Alexander Hamilton
1st United States Secretary of the Treasury
In office September 11, 1789 – January 31, 1795
President	George Washington
Preceded by	(none)
Succeeded by	Oliver Wolcott, Jr.
Born	January 11, 1755(1755-01-11) or 1757 Nevis, Caribbean (now Saint Kitts and Nevis)
Died	July 12, 1804 (aged 49) New York City, New York
Political party	Federalist
Spouse	Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton
Profession	Lawyer, Military officer, Politician, Financier, Cabinet officer, Scholar
Religion	Episcopalian at his death.

Alexander Hamilton (November 20, 1755 or 1757 - July 12, 1804) was the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, lawyer, Founding Father, American politician, leading statesman, political economist,^{[dubious – discuss]} financier, and political theorist. One of America's first constitutional lawyers, he was a leader in calling the Philadelphia Convention in 1787. He was one of the two chief authors of the anonymous Federalist Papers, the most cited contemporary interpretation of intent for the United States Constitution. Download high resolution version (868x1224, 303 KB) A portrait of Alexander Hamilton by John Trumbull, 1792. ... The United States Secretary of the Treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, concerned with finance and monetary matters, and, until 2003, some issues of national security and defense. ... is the 254th day of the year (255th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 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During the Revolutionary War, Hamilton served as an artillery captain, senior^[1] aide-de-camp to General George Washington, and led three battalions at the Battle of Yorktown. Under President Washington, Hamilton became the first Secretary of the Treasury. As Secretary of the Treasury and confidant of Washington, Hamilton had wide-reaching influence over the direction of policy during the formative years of the government. Hamilton believed in the importance of a strong central government, and convinced Congress to use an elastic interpretation of the Constitution to pass far-reaching laws. They included: the funding of the national debt; federal assumption of the state debts; creation of a national bank; and a system of taxes through a tariff on imports and a tax on whiskey that would help pay for it. He admired the success of the British system —particularly its strong financial and trade networks— and opposed what he saw as the excesses of the French Revolution. This article is about military actions only. ... An aide-de-camp (French: camp assistant) is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... Belligerents United States Kingdom of France Great Britain German Mercenaries Commanders George Washington Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau François de Grasse Charles Cornwallis # Charles O’Hara # Strength 19,300 soldiers (10,800 French 8,500 Americans) 24 French warships 375 guns (see below) 7,500 240 guns Casualties and losses... The United States Secretary of the Treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, concerned with finance and monetary matters, and, until 2003, some issues of national security and defense. ... The necessary and proper clause (also known as the elastic clause, the basket clause, the coefficient clause, and the sweeping clause [1]) refers to a provision, in Article One of the United States Constitution at section eight, clause 18, which addresses implied powers of Congress. ... Tax rates around the world Tax revenue as % of GDP Economic policy Monetary policy Central bank   Money supply Fiscal policy Spending   Deficit   Debt Trade policy Tariff   Trade agreement Finance Financial market Financial market participants Corporate   Personal Public   Banking   Regulation        Government debt (also known as public debt or national debt) is... The First Bank of the United States was a bank chartered by the United States Congress on February 25, 1791. ... It has been suggested that Tariff in American history be merged into this article or section. ... Washington leads his troops to western Pennsylvania (Metropolitan Museum of Art) The Whiskey Rebellion, less commonly known as the Whiskey Insurrection, was a popular uprising that had its beginnings in 1791 and culminated in an insurrection in 1794 in the locality of Washington, Pennsylvania, in the Monongahela Valley. ... The French Revolution (1789–1815) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on...

He was one of the creators of the Federalist party, the first American political party, which he built up using Treasury department patronage, networks of elite leaders, and aggressive newspaper editors he subsidized both through Treasury patronage and by loans from his own pocket.^[2] His great political adversary was Thomas Jefferson who, with James Madison, created the opposition party (of several names, now known as the Democratic-Republican Party). They opposed Hamilton's urban, financial, industrial goals for the United States, and his promotion of extensive trade and friendly relations with Britain. Hamilton retired from the Treasury in 1795 to practice law in New York City, but during the Quasi-War with France he served as organizer and de facto commander of a national army beginning in December, 1798; if full scale war broke out with France, the army was intended to conquer the North American colonies of France's ally, Spain, bordering the United States. He worked to defeat both John Adams and Jefferson in the election of 1800. However, when the House of Representatives deadlocked, he helped secure the election of Jefferson over Hamilton's long-time political enemy, Aaron Burr. The Federalist Party (or Federal Party) was an American political party in the period 1792 to 1816, with remnants lasting into the 1830s. ... Thomas Jefferson (13 April 1743 N.S.–4 July 1826) was the third President of the United States (1801–09), the principal author of the Declaration of Independence (1776), and one of the most influential Founding Fathers for his promotion of the ideals of Republicanism in the United States. ... For other persons named James Madison, see James Madison (disambiguation). ... The Democratic-Republican Party was founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison in 1792. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... The Quasi-War was an undeclared war fought entirely at sea between the United States and France from 1798 to 1801. ... The Spanish colonization of the Americas was Spains conquest, settlement, and rule over much of the western hemisphere from 1492-1898. ... For other persons named John Adams, see John Adams (disambiguation). ... In the United States presidential election of 1800, sometimes referred to as the “Revolution of 1800”, Thomas Jefferson defeated John Adams. ... This article discusses Aaron Burr (1756-1836), the American politician. ...

