Work Title: Alexander Hamilton

Definitive modern biography from Caribbean origins to Treasury reforms and the Burr duel; deeply researched.

Commercial; ISBN 9781594200090 (hc), 9780143034759 (pbk).

Alexander Hamilton

Early Life and Education

Alexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1757, in the West Indies. Orphaned at a young age, he demonstrated remarkable intellect and ambition. His talents caught the attention of local benefactors, who funded his education in New York. He attended King’s College (now Columbia University), where he became a vocal supporter of American independence.

Revolutionary Service

Hamilton joined the Continental Army and quickly rose through the ranks due to his strategic brilliance and leadership. He became aide-de-camp to General George Washington, serving with distinction throughout the war. Hamilton’s military experience and administrative skill made him a trusted advisor and future architect of American governance.

Founding the Financial System

After the war, Hamilton played a central role in shaping the new nation’s financial system. As the first Secretary of the Treasury under President Washington, he established the Bank of the United States, funded the national debt, and laid the foundation for American capitalism. His economic vision emphasized strong central government and industrial development.

Political Conflict and Federalism

Hamilton was a leading Federalist, advocating for a robust national government. He clashed with Thomas Jefferson and other Republicans who favored states’ rights and agrarianism. His writings in The Federalist Papers, co-authored with James Madison and John Jay, remain foundational texts in American constitutional theory.

Final Years and Legacy

Hamilton’s political career was marked by controversy and rivalry. His opposition to Aaron Burr culminated in a fatal duel on July 11, 1804. Though his life was cut short, Hamilton’s legacy endures in the financial institutions he created and the constitutional principles he defended. He is remembered as one of the most influential Founding Fathers.

Source:
McCabe, James D. The Centennial Book of American Biography: Embracing the Lives of the Great Men Whose Deeds Illustrate the First 100 Years of American Independence. Philadelphia and Chicago: P. W. Ziegler & Co., 1876. Internet Archive