A Museum Exhibit: Alexander Hamilton

His Best Friend, Laurens

Alexander Hamilton

A Plan For the National Bank

The West Indies Hurricane Letter

As shown on the right, this portrait is of the man himself, Alexander Hamilton. It was painted by John Trumbull in 1806, two years after Hamilton's death. Type of Painting: Oil on Canvas.

Here, on the left is a portrait of John Laurens, Hamilton's closest friend. On April 1779, Hamilton sent Laurens a letter saying, "My Dear Laurens, it might be in my power, by action rather than words, to convince you that I love you." This letter has convinced many historians and others to question Hamilton's sexuality, even though he was married to Elizabeth Schuyler.

Written on April 30, 1781, Hamilton wrote a letter to Robert Morris, a financier of the American Revolution, to discuss about the plans for a national bank.

In September 6, 1772, Hamilton wrote a letter to the "The Royal Danish American Gazette," describing the West Indian Hurricane of 1772. After he wrote this, many of his townspeople grew inspired and donated money to send him to college. He was a teenager at the time.

The Reynolds Pamphlet

The Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers was a collection of letters written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay to newspapers in 1787-1788. Its purpose was to persuade people into ratifying the Constitution.

Written in 1797 by Hamilton, it was also known as the "Observations on Certain Documents." In the summer of 1791, Hamilton was getting himself in a sticky situation. He was committing adultery with Maria Reynolds, repeatedly. They finally got caught by Mr. James Reynolds, her husband. Mr. Reynolds saw this as a profiting opportunity and allowed Hamilton to continue his sins on one condition: money. So Hamilton continued on paying Mr. Reynolds until he was accused of speculation. Hamilton then wrote this pamphlet to his innocence from speculation. However, it came with a cost: revealing his adultery with Maria Reynolds. This scandal became the first American scandal.

A Full Vindication of the Measures of Congress

Written by Hamilton in December 15, 1774, "A Full Vindication of the Measures of Congress" was a response to defend the First Continental Congress from the accusations of A.W. Farmer's "Free Thoughts on the Proceedings of the Continental Congress." Farmer was later revealed to be Samuel Seabury, a loyalist.

Farmer Refuted

After Hamilton wrote "A Full Vindication of the Measures of the Congress," Farmer countered it by writing a pamphlet called "A View of the Controversy." To retort back, Hamilton corresponded with another letter, "The Farmer Refuted" on February 23, 1775. In his letters to Farmer, he pointed out the tensions between the colonies and Great Britain.

Dearest Eliza

This portrait is of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton's wife. Even after his affair with Maria Reynolds, she stuck with him till his death. "Adieu best of wives and best of Women. Embrace all my darling Children for me." - In Hamilton's letter to Elizabeth.

The Burr-Hamilton Duel

On July 11, 1804, Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr dueled each other in Weehawken, New Jersey, the same place Hamilton's son was killed in a duel. Unfortunately, Hamilton was shot in the ribs and died the next day in New York. The pistols they used were Wogdon pistols as shown on the right.

A Museum Exhibit: Alexander Hamilton