alexander hamilton life stories

Life Stories Alexander HamiLTON by James Buckley Jr Illustrated by Charlotte Ager Senior Editor Shannon Beatty Senior Designer Joanne Clark Editor Abhijit Dutta Senior Editors Marie Greenwood, Roohi Sehgal Art Editor Kanika Kalra Jacket Coordinator Issy Walsh Jacket Designer Dheeraj Arora DTP Designers Mrinmoy Mazumdar, Sachin Gupta Picture Researcher Aditya Katyal Pre-Producer Sophie Chatellier Producer Basia Ossowska Managing Editors Laura Gilbert, Monica Saigal Deputy Managing Art Editor Ivy Sengupta Managing Art Editor Diane Peyton Jones Delhi Team Head Malavika Talukder Creative Director Helen Senior Publishing Director Sarah Larter Subject Consultant Nicole Scholet de Villavicencio Literacy Consultant Stephanie Laird First American Edition, 2019 Published in the United States by DK Publishing 1450 Broadway, New York, New York 10018 Copyright © 2019 Dorling Kindersley Limited DK, a Division of Penguin Random House LLC 19 20 21 22 23 10 001–311578–Apr/2019 All rights reserved Without limiting the rights under the copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), without the prior written permission of the copyright owner Published in Great Britain by Dorling Kindersley Limited A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress ISBN: 978-1-4654-7961-7 (Paperback) ISBN: 978-1-4654-7960-0 (Hardcover) DK books are available at special discounts when purchased in bulk for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, or educational use For details, contact: DK Publishing Special Markets, 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014 SpecialSales@dk.com Printed and bound in China A WORLD OF IDEAS: SEE ALL THERE IS TO KNOW www.dk.com Dear Reader, You’re probably reading this because you’ve heard of the Broadway musical about Alexander Hamilton But his story is much more than snappy lyrics and people dancing in wigs and ball gowns From his birth on a Caribbean island to his death in a duel in New Jersey, Alexander believed that he had a special role to play in history He was determined to make a mark on the world, and in the American Revolution and its aftermath, he found a way Intelligent, well-read, determined, and stubborn, he used his power with words to help create a country that continues to work prett y much like he said it should In this story, you can relive the beginning of the American Revolution, find out Alexander’s place in it, and discover that his greatest love was his honor Alexander was a complicated, intense person who lived one of the most remarkable lives in American history— one that’s really worth singing about James Buckley Jr Th e life of Alexa nder A Hamilton bumpy start page Makin’ the laws page 56 Big money man page 64 A mistake page 70 Tough times page 76 Little money man Joining the fight page 24 page 16 Victory! and work Soldier to scribe page 34 page 46 10 Alexander and his enemies page 84 11 The duel and the end page 92 Alexander’s legacy page 102 12 Chapter A bumpy start Alexander Hamilton had a tough start to an amazing life He lost his parents as a boy, but he overcame tragedy to great things In about 1750, a man from Scotland set out to make his fortune in the New World, which is what Europeans named the Americas and the islands around them James Hamilton left his home in chilly Scotland for the warm and balmy island of Nevis in the Caribbean Sea He was not alone—thousands of people from Great Britain and other countries in Europe had traveled across the Atlantic Ocean in the previous century The New World was brimming with opportunity, from Canada in the north, through the English8 owned lands that would form the United States, to the islands dotting the southern sea On Nevis, James met a woman whose parents had been among those who had come across earlier The woman’s name was Rachael Faucette, and her mother was English and her father was French She had been married, but in a rare thing for this time, she and her husband had gotten a divorce According to the laws of the colony, being divorced meant that