Hamilton's nationalist and industrializing vision fell out of favor after the election of rival Thomas Jefferson to the presidency in 1800. However, after the War of 1812 showed the need for strong national institutions, his former opponents—including Madison and Albert Gallatin—adopted some of his program as they too set up a national bank, tariffs, a national infrastructure, and a standing army and navy. The later Whig, Republican and Democratic political parties adopted many of Hamilton's ideas regarding the flexible interpretation of the Constitution and using the federal government to build a strong economy and military. Opinions of him have run a wide gamut: both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson viewed him as unprincipled and dangerously aristocratic. He was sufficiently admired by the time of the American Civil War that his portrait began to appear on US currency, and now appears on the $10 bill; after the Civil War, a time of high tariffs, he was lauded to the skies.^[3][vague] Herbert Croly, Henry Cabot Lodge, and Theodore Roosevelt directed attention to him at the end of the nineteenth century in the interest of an active federal government, whether or not supported by tariffs. Several 19th and early 20th Century Republicans entered politics by writing laudatory biographies of Hamilton.^[4] Eugène Delacroixs Liberty Leading the People, symbolising French nationalism during the July Revolution 1830. ... This article is about the U.S.–U.K. war. ... Abraham Alfonse Albert Gallatin (January 29, 1761 – August 12, 1849) was a Swiss-American ethnologist, linguist, politician, diplomat, Congressman, and the longest-serving United States Secretary of the Treasury. ... A standing army is an army composed of full time professional soldiers. ... The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. ... The Republican Party of the United States was established in 1854 and is one of the two dominant parties today. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  Politics Portal      Further information: Politics of the United States#Organization of American political parties The Democratic... Aristocrat redirects here. ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... Herbert David Croly (January 23, 1869 - May 17, 1930) was a liberal political author. ... Henry Cabot Lodge (May 12, 1850 – November 9, 1924) was an American statesman, a Republican politician, and noted historian. ... For other persons named Theodore Roosevelt, see Theodore Roosevelt (disambiguation). ... GOP redirects here. ...

Early years

A young Alexander Hamilton.

Hamilton was born in Charlestown, Nevis, the capital of the island of Nevis, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Leeward Islands, West Indies,^[5] out of wedlock, to James A. Hamilton, the fourth son of a Scottish laird, and Rachel Faucett Lavien, of part French Huguenot descent. There is, however, some evidence suggesting that Hamilton's biological father may have been a Nevis merchant named Thomas Stevens.^[6] ImageMetadata File history File links Young_alexander_hamilton. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Young_alexander_hamilton. ... Charlestown was built in a protected area on the Leeward side of Nevis, situated between Fort Charles and the Fort Black Rocks. ... For other uses, see Nevis (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... A lord is a male who has power and authority. ... From the 16th to the 18th century the name Huguenot was applied to a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of France, historically known as the French Calvinists. ...

Hamilton was born on January 11, but the year of his birth is somewhat uncertain. Most historians now use January 11, 1755 as the date of his birth, although disagreement remains. A young Hamilton claimed 1757 as his birth year when he first arrived from Nevis. However, he is also recorded in the probate papers shortly after his mother's death as being thirteen years old,^[7] which would make his birth year 1755. Various explanations for this discrepancy have been suggested: He may have been trying to appear younger than his college classmates; he may have wanted to avoid standing out as older; the probate document may be wrong; or he may have been passing as older than he was in order to be more employable after his mother's death.^[8] He was often approximate about his age in later life. is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 11th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1755 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ...

Hamilton's mother had been married previously to Johann Michael Lavien of St. Croix.^[9] To escape her unhappy marriage, Rachel left St. Croix for St. Kitts in 1750, where she met James Hamilton.^[10] They moved together to Nevis, which was Rachel's birthplace and the place from which she had inherited property from her father.^[11] They would have two sons together, James, Jr. and Alexander. Because Hamilton's parents were not legally married, the Church of England denied Hamilton membership or education in the church school. Instead, the young Hamilton received some "individual tutoring"^[12] and classes in a private, Jewish school.^[13] Hamilton supplemented this education with a family library of thirty-four books ^[14] which included Greek and Roman classics. In 1765, a business assignment led James Hamilton to move the family to Christiansted, St. Croix. James then abandoned Rachel and their two sons. After James left, Rachel supported the family by keeping a small store in Christiansted. She contracted a "severe fever" and died on February 19, 1768, leaving Hamilton effectively orphaned. This abandonment, death, and anxiety over his illegitimate birth, all presumably had severe emotional consequences for Alexander, even by the standards of an eighteenth-century childhood.^[15] After Rachel's death, her son from her first marriage appeared and (legally, via probate court) claimed the few valuables Hamilton's mother had owned, including several silver spoons. Many of these items, including the books, were auctioned off. A family friend purchased the library and returned it to the bookish young Hamilton.^[16] Hamilton never saw his half-brother again, but years later received his death notice and a small amount of money.^[17] A separate article treats the several rivers known as the St. ... Saint Kitts (also/previously known as Saint Christopher) is an island in the Caribbean. ... The Church of England is the officially established Christian church[3] in England, the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the oldest among the communions thirty-eight independent national churches. ... The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination of these attributes. ... Christiansted is a town on St. ...

