ALEXANDER HAMILTON: BIOGRAPHY AND BOOKS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) was a politician, economist, writer, and lawyer who has been recognized as one of the most important figures in United States politics. In addition, it was a fundamental piece for the foundation of the North American country.

Various positions related to the world of politics made Hamilton an essential part of the country's history. He was a promoter of the constitution of the United States and the main author of the economic and administrative policies of President George Washington.

John Trumbull, via Wikimedia Commons

Apart from politics, Hamilton also held positions related to economics and writing. Hamilton is considered one of the "Founding Fathers" of the United States, along with Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, James Madison, John Jay, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

Biography

Early years

Alexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1757 in Saint Kitts and Nevis, islands located in the Caribbean region of the American continent, where he lived part of his childhood.

His mother, Rachel Faucette, was a British woman who was married with a son. However, she left her family to travel to San Cristóbal, where she met Hamilton's father, James Hamilton. The man abandoned her shortly afterwards along with the children they had.

After the death of his mother, Hamilton began working at the age of 11 in the business of Nicholas Cruger and David Beekman, to whom he took the accounting records. His performance made him worthy of assuming the reins of the business at just 15 years of age.

Education

Lack of education was not an impediment to Hamilton being able to work. Even during his years in the business of Nicholas Cruger and David Beekman, he devoted much of his free time to reading, a habit that allowed him to develop the ability to write impeccable texts.

When friends of his relatives noticed the potential of the young man, they decided to pay for his formal studies. He studied Latin and Greek at an academy located in New Jersey, where he made contact with important figures in the intellectual field.

Later, he entered the university at an early age, as his rapid academic evolution allowed him to pursue higher studies with only 16 years. However, a series of inconveniences made Hamilton look for a new institute in New York, studies that he carried out in an accelerated way.

The start of the Revolutionary War in 1774 brought Hamilton closer to politics. Through his writings, he gave his opinion on the historical events that unfolded at that time and supported the revolutionary cause.

Military career

Before completing his education, Alexander Hamilton joined together with other young people as a volunteer in a militia group called “Hearts of Oak”. Thanks to the military studies that he carried out in parallel with his education, he achieved a promotion in the group that allowed him to successfully lead several attacks and battles.

Among the battles he fought are: the Battle of White Plains, on October 28, 1776 in New York; the Battle of Trenton, on December 26, 1776 in New Jersey; and the Battle of Princeton, which took place on January 3 of the following year in New Jersey.

I work with George Washington

In 1777, George Washington invited him to become a lieutenant colonel and help him on the battlefield. Thanks to four years with Washington, he was made trustworthy enough to handle the general's correspondence.

The handling of letters to Congress, diplomatic work, and negotiations with army officers on behalf of Washington were part of the tasks he had to perform during his work with the general.

His command of the French language also made him a fundamental piece in linking Washington with the generals and admirals of France.

Despite the importance of his work with George Washington, Hamilton had a desire to continue to excel, so he tried to pressure the general to give him active command on the battlefield. The request was denied to him, reason why in 1781 Hamilton decided to break relations with his employer on good terms.

The friendship was preserved, prompting Washington to give him command of an army that carried out an assault on the British battalion that same year at Yorktown.

Political career

In 1781, Alexander Hamilton moved to Albany, the capital of New York, after the war ended. His undeniable interest in politics led him to study law until in 1782 he was able to practice the profession.

That same year he was chosen by the New York legislature to be part of the Confederation Congress and represent the state. During his work he did not abandon the essays on the politics of the country.

In 1783, he began to formally practice the profession of lawyer. He defended those who were loyal to the British during the Revolution, after they were sued with a series of arguments backed by the law.

His interest in the economy also led him to found the financial institution known as "Bank of New York", one of the most solid in the North American country and which later merged with Mellon Financial.

