Introduction to Alexander Hamilton
Hamilton, Alexander (1755–1804), a United States patriot and statesman. He was a leader in the formation of the United States government. As the first secretary of the treasury he placed the nation on a sound financial basis. He introduced the doctrine of implied powers of the Constitution—the doctrine that Congress has not only express powers (those specifically mentioned in the Constitution) but also implied powers (those necessary to carry out the express powers). Hamilton wrote more than half the Federalist papers, which are recognized as among the most discerning works on political philosophy ever produced.
Hamilton was a man with aristocratic views. He believed in representative government, but thought it should be led by wealthy men elected by property owners. He distrusted the political capacity of the common man, and in one instance referred to the people as a “great beast.” He was a leader of the group favoring strong central power and encouragement of commerce and industry. This group became the Federalist party.
Hamilton was five feet, seven inches (1.70 m) tall, slender, and of remarkably erect bearing. He had supreme confidence in his own opinions and the eloquence to win support for them. He was inclined to be touchy and quarrelsome, however, and his haughty pride often caused resentment.
Early Years
Alexander Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis, in the British West Indies. the illegitimate son of a Scottish father and an English mother. He was vague about his birth year, and his tombstone inscription indicated 1757. However, census records show it to have been 1755. After simple schooling, Alexander went to work at the age of 11 as a clerk in a trading firm on St. Croix Island. He showed a genius for financial and commercial matters. With help from relatives, at 17 he went to New York City, and he entered King's College (now Columbia University) in 1773.
Hamilton, the Soldier
Hamilton soon became a supporter of the colonies in their struggles with Great Britain and attracted wide attention with newspaper articles and pamphlets favoring the patriot cause. In 1776 he joined the Continental Army as a captain of artillery, and in 1777 he became a member of George Washington's staff. He served with great competence as Washington's confidential secretary and aide.
In this position, dealing constantly with the Continental Congress, Hamilton came to see the need for a central authority in government. In correspondence he criticized the Articles of Confederation then being adopted and proposed a constitutional convention.
In 1780 Hamilton married Elizabeth Schuyler, daughter of General Philip John Schuyler. He resigned from Washington's staff in 1781 and took part in the siege of Yorktown, where he gallantly led an infantry assault.
The Constitution
After the war Hamilton studied law briefly and was admitted to the bar. He served in the Confederation Congress, 1782–83. Returning to private law practice in New York City, he began seeking support for revising the form of the national government.
Hamilton's view was shared by James Madison of Virginia. When the Annapolis Convention of 1786 met to discuss trade regulations, Hamilton and Madison persuaded the group to recommend to Congress that a meeting be held to revise the Articles of Confederation. The result was the Constitutional Convention, held in 1787 at Philadelphia.
In the struggle for ratification, Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay collaborated on the series of articles later entitled The Federalist . These essays were explanations of the proposed new federal government and were of outstanding influence in getting the Constitution ratified.
First Secretary of the Treasury
George Washington became President in 1789, and named Hamilton secretary of the treasury. Many of Hamilton's conservative views were strongly opposed by Thomas Jefferson, secretary of state, who represented the liberal element in the new government.
In spite of sectional differences between the commercial North and the agricultural South, Hamilton succeeded in getting Congress to establish a tariff; to found the Bank of the United States; and to assume the debts of the Confederation and the individual states. He also introduced an excise tax and aided in suppressing the Whiskey Rebellion that resulted.
Hamilton had great influence with President Washington, and convinced him that the United States should remain neutral when the French Revolution brought on war between Britain and France. In 1795 Hamilton resigned from the cabinet for financial reasons and returned to his law practice, but continued to advise the administration. He wrote articles in defense of the unpopular Jay Treaty with Britain ( ), and assisted Washington in giving final form to his Farewell Address.
Later Years
When it appeared in 1798 that the country would go to war against France, Hamilton was made inspector general of the army, then under the nominal command of George Washington. Hamilton assumed actual command and began planning an elaborate military campaign against Louisiana and Florida. President Adams, however, ended the threat of war—and Hamilton's dreams of military glory—by sending a peace commission to France.
In the Presidential election of 1800 there was a deadlock between Jefferson and Aaron Burr. Although no friend of Jefferson, Hamilton preferred him to Burr, and threw his influence to his side. As a result, Jefferson became President and Burr Vice President. In 1804, while still Vice President, Burr ran for governor of New York. During the campaign, Hamilton made statements attacking Burr's character. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. The two exchanged shots on July 11 at Weehawken, New Jersey. Hamilton was fatally wounded and died the next day. He was buried in Trinity Churchyard, New York City.
The Papers of Alexander Hamilton (27 volumes) were published from 1916 to 1987.