~ Early Life ~
Hamilton was born on the West Indian island of Nevis,
probably in 1755. Since he was the illegitimate son of Rachel
Fawcett Lavien and James Hamilton, both of West Indian trading
families, his exact birth date and the circumstances of his early
life are difficult to determine. Modern research has established,
however, that he was probably not born in 1757, as he and his
children supposed; that he spent his youth mostly on the island
of Saint Croix apprenticed as a clerk; and that in 1772 he was
sent to New York City by his guardian, the merchant Nicholas
Cruger.
Hamilton was obviously precocious, and his guardian sought to
enroll him in the College of New Jersey at Princeton. When refused
permission there to accelerate his program of studies, he enrolled
instead at King's College (now Columbia University), New York
City, in 1773 or 1774. In 1774-75, when he was not yet 20, he
entered the growing dispute between the American colonies and
the British government by writing many fervent tracts filled
with doctrines of rebellion and natural rights derived from the
philosopher John Locke.
Hamilton's bent, however, was toward action, so he enlisted in
the militia and fought in the battles around New York City in
1775 and 1776. His zeal and organizing ability brought him to
George Washington's attention and led
to a commission, in March 1777, as lieutenant colonel in the
Continental Army and aide-de-camp to
its commander. He served with Washington for four years. Though
admired as a superb staff officer, Hamilton longed for a field
command, which he achieved in time to lead a regiment of New
York troops at the Battle of Yorktown
in October 1781.
Hamilton's personal life and social position in the new nation
took a decisive turn in December 1780, when he married Elizabeth
Schuyler, daughter of the wealthy and influential General Philip
Schuyler. This connection placed Hamilton in the center of New
York society. In 1782, shortly after leaving the army, he was
admitted to legal practice in New York and became assistant to
Robert Morris (1734-1806), who was then superintendent of finance.
Well before his 30th birthday, then, Hamilton had had a distinguished
military career, knew intimately most of the leaders of the American
Revolution, had achieved high social standing, and was recognized
as one of the leading lawyers in the country.
~ The Constitution and Federalism ~
Elected a member of the Continental Congress
in 1782, Hamilton at once became a leading proponent of a stronger
national government than that provided for by the Articles of
Confederation. As aide to Washington he had observed the debilitating
effect of "an uncontrollable sovereignty in each state"
and called repeatedly for a strengthened Congress and more efficient
executive departments. As a New York delegate to the Constitutional
Convention of 1787, he advocated a national government that would
have virtually abolished the states and even called for a president-for-life
to provide energetic leadership. He left the convention at the
end of June, but he approved the Constitution subsequently drafted
by his colleagues as preferable to the Articles, though it was
not as strong as he wished it to be.
With John Jay and James Madison, Hamilton
wrote a series of papers (published in book form as The Federalist,
1788) urging the people of New York to ratify the new constitution.
His brilliant essays on the need for a stronger union, the utility
of a national taxing power, and the importance of the executive
and judicial branches of the federal government became classic
statements of his political philosophy of strong leadership in
the public interest. At the New York ratifying convention of
June-July 1788, Hamilton and his allies defeated the previously
dominant antifederal forces in the state. |
Alexander Hamilton