From the day he was born on January 11, 1755, Alexander Hamilton was destined for greatness, though it would be a long and tough journey. Hamilton was born on an island called Nevis, in the West Indies, but he spent most of his early life in Christiansted, the main city of St. Croix.
St. Croix was one of the wealthiest islands in the West Indies, probably because it played an important role in the triangular trade route, exchanging slaves, rum, and sugar.
Most of St. Croix was taken up by plantations, growing sugar, cotton, and coffee plants. Slaves harvested and grew the crops, with nearly 90% of the people living on St. Croix being slaves. When Hamilton was an adult, he would work to free enslaved people.
Hamilton’s mother was legally …show more content…
He recovered, but his mother had the fever too. She died a few weeks later, at 39 years old.
Alexander Hamilton and James Junior were penniless. James Junior went to live with the carpenter he was working for, and Hamilton moved in with the Stevens family. Edward Stevens, also known as the son of Thomas Stevens, became best friends with Hamilton. Hamilton was still young, but he impressed the town’s leaders. He showed his intelligence. He showed his hard work and determination. Nicholas Cruger was one of those leaders, and Hamilton worked for him. Cruger traded sugar, rum, and molasses for livestock, lumber, and foods. When Cruger was away, Hamilton was trusted to make crucial decisions and give instructions to the other workers. Hamilton also impressed a local minister by the name of Hugh Knox. Hugh Knox owned a private library, and Hamilton was determined to educate himself. Knox offered to teach him.
Hamilton borrowed books from the private library and began showing Knox the poems he wrote. His report of a hurricane that struck St. Croix was even published in the local …show more content…
People didn’t know who created the brilliant essays. Nobody guessed that the author was actually a young man from the west Indies. Soon, everyone would know the name of Alexander Hamilton.
Hamilton joined a militia called the New York Provincial Artillery Company, preparing to defend New York against British forces, and he decided to quit college before graduating. He believed the patriot cause was more important than a college degree.
In 1777, Hamilton was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the Continental Army. General George Washington made Hamilton his assistant, and Hamilton wrote several reports and critical letters on behalf of General Washington. But Hamilton wanted to be on the battlefield. He convinced General Washington to let him fight, and on October 14 of 1781, Hamilton led a bayonet charge against the British in Yorktown.
Social events and dances were often held at army headquarters, and Hamilton was quite popular with the young ladies, being rather good looking. At one of these social events, Hamilton met a woman named Elizabeth Schuyler, the daughter of Philip Schuyler, a rich and powerful politician and landowner. She was shy and sweet-tempered. Hamilton fell in love with her almost
St. Croix was one of the wealthiest islands in the West Indies, probably because it played an important role in the triangular trade route, exchanging slaves, rum, and sugar.
Most of St. Croix was taken up by plantations, growing sugar, cotton, and coffee plants. Slaves harvested and grew the crops, with nearly 90% of the people living on St. Croix being slaves. When Hamilton was an adult, he would work to free enslaved people.
Hamilton’s mother was legally …show more content…
He recovered, but his mother had the fever too. She died a few weeks later, at 39 years old.
Alexander Hamilton and James Junior were penniless. James Junior went to live with the carpenter he was working for, and Hamilton moved in with the Stevens family. Edward Stevens, also known as the son of Thomas Stevens, became best friends with Hamilton. Hamilton was still young, but he impressed the town’s leaders. He showed his intelligence. He showed his hard work and determination. Nicholas Cruger was one of those leaders, and Hamilton worked for him. Cruger traded sugar, rum, and molasses for livestock, lumber, and foods. When Cruger was away, Hamilton was trusted to make crucial decisions and give instructions to the other workers. Hamilton also impressed a local minister by the name of Hugh Knox. Hugh Knox owned a private library, and Hamilton was determined to educate himself. Knox offered to teach him.
Hamilton borrowed books from the private library and began showing Knox the poems he wrote. His report of a hurricane that struck St. Croix was even published in the local …show more content…
People didn’t know who created the brilliant essays. Nobody guessed that the author was actually a young man from the west Indies. Soon, everyone would know the name of Alexander Hamilton.
Hamilton joined a militia called the New York Provincial Artillery Company, preparing to defend New York against British forces, and he decided to quit college before graduating. He believed the patriot cause was more important than a college degree.
In 1777, Hamilton was promoted to lieutenant colonel of the Continental Army. General George Washington made Hamilton his assistant, and Hamilton wrote several reports and critical letters on behalf of General Washington. But Hamilton wanted to be on the battlefield. He convinced General Washington to let him fight, and on October 14 of 1781, Hamilton led a bayonet charge against the British in Yorktown.
Social events and dances were often held at army headquarters, and Hamilton was quite popular with the young ladies, being rather good looking. At one of these social events, Hamilton met a woman named Elizabeth Schuyler, the daughter of Philip Schuyler, a rich and powerful politician and landowner. She was shy and sweet-tempered. Hamilton fell in love with her almost