Following his mother's death, Hamilton was adopted by a cousin, Peter Lytton, and became a clerk at a local import-export firm, Beekman and Cruger, which had significant ties to the New York area. Lytton soon committed suicide, and Hamilton was split from his older brother, James.^[18] Hamilton's brother was made apprentice to a local carpenter, while Hamilton was adopted by a local merchant named Thomas Stevens. Thomas Stevens' son, Edward Stevens, became a close friend of Hamilton. The two friends looked very much like each other, they were both fluent in French, and they shared similar interests.^{[citation needed]}

While living with Stevens, Hamilton continued to work as a clerk. He remained an avid reader, developed an interest in writing, and began to long for a life off his small island. On August 30th, 1772, a hurricane devastated Christiansted. Hamilton wrote a letter first published in the Royal Danish-American Gazette with a description of the terrible hurricane. Impressed by Hamilton, the community began a collection for a "subscription fund" to educate the young Hamilton in New England. Hamilton left the island, and arrived at a grammar school in Elizabethtown, New Jersey in the autumn of 1772.

Education

In 1773, Hamilton attended a college-preparatory program with Francis Barber at Elizabethtown, New Jersey. There he came under the influence of a leading intellectual and revolutionary, William Livingston.^[19] Hamilton may have applied to the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) but been refused the opportunity for accelerated study.^[20] In the end, Hamilton decided to attend King's College (now Columbia University) in New York City. While studying at King's College, Hamilton and several classmates formed a small literary and debating group that was a forerunner of Columbia's Philolexian Society.^[21][22] William Livingston William Livingston (November 30, 1723 – July 25, 1790) served as the Governor of New Jersey (1776–1790) during the American Revolution and was a signer of the United States Constitution. ... Princeton University is a private coeducational research university located in Princeton, New Jersey. ... Alma Mater Columbia University is a private university in the United States and a member of the Ivy League. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... The Philolexian Society of Columbia University is one of the oldest collegiate literary societies in the United States, and the oldest student group at Columbia. ...

When Church of England clergyman Samuel Seabury published a series of pamphlets promoting the Tory cause the following year, Hamilton struck back with his first political writings, A Full Vindication of the measures of Congress, and The Farmer Refuted. He published two additional pieces attacking the Quebec Act^[23], as well as fourteen anonymous installments of "The Monitor" for Holt's New York Journal. Although Hamilton was a supporter of the Revolutionary cause at this pre-war stage, he did not approve of mob reprisals against those who were not. One generally accepted account details how Hamilton saved King's College president and Tory sympathizer Myles Cooper from an angry mob by speaking to the crowd long enough for Cooper to escape the dangerous situation.^[24] Samuel Seabury The Right Reverend Samuel Seabury (November 30, 1729 – February 25, 1796), was the first American Episcopal bishop, the second Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, USA, and the first Bishop of Connecticut. ... For other uses, see Tory (disambiguation). ... // The Quebec Act of 1774 was an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain (citation 14 Geo. ... Portrait of Myles Cooper by John Singleton Copley Myles Cooper (1735 – 1785) was a figure in colonial New York. ... An ochlocracy from The Simpsons Ochlocracy (Greek: οχλοκρατία or ohlokratía; Latin: ochlocratia) is government by mob or a mass of people, or the intimidation of constitutional authorities. ...

Military career

"Alexander Hamilton in the Uniform of the New York Artillery" by Alonzo Chappel (1828-1887)

