Alexander Hamilton, 1757 - 1804
1806 oil on canvas by John Trumbull (1756
Born: 11 January 1757, Charlestown, Nevis (now Saint Kitts and Nevis)
Died: 12 July 1804, New York City
The bastard son of Rachel Faucett Lavien, a landed Huguenot mother who had left her husband, and James Hamilton, the son of a Scottish laird who abandoned the family after siring two sons, Alexander was refused admission to the Anglican schools on the island. After Rachel died in 1768 Hamilton became a clerk at an export-import firm where he did well, to the point of being left in charge for as long as five months when the owners were at sea. His published account of a hurricane in 1772 attracted attention, the community collected funds to send him to the American colonies for an education. After a year of tutoring he entered King's College (now Columbia University). In 1775 Hamilton wrote a number of political pieces attacking Crown policies. He joined a New York militia company called the Hearts of Oak, studied tactics on his own, and led his company to capture the British guns on the Battery, while under fire from a British ship. He led artillery that was critical in the battles of White Plains and Trenton. He lobbied for a position with George Washington and served as his chief of staff for four years. After a minor incident that led him to quit that position he was given command of three battalions for the assault on Yorktown; his troops accomplished their mission, ending British military operations. He was active in the Constitutional Convention, at all points arguing for increased federal powers and reluctantly signing the final document. Washington named him as first Treasury Secretary, during his tenure he founded the mint, took part in shutting down the Whiskey Rebellion, established the Revenue Cutter Service (now the Coast Guard), and founded the Federalist Party. Largely for personal reasons, he worked to defeat not only his own party's John Adams but his sometime law partner Aaron Burr in the presidential races of 1796 and 1800, leading to the election of his rival Thomas Jefferson. After reports of slandering Burr in the New York gubernatorial race, he was challenged to a duel. Failing to follow the protocol for "throwing away" his first shot, Hamilton closely missed Burr and Burr hit Hamilton with his answering shot. The duel took place on a rocky ledge on the New Jersey side of the Hudson, a place where Hamilton's son had been killed in a duel three years previous. He was taken back to New York where he spent time finding a clergyman who would give him communion before he died the following afternoon.
Biography from Wikipedia and American Revolution Home Page
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Alexander Hamilton quotes:
Quotes found : 50 — (15 per page, this is page 1 of 4) 1 2 3 4 Next
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- A garden, you know, is a very usual refuge of a disappointed politician. Accordingly, I have purchased a few acres about nine miles from town, have built a house, and am cultivating a garden. permalink
Alexander Hamilton - A national debt, if it is not excessive, will be to us a national blessing. permalink
Alexander Hamilton - A well adjusted person is one who makes the same mistake twice without getting nervous. permalink
Alexander Hamilton - All communities divide themselves into the few and the many. The first are the rich and wellborn, the other the mass of the people...The people are turbulent and changing; they seldom judge or determine right. Give therefore to the first class a distinct, permanent share in the government. They will check the unsteadiness of the second, and as they cannot receive any advantage by a change, they therefore will ever maintain good government. permalink
Alexander Hamilton - Civil liberty is only natural liberty, modified and secured by the sanctions of civil society. It is not a thing, in its own nature, precarious and dependent on human will and caprice; but it is conformable to the constitution of man, as well as necessary to the well-being of society. permalink
Alexander Hamilton - Constitutions should consist only of general provisions; the reason is that they must necessarily be permanent, and that they cannot calculate for the possible change of things. permalink
Alexander Hamilton - Even to observe neutrality you must have a strong government. permalink
Alexander Hamilton - Every power vested in a government is in its nature sovereign, and includes by force of the term a right to employ all the means requisite ... to the attainment of the ends of such power. permalink
Alexander Hamilton - For my own part, I sincerely esteem it a system which without the finger of God, never could have been suggested and agreed upon by such a diversity of interests. permalink
Alexander Hamilton - Government implies the power of making laws. It is essential to the idea of a law, that it be attended with a sanction; or, in other words, a penalty or punishment for disobedience. permalink
Alexander Hamilton - Has it been found that bodies of men act with more rectitude or greater disinterestedness than individuals? The contrary of this has been inferred by all accurate observers of the conduct of mankind; and the inference is founded upon obvious reasons. Regard to reputation has a less active influence, when the infamy of a bad action is to be divided among a number than when it is to fall singly upon one. permalink
Alexander Hamilton - I go further, and affirm that bills of rights, in the sense and to the extent in which they are contended for, are not only unnecessary in the proposed Constitution, but would even be dangerous. They would contain various exceptions to powers not granted; and, on this very account, would afford a colorable pretext to claim more than were granted. For why declare that things shall not be done which there is no power to do? permalink
Alexander Hamilton - I have learned to hold popular opinion of no value. permalink
Alexander Hamilton - I have resolved, if our interview is conducted in the usual manner, and it pleases God to give me the opportunity, to reserve and throw away my first fire, and I have thoughts even of reserving my second fire. permalink
Alexander Hamilton - I never expect to see a perfect work from imperfect man. The result of the deliberations of all collective bodies must necessarily be a compound, as well of the errors and prejudices, as of the good sense and wisdom, of the individuals of whom they are composed. permalink
Alexander Hamilton
Quotes found : 50 — (15 per page, this is page 1 of 4) 1 2 3 4 Next
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