Alexander Hamilton (1755/57-1804) was a lawyer and politician, often recognized as a Founding Father of the United States. He served as George Washington's aide-de-camp during the American Revolution, before going on to become the first US secretary of the treasury and a leader of the Federalist Party. He was mortally wounded in a duel with Aaron Burr in July 1804.
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Definition
Timeline
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11 Jan 1755Alexander Hamilton is likely born on this date, on the island of Nevis in the British West Indies.
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c. 1765James Hamilton, father of Alexander Hamilton, abandons his family.
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19 Feb 1768Rachel Faucette Lavien, mother of Alexander Hamilton, dies of yellow fever.
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Oct 1772Alexander Hamilton lands in Boston to begin his collegiate education.
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Aug 1775Alexander Hamilton and the 'Hearts of Oak' seize ten British guns to fire at HMS Asia, off the coast of Manhattan.
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Aug 1776 - Jan 1777Captain Alexander Hamilton's artillery serves as a rearguard while the Continental Army retreats during the New York and New Jersey Campaign.
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20 Jan 1777Alexander Hamilton becomes aide-de-camp to General George Washington.
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14 Dec 1780Alexander Hamilton marries Elizabeth Schuyler.
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14 Oct 1781Colonel Alexander Hamilton leads 400 men in a nighttime assault on Redoubt No. 10 during the Siege of Yorktown.
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Nov 1782 - Jul 1783Alexander Hamilton serves in the Confederation Congress as a delegate from New York, becomes disillusioned with the Articles of Confederation.
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1782Colonel John Laurens is killed in a minor skirmish .
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11 Sep 1786 - 14 Sep 1786The Annapolis Convention recommends that the Articles of Confederation be amended or replaced; their resolution is written by Alexander Hamilton.
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18 Jun 1787Alexander Hamilton gives a speech supporting an elective monarchy at the Constitutional Convention.
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Oct 1787 - May 1788The Federalist Papers are written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay under the pseudonym 'Publius', in support of the ratification of the US Constitution.
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11 Sep 1789Alexander Hamilton is appointed first secretary of the treasury in the Washington Administration.
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14 Jan 1790Alexander Hamilton submits his first 'Report on Public Credit' in which he recommends the national government assume state debts.
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14 Dec 1790Alexander Hamilton's 'Report on a National Bank' is submitted to Congress, resulting in a national bank.
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Oct 1794The Whiskey Rebellion is crushed by a federalized militia put together by President George Washington and Secretary Alexander Hamilton.
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31 Jan 1795Alexander Hamilton resigns from George Washington's cabinet.
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Nov 1796 - Dec 1796Alexander Hamilton tries to manipulate the US presidential election of 1796, fails to prevent the election of John Adams.
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Jul 1797Alexander Hamilton becomes embroiled in the Reynolds Affair, the first sex scandal in US political history.
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18 Jul 1798 - 15 Jun 1800Alexander Hamilton serves as inspector general of the US Army, prepares for a potential war with France.
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Feb 1801Alexander Hamilton influences the US presidential election of 1800, convincing the Federalist House of Representatives to vote for Jefferson over Burr as the 'lesser of two evils'.
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24 Nov 180119-year-old Philip Hamilton is killed in a duel while defending his father's honor.
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11 Jul 1804The Hamilton-Burr duel takes place in Weehawken, New Jersey between former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton and present US Vice-President Aaron Burr. Hamilton was mortally wounded, dying the next day in present-day Greenwich Village, New York City. Burr was disgraced by the killing and his political career ended.
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11 Jul 1804Alexander Hamilton is mortally wounded in a duel with Aaron Burr, dies the next day.
