of dates but here’s one for you. Hamilton and Elizabeth would marry in December of 1780. Alex was madly in love with his wife and therein lays some sadness in this statement because he would later jeopardize that love. Hamilton was a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant human being, but he was not without flaw; Washington as well despite his brilliance was a flawed individual, a man who piled up debt throughout the majority of his life. Just like the rest of us, we all have moments of mistake no matter how much good we may do in life, another lesson that we should all remember.
Back to the war.
Oddly enough, at one point during the war, Hamilton and Washington would part ways. Washington was waiting for Hamilton one day and Alex had been a little late. Washington reprimanded him mildly for keeping him waiting and when this occurred, Hamilton was quite offended and at that moment, he decided he would deny this meeting with Washington. He resigned his staff position and looked forward to seeing the battlefield again, something he long desired despite being in such a position of power for so long.
Eventually, Alex threatened to resign from the military altogether if he was not awarded a command in the field, realizing that would not be beneficial to the army at all, Washington would grant Alex his wish in 1781.
During the Siege of Yorktown that would be the deciding victory for the Continental Army, Hamilton led three battalions along with some French troops. He would lead a charge on redoubts (essentially a fort) no. 9 and 10. His unit took no. 10 with bayonets and the French did their part; these actions were a major deciding factor in the surrender of the entire British Army at Yorktown. Alex finally achieved that moment of military glory he had so desired.
The war would end soon after and Hamilton would retire to his family in NY, was elected to the new congress, and continued his life of service despite having resigned his military commission.
He recognized the flaws of the Articles of Confederation immediately during his term in office and, as he always did, he took to his pen and relied on his penchant for crafting words when calling for a revision to our first and failed attempt at democratic government.
I won't spend much time on the Constitutional Convention but just know that Alex, like James Madison, was an integral part of installing the necessary components that our government needed to flourish. Things like checks and balances, a bicameral legislature, and proportional representation were all things that Hamilton and Madison had researched prior to the convention and would eventually become staples of our Democratic system. Hamilton did have a snafu that would harm him politically in the future; he proposed that the executive branch, in hopes of stability and obviously he was thinking about George Washington when he made the suggestion, should be a lifetime position. This was too similar to a monarchy to others and for good reason. Hamilton's heart was in the right place because he honestly did believe that was in the best interest of the country but it would become another slip-up that continued to foreshadow the bitter end.
On a more positive note however, following the convention, it would be no small task to convince the states to ratify this new constitution. You can almost hear Hamilton say, "Pfft. Ha". Alex would take to the pen again and organize an effort with the help of John Jay and James Madison, they would craft the Federalist Papers. This collection of 85 essays would pretty much seal the argument for the Constitution shut. The published articles were some of the best-crafted arguments the nation ever saw and they were vital to the acceptance of the Constitution amongst the State Legislatures.
So the Constitution was adopted and the United States would elect George Washington as its first President. In an unsurprising move, Washington would entrust his most reliable subordinate with the job of Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. As first Treasury Secretary of the United States of America and his accomplishments. Lets just go ahead and list them for brevity’s sake.
On a more positive note however, following the convention, it would be no small task to convince the states to ratify this new constitution. You can almost hear Hamilton say, "Pfft. Ha". Alex would take to the pen again and organize an effort with the help of John Jay and James Madison, they would craft the Federalist Papers. This collection of 85 essays would pretty much seal the argument for the Constitution shut. The published articles were some of the best-crafted arguments the nation ever saw and they were vital to the acceptance of the Constitution amongst the State Legislatures.
So the Constitution was adopted and the United States would elect George Washington as its first President. In an unsurprising move, Washington would entrust his most reliable subordinate with the job of Secretary of Treasury, Alexander Hamilton. As first Treasury Secretary of the United States of America and his accomplishments. Lets just go ahead and list them for brevity’s sake.
Ø Hamilton was instrumental in creating a strong federal government with a robust central bank.
Ø He was responsible for convincing congress that the Federal government would be best served to assume the war debt of the 13 colonies in order to ensure harmony and stability amongst the states
Ø His bond and stock programs enabled the government to fund the public debt, thus eventually allowing the United States to possess a relatively high credit rating for a new nation.
Ø He established tax system.
Ø He established the customs service and regulations that went along with it.
