Alexander Hamilton - Founding Father of the United States
                     Alexander 
Hamilton: 
Founding 
Father of the 
United States
 Alexander Hamilton was 
born in the British West 
Who Was Indies, and later became General George 
Alexander Washington's assistant.  In 1788, as one of 
Hamilton? America's Founding Fathers, he convinced New 
Yorkers to agree to ratify 
the U.S Constitution. 
Source: 
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First  Hamilton an avowed 
Federalist then served as 
secretary of the nation's first secretary 
of the treasury, from 1789 
the treasury to 1795. 
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 Hamilton was born on the 
island of Nevis in the 
British West Indies, on 
January 11, 1755 or 1757 
(the exact date is 
Early Life unknown).  Hamilton's parents were 
Rachel Fawcett Lavien, 
who was of British and 
French Huguenot descent, 
and James Hamilton, a 
Scottish trader. 
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 Determined to improve his 
lot in life, Hamilton took 
his first job at the tender 
age of 11, not long after 
his father left. 
First job  But the family was soon dealt another sad blow. 
After working tirelessly to 
make ends meet, his 
mother became ill and 
died in 1768 at the age of 
38. 
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 Despite his gratitude 
toward his generous 
patrons, with the American 
colonies on the brink of a 
First revolution, Hamilton was 
drawn more to political 
political involvement than he was 
to academics. 
article  In 1774, he wrote his first 
political article defending 
the Patriots' cause against 
the interests of pro-British 
Loyalists.
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 In 1775, when the 
Revolutionary War began, 
Military Hamilton became part of the New York Provincial 
Career Artillery Company and fought in the battles of 
Long Island, White Plains 
and Trenton.
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 On December 14, 1780, 
Hamilton married 
Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler, 
the daughter of 
Revolutionary War general 
Family Philip Schuyler. By all accounts, they 
enjoyed a strong 
relationship throughout 
their marriage and would 
have eight children 
together.
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 Growing restless in his 
desk job, in 1781 Hamilton 
convinced Washington to 
End of the let him taste some action on the battlefield. 
War  With Washington's permission, Hamilton led a 
victorious charge against 
the British in the Battle of 
Yorktown. 
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 After completing a short 
apprenticeship and 
passing the bar, Hamilton 
established a practice in 
New York City. 
Law Career  The majority of Hamilton's 
first clients were the 
widely unpopular British 
Loyalists, who continued 
to pledge their allegiance 
to the King of England. 
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 Hamilton met Burr at the 
duel, which began at dawn 
on July 11, 1804, in 
How Did Weehawken, New Jersey. 
When both men drew their 
Alexander guns and shot, Hamilton 
was severely wounded, 
Hamilton but Hamilton's bullet 
missed Burr. 
Die?  Hamilton, injured, was 
brought back to New York 
City, where he died the 
next day, on July 12, 1804. 
Source: 
www.biography.com