1755-1804 Presented by John C. Hamilton (1880)
b. Nevis, British West Indies• d. New York, N.Y.
One of the most dignified and compelling
statues of Central Park is the one of the
American revolutionary Alexander Hamilton.
While in college at Columbia University
Hamilton wrote incendiary articles and
pamphlets about the troubled times a
devotion to ideals that led him into the ranks
as a soldier in the revolutionary army.
Once there his wit and intelligence came to
the attention of George Washington who
having taken a liking to him gave him a
field commission as lieutenant and made
him his personal aide-de-camp.
By 1788 he had risen to prominence as a
major author of the Federalist papers, which
supported the ratification of the U.S.
Constitution and a strong centralized
government.
As Secretary of the Treasury under George
Washington (1789-1795) he proposed a vast
financial program to the first Congress.
Under this plan the Federal government
would assume all state debts and charter a
Bank of the United States.
He helped found the Bank of New York
and strongly promoted the development
of the New York Stock Exchange.
A tie for the presidency in 1800 between
Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson sent the
outcome to the House of Representatives,
which with Hamilton's decisive influence
awarded the presidency to Thomas Jefferson.
Hamilton detested Burr, considering him a
man without principles. This mutual hatred
culminated in a duel when Burr demanded a
public apology for Hamilton's reputed assault
against his character.
At the moment of truth Hamilton, who had
more than one dueling victory to his credit,
showed his gallantry by firing into the air.
Burr, in turn, took careful aim and fired a fatal
shot into Hamilton's chest. To the outrage and
remorse of the nation, Hamilton lost his life,
but Burr was indicted for murder in New York
City. He fled prosecution, was tried for treason
for an attempted invasion of Mexico and spent
the rest of his life in exile in France where he
died at the age of 80.
