A hurricane may seem like the end of the world for a community. It can completely destroy a person’s life. However, the hurricane that struck St. Croix in August of 1772 did the opposite for Alexander Hamilton: a hopeless orphan. The intelligent, young boy wrote an excellent paper describing the hurricane in detail. Hamilton was immediately recognized for his natural talent (Groom 12). This natural disaster was not so disastrous for Alexander, as this was the turning point in his early life. Hamilton’s success as a founding father stemmed from this very event. Although some historians believe Alexander Hamilton’s leadership and connections to power made him so successful in early America, it was really his extensive education and unique writing
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Hamilton quickly accepted this offer and became his right hand man. George Washington regarded Hamilton as his most trusted advisor for military and political matters (Staloff 45). Hamilton learned so much from his fellow founding father. He wrote the following about Washington: “I find he is so much pestered with matters. I conceive the only answer he would give may be given by himself” (Williams 15). Washington took Hamilton under his wing, giving him so many opportunities in the future that opened the door for his success. Hamilton absorbed everything Washington did as a leader and applied it to his own experience. Hamilton’s mature political ideas stem from his experience as Washington’s partner in the Revolutionary War (Parenti 15). While George Washington and others aided Hamilton throughout his career as a rising politician, he wasn’t dependent on them for success. Washington wouldn’t have noticed him if it weren’t for his natural and improving writing abilities. Hamilton became successful on his own. Common misunderstandings of Hamilton’s success are that his leadership and connections led to his success, but his success truly stemmed from his childhood …show more content…
While in the Caribbean, Hamilton befriended Princeton-educated Hugh Knox, who wanted to make the most of Hamilton’s natural intellect by lending him books and engaging in conversation regarding world politics (Groom 17). He was noticed by his brains at an early age, which set him apart from his classmates. Reverend Knox was eventually able to send Hamilton to the mainland for college education (Granieri). Hamilton was so grateful to have Reverend Knox, he didn’t take this opportunity for granted. He never returned back to the West Indies; he was ready for his life in America. Hamilton, being the ambitious person he is, met with the distinguished president of Princeton, Reverend John Witherspoon. Witherspoon was a fierce patriot. On the spot, Hamilton offered to take Princeton’s whole curriculum in a mere two years (Williams 5). His confidence was admirable, and his perseverance in receiving a college education was unmatchable. He began his studies at a Presbyterian academy before enrolling at King’s College (now known as the University of Columbia) in Manhattan (Groom 21). Hamilton valued his education, taking it very
Hamilton quickly accepted this offer and became his right hand man. George Washington regarded Hamilton as his most trusted advisor for military and political matters (Staloff 45). Hamilton learned so much from his fellow founding father. He wrote the following about Washington: “I find he is so much pestered with matters. I conceive the only answer he would give may be given by himself” (Williams 15). Washington took Hamilton under his wing, giving him so many opportunities in the future that opened the door for his success. Hamilton absorbed everything Washington did as a leader and applied it to his own experience. Hamilton’s mature political ideas stem from his experience as Washington’s partner in the Revolutionary War (Parenti 15). While George Washington and others aided Hamilton throughout his career as a rising politician, he wasn’t dependent on them for success. Washington wouldn’t have noticed him if it weren’t for his natural and improving writing abilities. Hamilton became successful on his own. Common misunderstandings of Hamilton’s success are that his leadership and connections led to his success, but his success truly stemmed from his childhood …show more content…
While in the Caribbean, Hamilton befriended Princeton-educated Hugh Knox, who wanted to make the most of Hamilton’s natural intellect by lending him books and engaging in conversation regarding world politics (Groom 17). He was noticed by his brains at an early age, which set him apart from his classmates. Reverend Knox was eventually able to send Hamilton to the mainland for college education (Granieri). Hamilton was so grateful to have Reverend Knox, he didn’t take this opportunity for granted. He never returned back to the West Indies; he was ready for his life in America. Hamilton, being the ambitious person he is, met with the distinguished president of Princeton, Reverend John Witherspoon. Witherspoon was a fierce patriot. On the spot, Hamilton offered to take Princeton’s whole curriculum in a mere two years (Williams 5). His confidence was admirable, and his perseverance in receiving a college education was unmatchable. He began his studies at a Presbyterian academy before enrolling at King’s College (now known as the University of Columbia) in Manhattan (Groom 21). Hamilton valued his education, taking it very