Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton was one of the most influential founding fathers of the United States. Throughout his years of service, he had a reputation of being a hard worker, having intellectual acuteness and attaining bravery and courage. Due to his outstanding contributions and achievements in finance, principled politics and the military, his importance remains unsurpassed making it utmost impossible to compare him to any other significant American character.

Alexander Hamilton was indeed an American significant figure who contributed greatly to the United States however; his transition from his rough childhood to his dignified adulthood ultimately portrays Hamilton as a more profound significant character. Alexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1755 on the Caribbean island of Nevis ("Alexander Hamilton",Wagner, Christopher) . His parents were James Hilton, an unsuccessful businessman, and Rachael Fawcette Lavien ("Alexander Hamilton",Wagner, Christopher ). Alexander was of illegal birth because his mother who was divorced from her first husband John Michael Lavien on June 25, 1759 was forbidden to remarry under Danish Law("Alexander Hamilton",Wagner, Christopher ). In 1765, the family moved to St. Croix, Virgin Islands in hope of a better life. Soon after, when Alexander was nine his father abandoned his family. Rachel supported herself and her two boys by opening a store in which Alexander became a part time clerk ("Alexander Hamilton",Wagner, Christopher ). It is here that Alexander began to learn about finance on a small scale foreshadowing his future life in economics. Soon thereafter at the age of eleven, his mother died in 1768 of Yellow fever("Alexander Hamilton",Wagner, Christopher ). Alexander and his brother then went to go live with his mother's cousin, Peter Lytton who accepted guardianship for them for one year, until he become too distraught over the death of his wife and committed suicide("Alexander Hamilton"). Now Alexander and his brother, James Jr. had no family and no formal education. At this point Alexander suffered severe emotional deprivation due to the abandonment by his father, the death of his mother, and the suicide of his guardian. Many children would have been emotionally devastated by this situation but not Alexander. His determination, motivation, and drive encouraged him to work harder. Thus, at the age of twelve, Alexander worked at the Cruger firm, where he further increased his knowledge on the foundations of business and finance (Kallen, Stuart, p.6). By the time he was fourteen, he was running the entire operation, purchasing and selling cargos (Kallen, Stuart, p.6). Alexander did not accept the life that he was living and strived to further increase his opportunities in life, which required a greater education. At first he self educated himself by reading works of literature and books of science and mathematics (Kallen, Stuart, p. 8). His writing skills were very impressive and in one account of a hurricane he wrote "Good God! What horror and destruction...fiery meteors flying about the air-the prodigious glare of almost perpetual lightning...the ear-piercing shrieks of the distressed, were sufficient to strike astonishment into Angels..."(Whitelaw, Nancy, p.11). This essay that Alexander sent into the newspaper, The Royal Danish-American Gazette blew the minds of family friends, Nicholas Cruger, and The Reverend Knox (Whitelaw, Nancy, p.11). These two men encouraged Alexander's talent and sent him to college in America to gain a formal education. In the autumn of 1772, Hamilton arrived at Francis Barber's Grammar School in Elizabethtown, New Jersey (Whitelaw, Nancy, p.11). One year later, in 1774, Hamilton graduated and entered King's College in New York City where he obtained a bachelor's of arts degree (Whitelaw, Nancy, p.12). Because of his educational improvements, Hamilton's future only led to success. In the words written in the Federalist Papers by Alexander "There are strong minds in every walk of life that will rise superior to the disadvantages of situation, and will command the tribute due to their meritÐ'...." is a quote that completely describes the transition of Alexander himself (Alexander Hamilton, Federalist, no.36, 222 ). Ultimately, since Alexander Hamilton experienced ongoing tragedy, adversity and hardship during his childhood, it is remarkable that he made a transformation to a dignified adult and ought to be given a great deal of credit for excellence.

After, his schooling Alexander once again displayed his courage and bravery by enlisting into the militia and remaining in the war for the next six years where he would further increase his recognition as a significant American character amongst society. At this point in time, the British governed the North American Colonies and the colonies were feeling resentment against the British. By May of 1775, the Revolutionary War swept across the colonies and anyone who could fight did. The unit that he was in was eventually recruited into the war effort and during the war, they successfully captured a British cannon from a fort on New York City's southern tip (Kallen, Stuart, p.11). .Soon after, Hamilton became a captain of an artillery company in the Continental Army under the leadership of George Washington (Kallen, Stuart, p.12). Hamilton and his unit fought with Washington's army at Long Island in August of 1776 (Wagner, Christopher). They also took part in the campaign to White Plains, and in the Delaware River crossing to participate in the victories at Trenton and Princeton (Wagner, Christopher). It was not before long; Washington promoted Hamilton to the position of aide-de-camp with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel (Kallen, Stuart, p.12). It was on October 19, 1781 that the British surrendered and Hamilton returned home to see his wife, Elizabeth Schuyler. As a result, of his enlisting Alexander became knowledgeable about war tactics and became friends with some of the most powerful men in America helping him become a more identifiable historical figure.

Once the Revolutionary War was over Hamilton set out on a political career that would change the foundation of America and would ultimately perceive him to be one of the greatest founding fathers of America. Hamilton's first interest after the war was to become a lawyer, which eventually came true. Then in 1782, Hamilton took a seat in the Continental Congress in Philadelphia (Kallen, Stuart, p.24). .Hamilton wanted to start a government and unite the separate states into one nation. Unfortunately, Congress did not want to hear about a strong central government for they believed that every state should handle its own business. Hamilton also proposed financing the new nation with taxes on salt, tobacco, liquor and the number of servants a person