In 1775, after the first engagement of American troops with the British in Boston, Hamilton joined a New York volunteer militia company called the Hearts of Oak, (which included other King's College students). He drilled with the company before classes in the graveyard of nearby St. Paul's Chapel. Hamilton studied military history and tactics on his own, and achieved the rank of lieutenant. Under fire from the HMS Asia, he led a successful raid for British cannon in the Battery, the capture of which resulted in the Hearts of Oak becoming an artillery company thereafter. Through his connections with influential New York patriots like Alexander McDougall and John Jay, he raised the New York Provincial Company of Artillery of sixty men in 1776, and was elected captain. He earned the interest of Nathanael Greene and George Washington by the proficiency and bravery he displayed in the campaign of 1776 around New York City, particularly at the Battle of White Plains and later the Battle of Trenton. Combatants New England militia, Continental Army Great Britain Commanders Artemas Ward, George Washington Thomas Gage, William Howe Strength 17,000 The Siege of Boston (April 19, 1775 – March 17, 1776) was the opening phase of the American Revolutionary War, in which New England militiamen—and then the Continental Army—surrounded... Lebanese Kataeb militia The term Militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary [1] citizens to provide defense, emergency, law enforcement, or paramilitary service, and those engaged in such activity, without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. ... The Hearts of Oak (originally, The Corsicans) were a volunteer militia in the British colony of New York, formed c. ... Standard NATO code for a friendly infantry company. ... St. ... Military history is composed of the events in the history of humanity that fall within the category of conflict. ... Military tactics (Greek: TaktikÄ“, the art of organizing an army) are the collective name for methods for engaging and defeating an enemy in battle. ... Lieutenant is a military, naval, paramilitary, fire service or police officer rank. ... HMS is a three-letter acronym that may stand for: Handheld, Manpack, Small Form Factor radio transceivers in the United States military Joint Tactical Radio System Hans Majestäts Skepp (His Majestys ship) or Hennes Majestäts Skepp (Her Majestys Ship), the prefix of Royal Swedish Navy ship... A raid is a brief attack, normally performed by a small military force of commandos, or by irregulars. ... ... For other uses, see Artillery (disambiguation). ... A map of the Province of New York. ... Alexander McDougall (1731-1786) was an American seaman, merchant, and leader from New York City during the Revolutionary War. ... John Jay (December 12, 1745 – May 17, 1829) was an American politician, statesman, revolutionary, diplomat, and jurist. ... For other uses, see Captain (disambiguation). ... This article is about the American Revolutionary War hero. ... George Washington (February 22, 1732 – December 14, 1799)[1] led Americas Continental Army to victory over Britain in the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), and in 1789 was elected the first President of the United States of America. ... The New York Campaign describes the actions and battles of the American Revolutionary War, by which the British forces gained control of New York City and its surroundings in the summer and fall of 1776. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... Combatants United States Britain Commanders George Washington William Howe Strength 14,500 men 14,000 men Casualties 300 killed and wounded 313 killed and wounded Battle of White Plains Historic Site : George Washingtons HQ The Battle of White Plains was an inconclusive meeting on October 28, 1776 in the... Belligerents Continental Army a Hessian Brigade Commanders George Washington Johann Rall† Strength 2,400 18 guns [1] 1,400 6 guns [2] Casualties and losses 2 dead, On the march 4 wounded 23 dead, 92 wounded, 913 captured The Battle of Trenton was a battle which took place on December...

After turning down invitations to serve under several different high-ranking officers, Hamilton joined Washington's staff in March 1777 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Hamilton served for four years, in effect, as Washington's Chief of Staff.^[25] He handled the "letters to Congress, state governors, and the most powerful generals in the Continental Army."^[26] He drafted many of Washington's orders and letters at the latter's direction, and was eventually allowed to "issue orders from Washington over his own signature."^[27] Hamilton was involved in a wide variety of high-level duties, including: intelligence, diplomacy, and negotiation with general officers as Washington's emissary.^[28] The important duties with which he was entrusted attest to Washington's deep confidence in his abilities and character, then and afterward. Indeed, reciprocal confidence and respect initially took the place of personal attachment in their relations. In the U.S. Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, a lieutenant colonel is a commissioned officer superior to a major and inferior to a colonel. ... The chief of staff is the chief aide to the commander of larger military formations and units. ... Intelligence has two different common meanings : Intelligence (trait) Intelligence (information gathering) Business intelligence Military espionage This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... This article is about negotiations. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Emissary was the first episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. ...

In a particularly dire situation, Washington sent Hamilton to General Horatio Gates to negotiate the transfer of men from Gates to Washington. This caused Hamilton's involvement in the "Conway Cabal" a notorious event in which Conway, Gates, and other critics of Washington tried to replace him as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army. Through no fault of Hamilton's, letters from Gates were made public that called into question Washington's abilities to lead the army. Washington, furious, demanded an explanation. To evade this, Gates claimed that Hamilton had stolen the papers from him while collecting the soldiers. As it turned out Hamilton had nothing to do with these affairs, an accusation that sparked personal dislike between Hamilton and Gates. Hamilton remained a steadfast supporter of Washington throughout the cabal. Horatio Gates Horatio Lloyd Gates (1727–1806) was an American general during the Revolutionary War. ... The Conway Cabal refers to a conspiracy in late 1777 and 1778 designed to remove George Washington as commander of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. ... Commander-in-Chief (in NATO-lingo often C-in-C or CINC pronounced sink) is the commander of all the military forces within a particular region or of all the military forces of a state. ...