she could not get married again However, she fell in love with James and they became a couple—and then they became parents Having children without being married was frowned upon back in those days Children born of such unions were called “illegitimate.” What is a colony? Any land or territory owned and controlled by another country Nevis, where Alexander’s parents lived, was a British colony These kids started life at a disadvantage because they were in a lower social position than their peers In other words, people looked down on anyone who was illegitimate James and Rachael had two sons— one was named James, and the other was Alexander The hero of our story, Alexander, was the younger of the two boys, and he was born on January 11 on Nevis—he said he was CARIBBEAN COLONIES: WHO OWNED WHAT? The Caribbean is made up of many islands Since Europeans arrived in the 1500s, the nations of that continent have controlled some or all of the islands at various times During Alexander’s time, the Caribbean colonies were mostly controlled by Great Britain, France, Spain, Denmark, and the Netherlands Nevis was a British colony St Croix was a Danish colony 10 The United States begins minting its own national coins Alexander becomes a lawyer 1782 1783 The Revolutionary War ends 114 George Washington becomes the first United States’ president and appoints Alexander to be the first Secretary of the Treasury 1787 1789 1792 Alexander is named a New York delegate to the Constitutional Convention, making him one of the Founding Fathers of the United States John Adams becomes president 1795 1797 Alexander returns to practicing law in New York, though he retains influence in the government Burr challenges Alexander to a duel, and shoots him on July 11 Alexander dies on July 12 1801 1804 Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr tie for the presidency in the electoral college, and Alexander helps Jefferson win 115 Quiz Where was Alexander born? What did Alexander write about in a letter to his father that ended up getting published in the newspaper? What is the name of the revolutionary group that Alexander helped form before the war? 116 What was the name of Alexander’s wife? What did Alexander’s New York Manumission Society fight against? What were Alexander’s writings in support of the Constitution called? What state were Thomas Jefferson and James Madison from? Do you remember what you’ve read? How many of these questions about Alexander’s life can you answer? Alexander helped form the first United States Mint, which does what? Whose death in 1799 was Alexander very upset about? 10 Who was Alexander’s number one political enemy, who challenged him to a duel? 11 Why did the duel take place in Weehawken, New Jersey, instead of New York City? 12 What United States’ currency is Alexander’s face currently printed on? Answers on page 128 117 Who’s who? Adams, John (1735–1826) Founding Father and second president of the United States, from 1797 to 1801 Bonaparte, Napoleon (1769–1821) French general and French emperor from 1804 to 1814/15 Burr, Aaron (1756–1836) third vice president of the United States, from 1801 to 1805; Alexander’s political enemy who killed him in a duel Cruger, Nicholas (1743–1800) New York merchant who employed Alexander on St Croix Eacker, George (c.1774–1804) New York lawyer who killed Philip Hamilton in a duel 118 Faucette, Rachael (c.1729–1768) Alexander’s mother Franklin, Benjamin (1706–1790) Founding Father and printer, publisher, author, inventor, scientist, and diplomat Hamilton, Elizabeth (Eliza) Schuyler (1757–1854) Alexander’s wife Hamilton, James, Sr (c.1718–1799) Alexander’s father Hamilton, James, Jr (c.1753–1786) Alexander’s brother Hamilton, Philip (1782–1801) Alexander’s eldest son Jefferson, Thomas (1743–1826) draftsman of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States, from 1801 to 1809 Laurens, John (1754–1782) off icer in the Revolutionary War who also served as an aide-de-camp to Washington Madison, James (1751–1836) Founding Father and fourth president of the