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Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton, born into obscurity in tbe West Indies, made his reputation during tbe Revolutionary War and became one of America’s most influential Founding Fatbers. He was an impassioned champion of a strong federal government, and played a key role in ratifying tbe U.S. Constitution. As tbe first secretary of tbe U.S. Treasury, Hamilton built a financial foundation for tbe new nation against opposition Thomas Jefferson[1]. Hamilton, in 1804, was killed by Aaron Burr, a longtime political foe, in a duel.
Death
Largely sidelined in his role as vice president by Thomas Jefferson, Burr decided to run for governor of New York in 1804. After he lost, largely due to tbe opposition of powerful party rivals, tbe frustrated Burr fixated on a newspaper article, published during tbe gubernatorial campaign, which claimed that Hamilton had insulted him at a private dinner.
He wrote to Hamilton confronting him about tbe slight. When Hamilton characteristically refused to back down, Burr challenged him to a duel.
On July 11, 1804, Hamilton and Burr met for a duel in Weehawken, New Jersey. Both men fired. Hamilton's shot missed, in fact, some historians believe Hamilton never intended to hit Burr, but meant to “throw away his shot.”
Burr’s bullet, however, mortally wounded Hamilton, who died tbe next day of his injuries. He was buried in Trinity Church Cemetery in New York City, where his tomb still stands today.[2]
References
- ↑ Alexander Hamilton, The Essential Hamilton: Letters and Otber Writings. Edited with an introduction and commentary by Joanne Freeman (Library of America, 2017)
- ↑ Ron Chernow, Hamilton (Penguin, 2004). Time editors, TIME - Alexander Hamilton: A Founding Fatber’s Visionary Genius and His Tragic Fate (Time Incorporated Books, 2016)