During the war Hamilton became close friends with several fellow officers, including John Laurens and the Marquis de Lafayette. Jonathan Katz argues that Hamilton's letters to Laurens reveal at least a homosocial attachment and perhaps, in coded allusions to Greek history and mythology, a relationship modern readers would label homosexual; Ron Chernow implies this in discussing Laurens. Thomas Flexner portrays a similar homosocial relationship with Lafayette. These biographers may well be over-reading the literary conventions of the late eighteenth century, an age of sentiment ^[29] John Laurens (October 28, 1754 - August 27, 1782) was an American soldier and statesman from South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. ... Lieutenant General & National Guard Commander-in-Chief Lafayette in 1792 at ~35yrs. ... The sentimental novel or the novel of sensibility is an 18th century literary genre which celebrates the emotional and intellectual concepts of sentiment, sentimentalism, and sensibility. ...

Hamilton repeatedly sought independent command, especially of small units. He became impatient of detention in what he regarded as a subordinate position. Hamilton wanted a combat command position, and an opportunity for military glory before the war was over. In February 1781, he used a slight reprimand from Washington as an excuse for resigning his staff position. After hounding Washington and others for a field command, he submitted a letter to Washington in early July of 1781 with his commission enclosed, "thus tacitly threatening to resign if he didn't get his desired command."^[30] On July 31, 1781, Hamilton was given command of a New York light infantry battalion. In the planning for the assault on Yorktown, Hamilton was given command of three battalions which were to fight in conjunction with French troops in taking Redoubts #9 and #10 of the British fortifications at Yorktown. Hamilton and his battalions fought bravely and took Redoubt #10 with bayonets, as planned. The French also fought bravely, took heavy casualties, and successfully took Redoubt #9. This action forced the British surrender at Yorktown of an entire army, effectively ending the British effort to reclaim the Thirteen Colonies.^[31] An officer is a member of a military, naval, or if applicable, other uniformed services who holds a position of responsibility. ... Traditionally light infantry (or skirmishers) were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. ... Belligerents United States Kingdom of France Great Britain German Mercenaries Commanders George Washington Jean-Baptiste de Rochambeau François de Grasse Charles Cornwallis # Charles O’Hara # Strength 19,300 soldiers (10,800 French 8,500 Americans) 24 French warships 375 guns (see below) 7,500 240 guns Casualties and losses... Symbol of the Austrian 14th Armoured Battalion in NATO military graphic symbols This article is about the military unit. ... A redoubt is a fort or fort system usually consisting of an enclosed defensive emplacement outside a larger fort. ... The US Marine Corps OKC-3S bayonet A bayonet (from French baïonnette) is a knife- or dagger-shaped weapon designed to fit on or over the muzzle of a rifle or similar weapon. ... Casualties of war. ... Balian of Ibelin surrendering the city of Jerusalem to Saladin, from Les Passages faits Outremer par les Français contre les Turcs et autres Sarrasins et Maures outremarins, ca. ... In 1775, the British claimed authority over the red and pink areas on this map and Spain ruled the orange. ...

Hamilton would return to duty during the Quasi-War with France (see, below). As Major General, he was the de facto commander of the army during this period, and had planned to invade the North American possessions of France's ally, Spain. President John Adams' diplomatic efforts thwarted any such plans, however, and Hamilton returned to private life. The Quasi-War was an undeclared war fought entirely at sea between the United States and France from 1798 to 1801. ... Alexander Hamilton (November 20, 1755 or 1757 - July 12, 1804) was the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, lawyer, Founding Father, American politician, leading statesman, political economist,] financier, and political theorist. ...

Under the Confederation

Alexander Hamilton shortly after the American Revolution

After Yorktown, Hamilton resigned his commission. He was elected a member of the Continental Congress from New York in July 1782. While he was there, several Congressmen from that area, including Hamilton, Robert and Gouverneur Morris wanted to acquire stable revenues for the Confederation. They attempted to persuade the states of this by encouraging the Newburgh conspiracy of discontented Continental officers who, by the threat of mutiny, wanted to be sure Congress paid their pensions. This would be most likely to succeed if Washington were at the head of the movement, and Hamilton wrote to persuade him. Washington did indeed go to Newburgh, but instead called the officers together and rebuked them for their arrogance, when he himself had "grown gray in their service." He also wrote Hamilton, criticizing the Congressmen severely for playing with so "dangerous an instrument" as an army and making the veterans "mere Puppets to establish Continental funds".^[32] Download high resolution version (892x1536, 167 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (892x1536, 167 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... In military organizations, a commissioned officer is a member of the service who derives authority directly from a sovereign power, and as such holds a commission from that power. ... The Congress of the Confederation or the United States in Congress Assembled was a body of representatives appointed by the legislatures of the United States from March 1, 1781 to March 4, 1789. ... For other persons named Robert Morris, see Robert Morris (disambiguation). ... Gouverneur Morris Gouverneur Morris (January 31, 1752 – November 6, 1816) was an American statesman who represented Pennsylvania in the Constitutional Convention of 1787 and was an author of large sections of the Constitution of the United States. ... The Newburgh Conspiracy was a plot hatched in 1783 near the end of the American Revolutionary War resulting from the fact that many of the officers and men of the Continental Army had not received pay for many years. ...

