Alexander Hamilton

American Founding Father and statesman (1755/1757–1804)

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Lived 1757–1804, aged 47United States

United States PoliticiansPolitician

Wikipedia
80 languages
Cross-language footprint
Era
1757–1804
Aged 47
Awards
2
recognised works

Summary

Updated 2026-06-21

The orphan from Nevis who built the American financial system from scratch — then died at 47 or 49 in a duel with the vice president he'd helped block from higher office.

Biography

About

Born out of wedlock in Charlestown, Nevis, and orphaned as a child, Hamilton landed in New York City on a scholarship to King's College, where he wrote anonymous pamphlets for the Revolution before picking up a musket. He served as Washington's aide-de-camp for four years and fought at Yorktown. After the war he practiced law, founded the Bank of New York, and led the push to scrap the Articles of Confederation for a stronger federal charter — then wrote 51 of the 85 Federalist Papers that secured its ratification. As the first treasury secretary from 1789 to 1795, he created the First Bank of…

Voice

In their own words

Sourced, dated quotes from Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton

said21 Feb 1797

A nation which can prefer disgrace to danger is prepared for a master, and deserves one.

— Letter to the Daily Advertiser (21 February 1797)

Alexander Hamilton

said12 Aug 1795

The passions of a revolution are apt to hurry even good men into excesses.

— Essay (12 August 1795)

Alexander Hamilton

said11 Nov 1794

And it is long since I have learned to hold popular opinion of no value.

— Letter to Washington, 11 November 1794

Alexander Hamilton

said28 Aug 1794

If it be asked, What is the most sacred duty and the greatest source of our security in a Republic?

— Essay in the American Daily Advertiser (28 August 1794)

Alexander Hamilton

said1793

In no part of the constitution is more wisdom to be found than in the clause which confides the question of war or peace to the legislature, and not to the executive department.

— Chapter: Helvidius Number IV in: The Pacificus-Helvidius Debates of 1793-1794: Toward the Completion of the American Founding, edited with

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