Ø He helped establish a coast guard.
Ø He was instrumental in establishing a navy.
Ø By defending Jay’s treaty, Hamilton would set a long-followed historical precedence for the executive branch to be the leader in foreign policy issues, reducing the risk of the legislature to have the ability to stall decisions in foreign affairs. (Obviously it is arguable which branch should hold such powers but that is neither here nor there. Hamilton’s words would ensure this role be handled by the executive branch)
Ø And lest we forget, it was Alexander Hamilton who recognized the need for America to become a self-sustaining nation that need not rely on Great Britain or France for goods, supplies, and the like. He would convince congress with The Report on Manufactures, that America must develop a manufacturing sector to truly become an independent and successful nation. And he believed Paterson and the Great Falls was the perfect location to begin that national quest.
Ø In addition to his writing accomplishments, one attribute of Hamilton's, to me, is most impressive and important. Hamilton grew up and witnessed the horrors of slavery in the Caribbean and as a result, he was always an abolitionist and never owned any slaves himself. A claim that very few of our founding fathers can make, even the legendary George Washington.
Ø Last but not least, Hamilton, for many years, was essentially, ‘The Pen of George Washington’. That is, he was responsible for much of George Washington’s correspondence during the war, much of Washington’s policies and executive decisions during his time in office, and finally, Hamilton and Washington together were responsible for Washington’s legendary farewell address published throughout the nation.
Ø Last but not least, Hamilton, for many years, was essentially, ‘The Pen of George Washington’. That is, he was responsible for much of George Washington’s correspondence during the war, much of Washington’s policies and executive decisions during his time in office, and finally, Hamilton and Washington together were responsible for Washington’s legendary farewell address published throughout the nation.
As Chernow wrote so eloquently in his biography, “If Washington was the father of the country and Madison the father of the Constitution, then Alexander Hamilton was surely the father of the American Government.”
Hamilton’s lasting impact on the foundations of our Federal Government cannot possibly be overstated; he was at the forefront of some of our most lasting policy decisions during the early years of our Constitution.
Unfortunately for Hamilton’s legacy, revelations of his past indiscretions would soon prompt a tragic downfall leading to the eventual unexpected death of possibly the most significant of our founding fathers.
While in Philadelphia in the summer of 1791, he would entangle himself in a strange love triangle of adultery and blackmail. An unexpected meeting with young lady named Maria Reynolds soon became a relationship with the crafty Reynolds and her husband, James. Though he was too late, Hamilton would learn that the affair was a tool used to blackmail and extort him. The affair ended, but it would soon become the beginning of his demise. (The affair was actually taking place during a period in which Hamilton was preparing his Report on Manufactures)
In response to revelations in the press some five years later about this affair and charges of corruption in the midst of the blackmail, Hamilton recklessly took to the pen to defend his honor while in duty. He published a detailed account of the affair and subsequent blackmail, providing letters and all in order to clear his name as a corrupt official as the Secretary of Treasury. Hamilton preferred to be known as an adulterer rather than possess any reputation of having been corrupt in his position of great power. He did not want his honor or integrity
In the grand scheme of things, the affair limited his political prospects moving forward but as Hamilton would hope, it did not tarnish his reputation amongst those that mattered most to him. These sentiments from George Washington directly following the public admission showed just that:
"Not for any intrinsic value the thing possesses, but as a token of my sincere regard and friendship for you and as a remembrance of me, I pray you to accept a wine cooler for four bottles…. I pray you to present my best wishes, in which Mrs. Washington joins me, to Mrs. Hamilton and the family, and that you would be persuaded that with every sentiment of the highest regard, I remain your sincere friend and affectionate honorable servant."
Mrs. Hamilton would keep those wine coolers as a precious possession the rest of her life. Despite her husband's disloyalty to her, Mrs. Hamilton stood by Alexander's side in what someone might call an inspiring display of loyalty. She was well aware of her husband's importance to the new nation and the couple would reconcile what was otherwise a very humiliating situation. Alexander Hamilton was a flawed individual but at the end of the day, Eliza Hamilton knew what we all should know, that her husband was likely one of the most important leaders in the nation at the time and his commitment to the public good was, to be blunt, total. He may not have always been right (his battles lost, though rare indeed, seemed to have been fatal losses when they did occur) but during those times when his ideas were indeed wrong, his honor and purpose never appeared in doubt. His purpose in life was to serve this nation with honor.