In 1783, Hamilton resigned to open his own law office in New York City. He specialized in defending Tories and British subjects, as in Rutgers v. Waddington, in which he defeated a claim for damages done to a brewery by the Englishmen who held it during the military occupation of New York. He pleaded that the Mayor's Court should interpret state law to be consistent with the 1783 Treaty of Paris, which had ended the Revolutionary War.^[33] New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ... The term Tory derives from the Tory Party, the ancestor of the modern UK Conservative Party. ... Painting by Benjamin West depicting (from left to right) John Jay, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Laurens, and William Temple Franklin. ...

In 1784, he founded the Bank of New York, now the oldest ongoing banking organization in the United States. Hamilton was one of the men who restored King's College as Columbia College, which had been suspended since the Battle of Long Island in 1776 and severely crippled by the Revolutionary War. His public career resumed when he attended the Annapolis Convention as a delegate in 1786 and drafted its resolution for a Constitutional convention. The Bank of New York (NYSE: BK), sometimes BNY, is a global financial services company operating in four primary business areas: Securities servicing Treasury management Investment management Private banking Bank of New York and Mellon Financial Corporation will merge. ... Columbia College is the main undergraduate college at Columbia University, situated on the universitys main campus of Morningside Heights in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York. ... Combatants United States Kingdom of Great Britain Commanders George Washington, Israel Putnam William Howe, Charles Cornwallis, Henry Clinton Strength 11,000-13,000 unknown, nearly 20,000 (about 10,000 of which were militia ) 22,000 (including 9,000 Hessians) Casualties 1,719 total (312 dead, 1,407 wounded, captured... This article is about military actions only. ... The Annapolis Convention was a meeting at Annapolis, Maryland of 12 delegates from five states (New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia) that called for a constitutional convention. ...

Constitution and the Federalist Papers

In 1787, he served as assemblyman from New York County in the New York State Legislature and was the first delegate chosen to the Constitutional Convention. Hamilton's direct influence at the Convention was limited, since Governor George Clinton's faction in the New York legislature had chosen two other delegates, John Lansing and Robert Yates, who opposed a strong national government. While they were present, they decided New York's vote; and when they left the convention in protest, Hamilton remained with no vote (two representatives were required for any state to cast a vote). For other uses, see Manhattan (disambiguation). ... The New York Legislature is the U.S. state of New Yorks legislative branch, seated at the states capital, Albany. ... This article discusses the history of the United States Constitution. ... George Clinton (July 26, 1739 – April 20, 1812) was an American soldier and politician. ... John Lansing, Jr. ... Robert Yates (1738-1831) was a United States politician well known for his anti-federalist stances. ...

Early in the Convention he made a speech proposing what was considered a very monarchical government for the United States. Though regarded as one of his most eloquent speeches, it had little effect, and deliberations continued largely ignoring his suggestions. Based on his interpretation of history, Hamilton concluded the ideal form of government had represented all the interest groups, but maintained a hereditary monarch to decide policy. In his opinion, this was impractical in the United States but, nevertheless, the country should mimic this form of government as closely as possible. He proposed, therefore, to have a President and elected Senators for life, with possibility of removal for corruption or abuse. He also discussed abolition of autonomous state governments. Much later, he stated that his "final opinion" in the Convention was that the President should have a three year term. The notes of the Convention are rather brief; there has been some speculation that he might have also proposed a longer, and more republican, plan.^[34] A monarchy, (from the Greek monos, one, and archein, to rule) is a form of government that has a monarch as Head of State. ... The Washington Senators can refer to: The Washington Senators (officially named the Washington Nationals during the 1905–1956 seasons), an American League baseball team based in Washington, D.C. from 1901 to 1960. ... Look up republic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

During the convention, he constructed a draft on the basis of the debates which he had not actually presented. This has most of the features of the actual Constitution, down to such details as the three-fifths clause. In his draft, the Senate was to be elected in proportion to population, being two-fifths the size of the House, and the President and Senators were to be elected through complex multi-stage elections, in which chosen electors would elect smaller bodies of electors; they would hold office for life, but were removable for misconduct. The President would have an absolute veto. The Supreme Court was to have immediate jurisdiction over all law suits involving the United States, and State governors were to be appointed by the federal government.^[35] An elector can be: In the Holy Roman Empire of German Nation, the collegiate of seven Electors (eight since 1648) (Kurfürsten) consisted of those lay or clerical princes who had the right to vote in the election of the king or Holy Roman Emperor; see prince-elector. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The supreme court functions as a court of last resort whose rulings cannot be challenged, in some countries, provinces and states. ... A lawsuit is a civil action brought before a court in which the party commencing the action, the plaintiff, seeks a legal remedy. ...

