Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton was born on the island of Nevis and orphaned as a child. His talent for writing impressed local leaders who sponsored his schooling in New York, where he quickly joined the patriot cause. During the Revolutionary War he served as George Washington's aide-de-camp, coordinating letters, supply orders, and battle plans before leading troops at the decisive siege of Yorktown.

After the war Hamilton studied law and became a persuasive voice for a stronger national government. Alongside James Madison and John Jay he wrote many of the Federalist Papers, explaining how the proposed Constitution would balance authority among branches and protect the union from internal quarrels. He argued that a lasting republic needed both energetic leadership and respect for lawful limits.

President Washington appointed Hamilton the first secretary of the treasury. Hamilton proposed paying Revolutionary War debts in full, assuming state debts, and establishing a national bank to manage federal funds. He introduced tariffs and excise taxes to raise revenue and advocated a modern credit system that could support manufacturing, lighthouses, and stable currency. Though critics feared concentrated power, his plan helped the United States gain financial credibility.

Hamilton also organized the Revenue Cutter Service, a forerunner of the Coast Guard, and helped put down the Whiskey Rebellion without widening the conflict. His debates with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison highlighted the growing divide between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. Even after leaving the cabinet, Hamilton wrote extensively about foreign policy, elections, and the need for civic virtue among officeholders.

In 1804 a long-running political rivalry with Aaron Burr led to a duel in Weehawken, New Jersey, where Hamilton was mortally wounded. Despite his early death, his influence endures in the nation's financial institutions, constitutional interpretation, and commitment to public credit.