Having already stepped down as Treasury Secretary in 1794 after Eliza sadly had a miscarriage, the revelations of the affair really did not affect Eliza and Alex save for the public embarrassment. They were finally allowed to be together with regularity and Hamilton was involved with politics in many fashions still through his pen. Unfortunately I cannot cover those years as the entire intention of this pamphlet is be brief in order to ensure brief readability.
Two years later in 1801, an eerie foreshadowing of Alexander’s death would come at the expense of his son, Phillip. Phillip got into a dispute of honor as a result of a speech that railed against his father given by a young Jeffersonian named George Eacker. In response, Phillip taunted Eacker one night and the two almost fought right then and there. Naturally, these events would lead to a duel between the two parties. Despite strong efforts by acquaintances of both parties, a truce could not be negotiated in time to prevent the duel. Alexander Hamilton, reaching a new point in his life, had instructed his son to toss away his shot or not fire at all during the duel. This thinking, Hamilton believed, would remove any doubt about his son’s honor for if the other party had killed him, “Honorable men would regard it as murder.”
Phillip followed his father’s instructions, was shot, and eventually succumbed to death later in the presence of his parents.
Hamilton was expectedly distraught following Phillips death and just three years later, he found himself in a similar predicament as his son. Hamilton had been a political adversary of Aaron Burr for years in New York and thus, he had studied Burr plenty. During this year, he made some comments about Burr that would become public and threaten Burr’s political reputation.
Though he would try to avoid it just like Phillip a few years earlier, Hamilton could not negotiate a truce with Burr and a duel became inevitable. Hamilton had been involved in duels on a few different occasions throughout his time in America and he was not about to sacrifice his honor by avoiding one now, even after his son lost his life to a duel very recently.
Like he instructed his son to do, Hamilton purposely did not target Burr in the duel. He would end up firing a shot but it had not come close to striking Burr.
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| Artist's rendition of the duel |
Burr delivered a fatal blow to Hamilton in Weehawken, NJ on the morning of July 11, 1804. Though his doctor tried diligently to save him, Alexander Hamilton would succumb to his wound some 31 hours following the initial shot. One of the greatest architects of the American Government and some of its most significant accomplishments was dead at age 49.
He left behind a reputation of honor in duty, commitment to family and friends, unmatchable work ethic, a man of vital importance to American success, an adulterer, and that of a reckless and troubled man whose honor would ultimately be his undoing. He also was arguably one of the staunchest opponents of slavery amongst our founding fathers. He was ahead of most of his peers in his desire for the country to become abolitionist and this fact alone should add much favor to him over many of his peers and adversaries.
Alexander Hamilton helped to create such an immense foundation of institutions and policies that steered our nation to the greatness that we can still see today. It is almost fascinating to think about what other gifts he could have left us in the form of words had he not been taken at such a young age, even for the times.
But we are left to wonder and it is my belief that we must wonder no longer.
But we are left to wonder and it is my belief that we must wonder no longer.
Once again, Alexander Hamilton has managed to impact the American way of life in a positive fashion. The idea here is to rally America around the restoration of Paterson, NJ as a pilot program and model for the rest of the nation in order to return us to greatness today. Back in 1792, the idea was to launch America into an era of vast economic success and use Paterson as a pilot program in that task. The words spoken by Alexander Hamilton in his Report on Manufactures 200+ years ago can still be applied today:
"In countries where there is great private wealth, much may be effected by the voluntary contributions of patriotic individuals; but in a community situated like that of the United States, the public purse must supply the deficiency of private resource. In what can it be so useful, as in prompting and improving the efforts of industry?"
Today some roles may be reversed as many of us know all too well that *some* private and public industries flourish while too many other private and public entities are being strangled. But that is all the more reason why we must make a conscience effort as private and public citizens, to promote the public good by committing to Paterson’s restoration so that we may rediscover the purpose that made us the most innovative modern economy and nation that the world has ever seen.
Hamilton had faith in Paterson’s worth all the way back then; now it is our hope that that same faith will be a key factor in our nation’s resurgence today.
Hamilton had faith in Paterson’s worth all the way back then; now it is our hope that that same faith will be a key factor in our nation’s resurgence today.
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