At the end of the Convention, he declared that, although he still disliked the Constitution, he would sign it, and he urged his fellow delegates to do so also;^[36] since Lansing and Yates had withdrawn, his is the only signature for New York. He then took part in the successful campaign for its ratification in New York (1788), a crucial victory for national ratification. Hamilton recruited John Jay and James Madison to write a defense of the proposed Constitution, now known as The Federalist Papers, and made the largest contribution to that effort, writing 51 of 85 essays published (Madison wrote 29, Jay only five). Hamilton's essays and arguments were influential in New York State, and elsewhere, during the debates over ratification. The Federalist Papers are more often cited than any other primary source by jurists, lawyers, historians and political scientists as the major contemporary interpretation of the Constitution. This article is about the state. ... An advertisement for The Federalist The Federalist Papers are a series of 85 articles arguing for the ratification of the United States Constitution. ...

In 1788, Hamilton served yet another term in what proved to be the last time the Continental Congress met under the Articles of Confederation. The Continental Congress was the first national government of the United States. ... The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, commonly known as the Articles of Confederation, was the first governing document, or constitution, of the United States of America. ...

Secretary of the Treasury: 1789–1795

President George Washington appointed Hamilton as the first Secretary of the Treasury. Hamilton served in the Treasury Department from September 11, 1789, until January 31, 1795. The United States Secretary of the Treasury is the finance minister of the Federal Government of the United States. ... The United States Department of the Treasury is a Cabinet department, a treasury, of the United States government established by an Act of U.S. Congress in 1789 to manage the revenue of the United States government. ... is the 254th day of the year (255th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1789 (MDCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1795 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

Within one year, Hamilton submitted five reports that amounted to a financial revolution in the American Economy.

• First Report on the Public Credit: Communicated to the House of Representatives, January 14, 1790.
• Operations of the Act Laying Duties on Imports: Communicated to the House of Representatives, April 23, 1790.
• Second Report on Public Credit: Report on a National Bank. Communicated to the House of Representatives, December 14, 1790.
• Report on the Establishment of a Mint: Communicated to the House of Representatives, January 28, 1791.
• Report on Manufactures: Communicated to the House of Representatives, December 5, 1791.

In the Report on Public Credit, the Secretary made the controversial proposal that would have had the federal government assume state debts incurred during the Revolution. It was a bold move to empower the federal government over State governments, and it drew sharp criticism from Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and Representative James Madison. The disagreements between Jefferson and Hamilton extended to other proposals Hamilton made to Congress, and they grew especially bitter, with Hamilton's followers known as federalists and Jefferson's as republicans. As Madison put it: The Report on Public Credit was a report that analyzed the financial standing of the United States of America and made recommendations for the retirement of the national debt. ... is the 14th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1790 (MDCCXC) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... the Act Laying Duties on Imports Communicated to the House of Representatives, April 23, 1790. ... is the 113th day of the year (114th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1790 (MDCCXC) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... The Second Report on Public Credit was the second report of three major reports on economic policy issued by American Founding Father and 1st United States Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton on the request of Congress for consideration on establishing a national banking system with the creation of the Bank of... is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1790 (MDCCXC) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 11-day slower Julian calendar). ... is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1791 (MDCCXCI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... A portrait of Alexander Hamilton by John Trumbull, 1792. ... is the 339th day of the year (340th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1791 (MDCCXCI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Seal of the United States Department of State. ... Type Bicameral Speaker of the House of Representatives House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Steny Hoyer, (D) since January 4, 2007 House Minority Leader John Boehner, (R) since January 4, 2007 Members 435 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party... For other persons named James Madison, see James Madison (disambiguation). ...

"I deserted Colonel Hamilton, or rather Colonel H. deserted me; in a word, the divergence between us took place from his wishing to administration, or rather to administer the Government into what he thought it ought to be..."^[37]

These became the first political parties in the U.S. as the Federalist Era emerged.

Jefferson and Madison eventually struck a deal with Hamilton that required him to use his influence to place the permanent capital on the Potomac River, while Jefferson and Madison would encourage their friends to back Hamilton's assumption plan. In the end, Hamilton's assumption, together with his proposals for funding the debt, overcame legislative opposition and became law. The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States (USA). ...

Hamilton's next milestone report was his "Report on Manufactures." Congress shelved the report without much debate, except for Madison's objection to Hamilton's formulation of the General Welfare clause, which Hamilton construed liberally. It has been often quoted by protectionists since.^[38] Protectionism is the economic policy of promoting favored domestic industries through the use of high tariffs and other regulations to discourage imports. ...

Hamilton helped found the United States Mint; the first national bank; a "System of Cutters", forming the Revenue Cutter Service, now known as the United States Coast Guard; and an elaborate system of duties, tariffs, and excises. The complete Hamiltonian program replaced the chaotic financial system of the confederation era, in five years, with a modern apparatus to give financial stability to the new government and give investors the confidence necessary for them to invest in government bonds. Seal of the U.S. Mint Denver United States mint building The United States Mint primarily produces circulating coinage for the United States to conduct its trade and commerce. ... The First Bank of the United States was a bank chartered by the United States Congress on February 25, 1791. ... The United States Revenue Cutter Service was established by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in 1790 as an armed maritime law enforcement service. ... USCG HH-65 Dolphin USCG HH-60J JayHawk USCG HC-130H departs Mojave USCG HC-130H on International Ice Patrol duties The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is at all times a branch of the U.S. military, a maritime law enforcement agency, and a federal regulatory body. ...

