Alexander Hamilton: Founding Father

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What do you think of when you hear the term “Founding Father”? Most likely you think of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson or even Benjamin Franklin, but there are a few others missing from that list. One of the Founding Fathers who might be known to some, but whose face everyone knows, is Alexander Hamilton. Alexander Hamilton was known as many things, a lawyer, soldier, statesman, and the very first Secretary of the Treasury in the U.S. His actions, not only helped form the First National Bank, but helped develop America’s first political party. Because of his role in the nation’s history, Alexander Hamilton is most likely recognized as the man on the 10 dollar bill. But who is he behind all these titles?
Hamilton was born in the late 18th century around 1755 and 1757 in West Indian Island of Nevis. His father was from noble lineage and his mother a daughter of a physician. As an illegitimate child, his mother raised him most of his childhood. His determinism to improve his life took off at the age of 11 where he got his first job. Hamilton was a clerk in an accounting firm Beckman & Cruger where he would get very little education. His boss Nicolas Cruger admired his motivation, and at the age of 14, left Hamilton in charge for many months. This gave Hamilton an opportunity to access books in which helped him hone his reading skills. His need for education increased, and in 1772 he was sent to a minister named Hugh Knox who gave him some formal education on a nearby island called St. Croix. His study there was brief, and then was sent to American colonies to attend school for a better education around 1773. He arrived in New York where he enrolled into a university (academy) known as Kings College which is now known as Columbia University. His interests started changing where he began focusing on political and military issues. That was probably due to the nation rebelling against Britain and everyone was reacting. He was also defending Congress and writing to parliament "...That they are enemies to the rights of mankind is manifest, because they wish to see one part of their species enslaved by another. That they have an invincible aversion to common sense is apparent in many respects: They endeavor to persuade us, that the absolute sovereignty of parliament does not imply our absolute slavery". He ended his studies after two years, obtaining no degree. His writings gotten him somewhat noticed, and a pair of political articles he wrote were anonymously published- A Full Vindication of the Measures of Congress and The Farmer Refuted. Two weeks after them being published the general public was astonished at how the author was so young and how sophisticated it was. This was around the time he focused on military tactics as he had an interest in becoming a soldier for Washington. In
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He was one of the few to not only battle on the field, but battled locally with authorities writing to congress again explaining the condition issues of his men since the strength of the artillery company was not quite up to par as it should have been. He fought to make sure that there were equal payments for his men. He knew there was only so much congress could do, but made sure to get his point across that things need to change.
At the Battle of White Plains, Hamilton left a good impression with his superiors by helping add a victory where the British offensive got delayed which gave the American army an “orderly retreat.” Because of that decision he made, Washington sought out his artillery company for help during another
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Washington however requested Hamilton to join his family aide and promoted him to lieutenant colonel. When he accepted Washington’s offer Hamilton, we worked side by side with Washington for the next five years. Washington called Hamilton his “most trusted advisor” however this was more of a desk job than anything else. Hamilton was the one who wrote Washington’s letters, reports, and strategic plans. However it wasn’t very long until he asked Washington to be a part of the battlefield, where he led a victory in one of the most known battle, The Battle of

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