United States, from 1809 to 1817 Mulligan, Hercules (1740–1825) an Irish-American member of the revolutionary group the Sons of Liberty Reynolds, Maria (1768–1828) the woman Alexander had an affair with Schuyler, Philip (1733–1804) American statesman and Alexander’s father-in-law Miranda, Lin-Manuel (1980–) American composer, playwright, and actor who wrote Hamilton: An American Musical Stevens, Edward (c.1756–1834) Alexander’s best friend as a child who became a physician and diplomat Mitchell, Ann Lytton Venton (1743–1827) Alexander’s f irst cousin who helped to pay for his education Washington, George (1732–1799) leader of the Continental Army, Founding Father, and f irst president of the United States, from 1789 to 1797 Morris, Gouverneur (1752–1816) American statesman and member of the Constitutional Convention; gave the eulogy at Alexander’s funeral 119 Glossary aide-de-camp military officer who assists another officer Anti-Federalist person who opposed the Constitution and was in favor of states’ rights assumption to take on something, such as a debt, that is not yours battalion larger group made up of several smaller groups of soldiers in the army bond financial IOU—a certificate of a loan that is to be paid back at a specific later date colony any land or territory owned and controlled by another country 120 Congress collective name for the two parts of the United States’ legislature Constitution document listing the basic laws and rights of the United States and its citizens Constitutional Convention meeting in Philadelphia where the United States Constitution was written Continental Army army formed to fight Great Britain in the Revolutionary War Continental Congress gathering of delegates from each of the thirteen colonies, which became the governing body of the United States during the Revolutionary War controversial something that causes disagreement Declaration of Independence document that stated that the American colonies were no longer owned by Great Britain delegate representative; someone sent with power to act for others duel formal public fight used to settle a dispute between two people using weapons electoral college group of electors (representative voters) that chooses the United States president by casting votes based on who won the popular vote in their state eloquent well-spoken endeavors efforts Federalist person who wanted a strong national government and supported the Constitution 121 Federalist Papers series of articles written to influence voters by answering questions about how the new Constitution would work House of Representatives half of the United States’ legislature, where the number of representatives is determined by the Federal Reserve Bank population of each state legislature current central bank group of people who of the United States make and change laws; Founding Father in the United States, a member of the the legislature is made Constitutional up of the House of Convention of 1787 Representatives and general the Senate high-ranking officer New York who plans attacks Manumission Society and leads troops first antislavery Hearts of Oak organization in voluntary militia New York group formed in originalists pre-Revolutionary people who review War New York documents, such as Hessians the Constitution and the German soldiers hired Federalist Papers, to ensure by the British to fight that laws are being for them during the followed as the Founding Revolutionary War Fathers intended 122 principles set of beliefs that guide how a person acts and speaks ratification act of giving legal approval to something redoubt building or area that gives protection to soldiers under attack reinforcements additional soldiers to strengthen an army Revolutionary War (1775–1783) war fought between Great Britain and thirteen of its colonies that declared independence as the United States of America; also called the American Revolution Senate half of the United States’ legislature, where each state has two representatives slavery when a person is controlled and “owned” by another