One of the principal sources of revenue Hamilton prevailed upn Congress to approve an excise tax on whiskey. Strong opposition to the whiskey tax by cottage producers in remote, rural regions erupted into the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794; in Western Pennsylvania and western Virginia, whiskey was commonly made (and used as a form of currency) by most of the community. In response to the rebellion—believing compliance with the laws was vital to the establishment of federal authority—he accompanied to the rebellion's site President Washington, General Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee, and more federal troops than were ever assembled in one place during the War for Independence. This overwhelming display of force intimidated the leaders of the insurrection, ending the rebellion virtually without bloodshed.^[39] An excise is an indirect tax or duty levied on items within a country. ... Whisky (or whiskey) is an alcoholic beverage distilled from grain, often including malt, which has then been aged in wooden barrels. ... The use of the term has expanded, and is used to refer to any event which allows a large number of people to lalalawork part time. ... Washington leads his troops to western Pennsylvania (Metropolitan Museum of Art) The Whiskey Rebellion, less commonly known as the Whiskey Insurrection, was a popular uprising that had its beginnings in 1791 and culminated in an insurrection in 1794 in the locality of Washington, Pennsylvania, in the Monongahela Valley. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Henry Lee III (January 29, 1756 - March 25, 1818), American general, called Light Horse Harry, was born near Dumfries, Virginia. ...

Founding the Federalist Party

Statue of Hamilton by Franklin Simmons, overlooking the Great Falls of the Passaic River in Paterson, New Jersey. Hamilton envisioned the use of the falls to power new factories.

Hamilton created the Federalist Party and dominated it until 1800. It was the first political party in the nation; some have called it the first mass-based party in any republic; others have seen its chief weakness in having too little connection to the masses.^[40] As early as 1790, Hamilton started putting together a nationwide coalition, using the contacts he had made in the Army and the Treasury, building vocal political support in each state by signing up prominent men who were like-minded nationalists. The friends of the government especially included merchants, bankers, and financiers in a dozen major cities. By 1792 or 1793 newspapers started calling Hamilton supporters "Federalists" and the opponents "democrats" or "republicans". Religious and educational leaders, hostile to the French Revolution, joined his coalition, especially in New England. Hamilton systematically set up a Federalist newspaper network, recruiting and subsidizing editors including Noah Webster and John Fenno; he wrote numerous anonymous editorials and essays for his papers. Statue of Alexander Hamilton overlooking the Great Falls of the Passaic River in Paterson, New Jersey © 2004 Matthew Trump File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Statue of Alexander Hamilton overlooking the Great Falls of the Passaic River in Paterson, New Jersey © 2004 Matthew Trump File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Great Falls of the Passaic River The Great Falls of the Passaic River is a prominent waterfall, 77 ft (23 m) high, on the Passaic River in the city of Paterson in Passaic County in northern New Jersey in the United States. ... “Paterson” redirects here. ... The Federalist Party (or Federal Party) was an American political party in the period 1792 to 1816, with remnants lasting into the 1830s. ... The French Revolution (1789–1815) was a period of political and social upheaval in the political history of France and Europe as a whole, during which the French governmental structure, previously an absolute monarchy with feudal privileges for the aristocracy and Catholic clergy, underwent radical change to forms based on... Noah Webster Noah Webster (October 16, 1758 – April 28, 1843) was an American lexicographer, textbook author, spelling reformer, political writer, word enthusiast, and editor. ... John Fenno (Aug. ...

In 1801, Hamilton founded his own newspaper, the New-York Evening Post, edited by William Coleman. The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and the oldest to have been published continually as a daily. ...

The Federalist and Republican newspapers of the 1790s traded "rancorous and venomous abuse."^[41] John Fenno had founded the Gazette of the United States in 1789, on Hamilton's side; Philip Freneau, known as the "Poet of the Revolution," became a Democratic-Republican editor in 1791.^[42] The Republicans attacked Hamilton as a monarchist who betrayed America's true values; after the Reynolds affair transpired they used salacious humor relentlessly. John Fenno (Aug. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Philip Morin Freneau ( January 2, 1752 – December 18, 1832 ) was a United States poet and one of the most important writers/poets of The Age of Reason. He focused on writing nonpolitical poetry. ...

By 1792, Jefferson and Madison started an opposition caucus in Congress, which was to grow into the Democratic Republican Party. By 1795, Federalists and Republicans had organized in every state and city, firmly establishing themselves, with all the arts of politics. Hamilton had over 2,000 Treasury jobs to dispense, while Jefferson had only one. Jay's Treaty of 1794 injected foreign policy into the party debates, with Hamilton and his party favoring Britain and denouncing the French Revolution, while the Jeffersonians strongly opposed the treaty as a sellout to the archenemy.^[43] The Democratic-Republican Party, founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison as the Republican party (not related to the present-da