Alexander hamilton

Alexander Hamilton

A man who played a key role in the early formation of the American government, Alexander Hamilton proved vital to the revitalization of the post-independence American economy.Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804) was an American Founding Father born in the British West Indies, who studied in New York and whose achievements include publishing the Federalist Papers, forming anational bank, and taking bold measures to ignite the American economy, and who eventually died in a pistol duel. Hamilton’s humble beginnings help explain his need for acceptance among the haughtyFederalists.
Alexander Hamilton was born in the British West Indies in 1755 out of wedlock to James Hamilton and Rachel Lavien. Hamilton’s mother died when he was thirteen years old, forcing him to work as aclerk in a local import-export firm. Young Hamilton’s brilliant talents in writing led his close-knit community to fund his education in King’s College, New York, which he began attending in 1773. Inthe excitement of the American Revolution, Hamilton found a new vocation: American independence.
In March 1776, Hamilton enlisted with the local militia, where he served as captain of an artilleryteam. A year later, he was promoted to a lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army, were general George Washington began noticing him. Hamilton’s keen skills eventually led him to form a closerelationship with Washington, serving as his Chief of Staff for four years. Following the war, Hamilton finished his studies in law and married Elizabeth Schuyler, daughter of a prominent New York family.Afterwards, in 1787, Hamilton served as a delegate for New York in the Constitutional Convention, whose intent was to create a better American constitution. After the convention, Hamilton worked withJohn Jay and James Madison to publish the Federalist Papers, a series of eighty-five essays having an impact on the ratification of the newly proposed document. In 1780, Hamilton was appointed the...