Early Life
Alexander Hamilton was one of the leading American figures and one of the founding fathers. He was born on the 11th of January in 1757 in Charlestown. Alexander was a bright son of James A. Hamilton, a drifting trader, and Rachael Fawcett, the daughter of a prosperous merchant. Hamilton suffered when his mother remarried. However, later she left her husband after the man cost her a fortune. During this time, she had had to pass through hard times with less or no facilities of life. After fighting heavy odds of life, his mother breathed her last in 1778 when Hamilton was just a toddler. After her death, he had to undergo suffering and negligence in life as his father failed to provide him with the comfort of a fatherly relationship. This deprivation left a permanent mark on his memory, yet he could not let these initial troubles hinder him from getting ahead. His passion for studies and hard work paved the way for him to progress in this world.
Education
Since Hamilton’s parents were not legally married, the Church of England denied James’s membership and his right to education in the church school. Following restrictions, he attended private classes and supplemented his reading passion with a small family library. Later, in 1773, he attended the Elizabethtown Academy, New Jersey, followed by King’s College, and finished schooling in 1774. The same year, he emerged as a writer with his first anonymous publication, A Full Vindication of the Measures of Congress and The Farmer Refuted. He left King’s College before graduating and joined forces to protest against the illegitimate taxes the government imposed at that time.
Personal Life
Hamilton tied the knot with Elizabeth Schuyler, a daughter of a War general, on the 14th of December in 1780. They formed a good union and had eight children, even though Hamilton had had an extramarital affair with Maria Reynolds. His wife, Elizabeth, remained faithful to him until his death.
Death
Alexander Hamilton got severely wounded on the 11th of July in 1804 during an exchange of gunshots. He was brought to New York City but could not recover and died on the 13th of July in 1804. He was buried in the cemetery of Trinity Church in downtown Manhattan.
Some Important Works of Alexander Hamilton
- He was appointed as the secretary of the treasury by George Washington in 1789.
- He appeared on the U.S. 10-dollar bill, becoming one of two non-presidents honored with this status.
- He is regarded as the founding father of the United States Coast Guard.
- In 2015, Hamilton became the subject of a Broadway musical titled Hamilton.
- In 1870, he appeared on the postage stamps issued by the U.S. Post Office
His Career
Hamilton became a well-known writer in 1774 when his first political piece got published, supporting the Loyalist’s cause in England. After receiving a warm response from the previous publications, he further penned Quebec Act and fifteen other articles for Holt’s New York Journal. Following his political passion, he joined the army and laid the foundation of his military career. He took part in the Revolutionary War, Battles of Brandywine Creek, Germantown, and Princeton, winning promotions. During his career, his writing talent made him win the attention of General George Washington, who hired him as his assistant. This placement threw before him an opportunity to polish his writing abilities; he started writing Washington’s letter along with other confidential and private memos. Once the Revolutionary War was over, he resigned from his advisory post and practiced law. This practice further equipped him with experiences to discuss in his critical writings. These writings later emerged in the shape of his essay, The Federalist.
His Style
Hamilton’s main weapon was his prolific and highly formal writing style. This style helped him rise from the darkness to emerge as a great writer. Although he was a brave soldier and a founding father of the United States, his writing services earned him a respectable place, too. His first writing, Hurricane, featured the difficulties of life and showed how he rose out of obscurity and emerged as a futurist. Later, his essays “Farmer Refuted” demonstrate his mature political thoughts and seriousness toward the ongoing rift between the government and the rivals. His writings played a pivotal role in the American Revolution when he voiced his strong opinion about the inevitability of revolution due to the clinical precision with which he presented their case in a cogent manner.
Alexander Hamilton’s Impacts on Future Literature
Alexander Hamilton’s interpretation of the Constitution never receded on account of his lucid arguments and constitutional acumen. Although he was not philosophical, romantic, or speculative in his thinking, his realistic ideas about self-interest, foreign policy, and the nation’s interest won the appreciation of even the greatest figures of his times. His legal acumen won him to stand behind the figures who founded the United States of America and stood with them when the nation saluted them. The staging of Hamilton demonstrates that his legacy is impacting future generations.
Important Quotes
- “Safety from external danger is the most powerful director of national conduct. Even the ardent love of liberty will, after a time, give way to its dictates. The violent destruction of life and property incident to war, the continual effort and alarm attendant on a state of continual danger, will compel nations the most attached to liberty to resort for repose and security to institutions which have a tendency to destroy their civil and political rights. To be safer, they at length become willing to run the risk of being less free.” (The Federalist Papers)
- “For in politics, as in religion, it is equally absurd to aim at making proselytes by fire and sword. Heresies in either can rarely be cured by persecution.” (The Federalist Papers)
- “It will be of little avail to the people, that the laws are made by men of their own choice, if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood;” (The Federalist Papers)