Alexander Hamilton

USCIS Virgin Islands Field Office

Alexander Hamilton was born on Jan. 11, 1755 or 1757, (historical records vary) in Charlestown on the small Caribbean island of Nevis in the Lesser Antilles. In 1765, his family moved to St. Croix. Within the span of two years, Alexander’s father abandoned the family and his mother died of tropical fever, orphaning Alexander and his older brother, James.

Despite their circumstances and lack of education, the brothers each secured apprenticeships—James worked for a carpenter, and Alexander worked as a clerk at Beekman & Cruger, an import-export firm. He honed his skills in economics and administration, and was frequently left in charge of the company for long periods of time, even though he was in his early teenage years. His success and talent for writing caught the eye of his employers and mentors, who raised money to send Alexander to America to study.

In 1773, he attended King’s College in New York City (now known as Columbia University). He became involved in politics, publicly defending the Boston Tea Party and supporting the Patriots’ cause against pro-British Loyalists. When the Revolutionary War began, Alexander was commissioned as a captain in the New York Artillery’s Provincial Company. His actions at the Battle of Trenton prevented Lord Cornwallis’ men from crossing the Raritan River and attacking General George Washington’s main army. In March 1777, Alexander was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel and became General Washington’s aide-de-camp.  

The 1780s were a busy decade for Alexander. He married Elizabeth Schuyler and would go on to have eight children with her. In 1781, was given command of a light infantry battalion. His actions during the Battle of Yorktown in October of that year led to General Cornwallis’ surrender and Alexander’s promotion to colonel. Soon after that battle, Alexander left the military and was elected to the Continental Congress. He was one of several authors of the Federalist Papers in 1788, and in 1789, he won the position of Secretary of the Treasury.  

According to his biography in the National Archives, “he presented a program not only to stabilize national finances but also to shape the future of the country as a powerful, industrial nation. He proposed establishment of a national bank, funding of the national debt, assumption of state war debts, and the encouragement of manufacturing.”

Alexander Hamilton died on July 11, 1804, after famously dueling Aaron Burr in Weehawken, New Jersey. He is buried in Trinity Churchyard in New York City.