Treasury government department in charge of the country’s finances voracious extremely eager about an activity 123 Index Aa Adams, John 82, 84–85 affair 71–72, 78–79 aide-de-camp 41, 46, 63 American colonies 8–9, 21, 23, 25, 27–28, 33 Ann (cousin) 23 Anti-Federalists 56, 65, 77 “assumption” 65 Bb bank, national 67–69 Bank of New York 53 battalions 46 bonds 65 Boston Tea Party 26 British Army 28, 30, 34–35, 37, 40, 47–48, 49 British colonies 9–11, 21, 25–28, 30, 33 British Navy 30 Broadway 103, 104 Bunker Hill, Battle of 34, 35 Burr, Aaron 77–78, 85–87, 88–91, 92–97, 102 Cc Cape Hatteras lighthouse 75 Capitol Building (Washington) 58, 67 124 Caribbean colonies 10, 13, 18, 21–22 Central Park (New York) 106 checks and balances 57 Coast Guard, United States 74, 105 coins 73, 105 collegians 27 colonies 9, 10, 18 Columbia University 25, 107 Columbus, Christopher 66 Concord, Battle of 28 Congress 65, 76, 77 Constitution, United States 56–63, 72 Constitutional Convention 54–55, 59, 100 Continental Army 30, 35 Continental Congress 32, 33, 64 Cruger, Nicholas 17–21, 69 currencies 18–19, 73 Dd debt, national 65, 66, 67 Declaration of Independence 32, 33 Delaware River 37, 38–39 Democratic Republican Party 77, 85 Denver (Colorado) 73 District of Columbia 66, 67 divorce duels 87, 88–91, 92–97, 102 Ee Eacker, George 87 education 15, 23, 24–25 electoral college 86 exchange rate 19 executive branch 57 Ff Faucette, Rachael (mother) 9–10, 11, 14, 16 Federal Reserve Bank 68, 69 Federalist Papers 50, 60 Federalists 56, 57, 65, 77, 85, 86 Fort Worth (Texas) 73 Founding Fathers 54–55, 57, 60, 86, 102, 106 Franklin, Benjamin 54 freedom 26–28 French and Indian War 43 French troops 47, 48 funeral 98–101 Gg generals 35 geometry 37 government, federal 56–58, 60, 64–65, 69, 72–73, 76, 105, 108 Grange, the 80–81, 107 guard boats 74 Hh Hamilton: An American Musical 103–104 Hamilton, Elizabeth (Eliza) (wife) 43–45, 49, 51, 70–71, 78, 79, 87, 92, 95 Hamilton Heights 80, 107 Hamilton, James, Jr (brother) 14–15, 16 Hamilton, James, Sr (father) 8–10, 12, 22 Hamilton, Philip (son) 51, 70, 87, 88 Hearts of Oak 28, 30 Hessian soldiers 36 honor 91, 92, 95 Hosack, Dr David 95 House of Representatives 57, 58, 65, 86 Hudson River 93 hurricanes 21–22 Ii illegitimacy 9–10, 44, 79 immigrant status 79, 103 industry 76, 105 125 Jj Jefferson, Thomas 33, 55, 66, 67, 77, 85, 86, 106 judicial branch 57 Kk King’s College (New York) 25, 32 Ll Laurens, John 62 Lavien, Peter 12 law 49, 51–52, 80 legacy 102–108 legislative branch 57, 65 Leutze, Emanuel 37, 38–39 Lexington, Battle of 28 lighthouses 74–75, 105 Long Island 35 Mm Madison, James 57, 65, 66, 67, 77 Manhattan 35, 80, 107 marriage 44, 79 memorials 99, 106 mercenaries 36 military forces 105 Mints, United States 72–73, 105 Miranda, Lin-Manuel 103 money 72–73 monuments 106, 108 126 Morris, Gouverneur 100, 101 Mulligan, Hercules 25, 26, 30 musical 103–104 Nn Nevis 8–11, 21, 27, 108 New Hampshire 63 New Jersey 35, 36–40 New World New York City 24–27, 30, 34–35, 51, 54, 61, 66 New York Evening Post 88 New York Manumission Society 62 Oo “originalists” 60 orphans 15 Pp pamphlet, anti-Adams 84–85 paper money 73, 102, 105, 107 Payne, Richard 108 Philadelphia 66, 70–71, 72, 73 pistols, dueling 90 Princeton University 24, 40 principles 84 Rr ratification 59 Revolutionary War 28–33, 34–40, 46–49, 51, 102 Reynolds, Maria 71–72, 78–79 Ss Tony Awards 104 Tories 51–52 Treasury, US 19, 64–69, 78, 86, 105 Trenton, Battle of 36–40 Trinity Church (New York) 98, 99, 100 St Croix 12, 21, 27, 33, 40, 53, 69 San Francisco (California) 73 scandal 78–79 Schuyler, Elizabeth see Hamilton, Elizabeth (Eliza) Schuyler, Philip (father-in-law) 77 Secretary of State 66 Secretary of the Treasury 64–69, 78, 86, 105 Senate 56, 58, 65 shipping 73–75 slavery 12, 13, 14, 21, 27, 52 Sons of Liberty 26 Stevens, Edward “Neddy” 17, 21, 25, 33 Stevens, Thomas 16 Supreme Court (Washington) 67 Uu Tt Yorktown, Battle of 47–49 United States 54–55, 56, 63, 108 United States Constitution 56–63 university 23, 24 Vv Virginia 55, 66, 67 Ww Washington, D.C 