On this historical day, July 11, 1804, Aaron Burr, who held the position of Vice President under President Thomas Jefferson, fatally wounded Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, in a pistol duel. Burr and Hamilton were engaged in a longstanding feud driven by political motives. Burr, expressing his intent to duel, wrote to Hamilton, “You have forced me into this course, and now your silence compels me to act.” Although dueling was illegal in both New Jersey and New York, the consequences were less severe in New Jersey. Thus, Burr and Hamilton agreed to duel in Weehawken, New Jersey on the morning of July 11, 1804. Coincidentally, Hamilton’s eldest son, Philip, had died in a duel at the same location three years prior.
During the duel itself, there are conflicting accounts of what exactly transpired. The “seconds” of each party, Nathaniel Pendleton and William Van Ness, were responsible for loading the pistols and representing their principals while also acting as field assistants. Present at the scene was Dr. David Hosack, a medical doctor. However, due to the desire to maintain plausible deniability and avoid legal consequences, all witnesses turned away, leaving the details of the duel shrouded in uncertainty. Nevertheless, it is known that on July 11, 1804, Alexander Hamilton was struck in the abdomen by Burr’s shot, resulting in his mortal wound. He passed away the following day.
The mystery of which party shot first remains, with conflicting reports offering varying versions of the story. What remains consistent is that two shots were heard within seconds of each other. It is noteworthy that Hamilton had expressed his intention to deliberately miss Burr on his first shot in his writings prior to the duel. Pendleton supposedly confirmed Hamilton’s plan to do so. Unfortunately, Hamilton did not have the opportunity to decide on his second shot, as the duel abruptly concluded. Pendleton rushed to Hamilton’s side, accompanied soon after by Dr. Hosack. Reported as still conscious, Hamilton uttered the words, “This is a mortal wound, Doctor,” which would prove tragically accurate.
Hamilton was transported to the Manhattan residence of his friend William Bayard Jr., while his wife Eliza and their children were summoned from their nearby location at The Grange. They arrived at the Bayard home in time to bid Hamilton a final farewell. On July 12, 1804, at the age of 47, Alexander Hamilton passed away. The nation was outraged by the killing of such an esteemed figure, and Burr, charged with murder, evaded prosecution by virtue of his position as Vice President.
Alexander Hamilton’s legacy extends far into the 20th and 21st centuries. His likeness appeared on the $1,000 bill in 1918, exclusively for transactions between Federal Reserve Banks. Subsequently, his image graced the commonly used $10 bill ten years later. In recent years, there was a proposal to replace Hamilton’s face on the $10 bill with Harriet Tubman’s image. However, this decision was ultimately reversed, and Hamilton’s face remained on the bill. The Broadway musical “Hamilton,” which premiered in 2015 and achieved great success, may have influenced this outcome. The show, based on Ron Chernow’s 2004 biography, depicts Hamilton’s life and the impact of various historical figures on it.
It is noteworthy that Alexander Hamilton was actually the first person to include women on U.S. currency, as Lady Liberty appeared on early American currency under his influence. The creator of the musical, Lin-Manuel Miranda, expressed his belief that Hamilton would be thrilled to see women represented on currency. With its creative portrayal of historical events, “Hamilton” continues to captivate audiences and shed light on the life of this influential Founding Father.
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