Constitution

Four years after beginning to practice as a lawyer, in 1787, Alexander Hamilton reached the lower house of the New York legislature, a position he assumed in January of that same year. In addition, he was appointed as a delegate to the Annapolis convention.

After convincing the New York delegation to send representatives to Philadelphia for the Constitutional Convention, Hamilton was able to join the group that traveled to the American city.

His intention was to replace the articles of Confederation by a centralized government, for which he presented his respective speech; even so, it did not have the desired effect. The other New York representatives who accompanied him withdrew, leaving the city without any representation.

Despite this, Alexander Hamilton signed the Constitution as a natural person. The Magna Carta was strongly rejected by the opposition, a criticism to which Hamilton responded with one of his articles.

The answer was not accepted, so together with James Madison, delegate from Virginia, and John Jay, secretary of foreign affairs, he wrote The Federalists, a group of 85 essays that aimed to defend the Magna Carta and the republican government. The work was largely accepted.

Secretary of the Treasury

The relationship between George Washington and Alexander Hamilton did not end when they stopped working together. During his first year in office, Washington made him the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, the fifth highest post after the president.

With the intention of establishing credit both in North America and abroad and to strengthen the government, Hamilton made a program to link his political philosophy with the Executive Branch.

Hamilton's tenure in office, which he held until January 1795, allowed the formation of the basis of American politics during his tenure. This legacy was maintained over the years.

His work also paved the way for the creation of local political parties. Then he became the leader of the Federalist Party, with the main purpose of finding the necessary support from an organization that would allow him to bring his philosophy to Congress.

Last years

After retiring from the Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton kept an eye on the political situation in the United States. He was a fundamental piece in the public opinion of the country in the presidential elections of 1796 and 1800.

In 1801, he contributed to the founding of the New York Evening Post newspaper, where he reflected his ideologies. His enmity with Aaron Burr, an American military and politician, led him to encourage the people to choose the Republican opponent instead of Burr's candidacy, for the 1804 gubernatorial election.

The military lost office by a small margin of difference. However, the belief was maintained that Hamilton had to do with his defeat. Burr demanded a public apology for some letters written by the former Secretary of the Treasury, who agreed to the request without acknowledging the offense attributed to him.

After several failed attempts to reconcile, relatives of Burr and Hamilton scheduled a duel for July 11 of the same year in New Jersey, where Hamilton's eldest son had died three years earlier in the same conditions.

The result of the duel gave Burr the victory. Hamilton died on July 12, 1804, as a result of injuries caused by the duel with Burr. He left his wife and seven children in severe debt.

Plays

The Federalists

It was a series of 85 essays that had the objective of defending the Constitution and the republican government. Together with James Madison and John Jay, he addressed topics such as the importance of the union for the development of politics and a government with energy; the conformity of the Magna Carta and the benefits that its acceptance brought to the nation.

Manufacturing report

It was a report that presented economic principles influenced by mercantilism. In it, Alexander Hamilton explained that there must be a strong policy that would allow the United States to become independent.

A Complete Vindication of Congressional Measures

This work was written by Hamilton at the age of 19, in which he addresses the world of politics and defends the First Continental Congress after a farmer wrote a pamphlet against the body.

Once published, the farmer decided to respond to Hamilton's work with another publication, which, in turn, was also responded by the American politician with the second part of the text. This was called The Farmer Refuted.

References

1. Alexander Hamilton, Mr Nussbaum, (nd). Taken from mrnussbaum.com
2. Alexander Hamilton: Education and Early Writings 1773-1775, SparkNotes, (nd). Taken from sparknotes.com
3. Alexander Hamilton: United States Statesman, The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, (nd). Taken from britannica.com
4. A Full Vindication of the Measures of Congress, Wikipedia in English, (nd). Taken from wikipedia.org
5. Report on manufactures, Wikipedia in English, (nd). Taken from wikipedia.org
6. Alexander Hamilton, Spanish Wikipedia, (nd). Taken from wikipedia.org