66, 67, 70, 108 Washington, George 30, 32, 34–43, 46–47, 53, 63, 64, 69, 79, 82–83, 101, 108 West Point (New York) 73 White House (Washington) 67 Yy taxation 73–74 ten dollar bills 102, 107, 108 127 Acknowledgments DK would like to thank: Rashika Kachroo for additional design help; Jolyon Goddard for additional editorial help; Jacqueline Hornberger for proofreading; Helen Peters for the index; Emily Kimball and Nishani Reed for legal advice; Nicole Scholet de Villavicencio for her expertise on Alexander’s life; Stephanie Laird for literacy consulting; and Noah Harley for serving as our “Kid Editor.” The publisher would like to thank the following for their kind permission to reproduce their photographs: (Key: a-above; b-below/bottom; c-center; f-far; l-left; r-right; t-top) 11 Alamy Stock Photo: robertharding 13 Alamy Stock Photo: The Granger Collection 17 Alamy Stock Photo: Granger Historical Picture Archive 19 Alamy Stock Photo: Andrew Duke (ca); World History Archive (c); INTERFOTO (cra); The Picture Art Collection (cr) 25 Getty Images: Rykoff Collection / CORBIS 26 Alamy Stock Photo: Niday Picture Library 28 Alamy Stock Photo: Archive Images 31 Alamy Stock Photo: North Wind Picture Archives 33 Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.: LC-USZ62-41929 35 Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.: LC-USZC4-4970 36 Alamy Stock Photo: Granger Historical Picture Archive 38-39 Alamy Stock Photo: Rana Royalty free 42 Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.: LC-DIGpga-01368 43 Alamy Stock Photo: Granger Historical Picture Archive 47 Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.: LC-DIG-pga-01668 53 Alamy Stock Photo: Everett Collection Historical 58 Alamy Stock Photo: Mira 59 Alamy Stock Photo: Ian Dagnall 60 Alamy Stock Photo: Granger Historical Picture Archive 65 Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.: LC-DIG-pga-10283 66 Alamy Stock Photo: IanDagnall Computing 67 Depositphotos Inc: tiger_barb 68 Alamy Stock Photo: Steven Jones 72 Alamy Stock Photo: Granger Historical Picture Archive 73 Alamy Stock Photo: Brian Brown 75 Alamy Stock Photo: Mira 77 Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.: LC-USZ62-102555 80 Alamy Stock Photo: Heritage Image Partnership Ltd 81 Alamy Stock Photo: Hemis (t) Getty Images: Mike Coppola / Getty Images for National Park Service (b) 84 Getty Images: DEA / M SEEMULLER / DeAgostini 90 Alamy Stock Photo: Granger Historical Picture Archive 95 Alamy Stock Photo: Old Paper Studios 96-97 Alamy Stock Photo: The Granger Collection 99 Alamy Stock Photo: Stuart Forster (b); Alfredo Maiquez / age fotostock (t) 100 Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.: LCUSZ62-45482 102 Alamy Stock Photo: Ivan Vdovin 103 Alamy Stock Photo: Ed Rooney (b) Getty Images: John Lamparski (t) 104 Getty Images: Fresh photos from all over the worls 106 Alamy Stock Photo: simon leigh 109 Getty Images: GraphicaArtis / Archive Photos 111 Alamy Stock Photo: IanDagnall Computing Cover images: Front and Spine: Getty Images: Kean Collection / Archive Photos All other images © Dorling Kindersley For further information see: www.dkimages.com Page 108, quote source: Richard Payne, “PBS American Experience: Alexander Hamilton” (2007) ANSWERS TO THE QUIZ ON PAGES 116–117 Nevis, an island in the Caribbean; a hurricane that had hit the Caribbean; Hearts of Oak; Elizabeth (Eliza) Schuyler; slavery; the Federalist Papers; Virginia; it makes coins; George Washington’s; 10 Aaron Burr; 11 because dueling was illegal; 12 the $10 bill 128 ... page 46 10 Alexander and his enemies page 84 11 The duel and the end page 92 Alexander? ??s legacy page 102 12 Chapter A bumpy start Alexander Hamilton had a tough start to an amazing life He lost... Life Stories Alexander HamiLTON by James Buckley Jr Illustrated by Charlotte Ager Senior Editor Shannon Beatty... important person in Alexander? ??s life 42 Many writers have looked at Washington as the father that Alexander never really had Washington was more than 20 years older than Alexander, and the general