Posted by: Robert Brammer
On the morning of July 11, 1804, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton met in Weehawken, New Jersey for a duel that would prove fatal for Alexander Hamilton. Burr was outraged over derogatory comments made by Hamilton regarding Burr’s character at a dinner hosted by Judge John Tayler in March of 1804. These comments were recorded by a Dr. Charles D. Cooper who sent off an account to his friend, stating that Hamilton described Burr as a “dangerous man and one who ought not to be trusted.” These comments were ultimately published in the New-York Evening Post. Hamilton’s father-in-law, Philip Schuyler, responded by drafting a letter insisting that Hamilton had pledged to remain neutral in the upcoming New York gubernatorial election in which Burr was a candidate, and that Hamilton could not have made the comments about Burr that were attributed to him. Dr. Cooper, annoyed by the implication that he had invented the story, responded by affirming his comments, declaring that he had been cautious in recounting them, and stating “for really, sir, I could detail to you a still more despicable opinion which General Hamilton has expressed of Mr. Burr.”
Weeks after his defeat in the New York gubernatorial election, Burr channeled his rage into a series of letters with Hamilton, demanding that Hamilton disavow the comment attributed to him that impugned Burr’s character. Hamilton’s legalistic response did little to placate Burr, with Hamilton insisting that Burr recount specific, offensive observations he had made about Burr’s character, which he would then affirm or deny. The men who would ultimately serve as seconds in the duel, William Van Ness and Nathaniel Pendleton, also shuttled back and forth between the principals in a vain attempt to negotiate a settlement to the matter.
On the morning of July 11, the principals, seconds, and Dr. David Hosack were rowed along the Hudson River to the dueling ground in Weehawken, New Jersey, a site chosen due to New Jersey’s more lenient treatment of dueling. True to his convictions, Hamilton fired into the woods. Burr fired his shot and hit his mark, striking Hamilton in the abdomen. Immediately realizing the gravity of his injury, Hamilton declared, “I am a dead man,” before falling to the ground. Pendleton then called for Dr. Hosack, who attended Hamilton as he was rowed back to New York. Hamilton briefly rallied, long enough to tell Hosack, “Let Mrs. Hamilton be immediately sent for. Let the event be gradually broken to her, but give her hopes.” After arriving in New York, Hamilton was taken to a mansion owned by William Bayard, where he died.
These two letters from Alexander Hamilton to his wife, Elizabeth, were written during the week preceding the duel, with instructions that they should only be delivered if “I shall first have terminated my earthly career.” The letters explain Hamilton’s reason for participating in the duel and his determination to maintain his religious convictions by sparing the life of Aaron Burr.
Sources consulted:
Alexander Hamilton, by Ron Chernow
The Alexander Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress Manuscripts Division
Amy Trout Hughes says:
I was a tour guide at the Library in the mid-1990s and will never forget seeing such joy on visitors’ faces as they saw the treasures of the LOC! I met so many special people doing research for books, movies, articles and their own personal education.
You all are the keepers of amazing memories and treasures of our country. Thank you for the work you continue to do.
Gautham Rao says:
Thank you LOC for this wonderful content. The students in my Founding Fathers (?) course in the History Department at American University will be studying these letters tomorrow in conjunction with the lyrics from Miranda’s musical, Hamilton.
Patti Myers says:
How heartbreaking it is to see this letter, surely one of the last things Alexander Hamilton wrote, after a lifetime filled with writing; it moves me to tears. I cannot come close to imagining his state of mind as he wrote his farewell to his “darling darling wife” on the eve of the infamous duel. Thank you for preserving this and so many other treasured documents of our history, and giving us the opportunity to connect so intimately with our founders.
Missy Hawes says:
I cannot tell what the letters are saying. Do you think it is possible to update this page with the letter ty[ed out so that one may be able to read it?
Robert Brammer says:
Thanks for your question. Underneath each scanned letter, you will find a link to a transcript by the National Archives.
Chloe Vasas-Anderson says:
I cry every time I read through these. They cared so much about each other. Alexander didn’t want this, to put Eliza through such pain. He states in the letter that it physically and mentally hurts him to do this because he knew Aaron Burr was truly set out to get him. He knew he probably wouldn’t make it out alive. He tried to stay alive, he tried hard enough to stay alive for another 31 hours. He wanted to see his seven children again, his sister-in-law and his father-in-law. He hadn’t grown up with much of a family so he cherished what he had. If he didn’t accept the duel he would’ve been called a coward and he cared a whole lot about his reputation. He just wanted the best for his family and himself and I honestly don’t blame him.
Macy says:
after reading into the history of alexander hamilton and the duel it breaks my heart to read these letters. Even after destroying Eliza’s trust with the reynolds pamphlet, he expresses his love to his dear wife; knowing he won’t make it out of the duel alive.
kathy clewell says:
I also have a hard time reading the letters. They are an amazing piece of American history. If a translation of the letter could be typed and available to read- it would be appreciated
Robert Brammer says:
Thanks for your question. Underneath each scanned letter, you will find a link to a transcript by the National Archives.
yaboi says:
Maybe this would be good if you could actually read the letters, but you can’t so what is the point of having
Sky says:
everyone is saying you cant read the letters, but if you scroll down you can see a link to a typed translate.
Chloe says:
Hamilton was really romantic, therefore making these
letters really sad.Kim Lebens says:
We’ve just seen the streaming version of Hamilton and look forward to seeing it on stage. Such a breath of fresh air to see these documents available to the public even during a pandemic. Thank you LOC for making these a user friendly experience. However, I cannot comment fully on these letters as a whole since the July 10 letter Part One link is identical to Part Two. Is there a transcription of Part One? Thank you again
Robert Brammer says:
Hello. Although the images of Hamilton’s letter are split into two images, the link to the transcript below the images (which, as you note, is the same link) contains a transcription of the entire letter.
Kim Lebens says:
Thank you Robert! Just saw your comment and truly appreciate your help!!
marius babii says:
i love the burr and the hamilton duel
Add a Comment
FAQs
What did Hamilton's last letter to Eliza say? ›
"The consolations of Religion, my beloved, can alone support you; and these you have a right to enjoy. Fly to the bosom of your God and be comforted. With my last idea; I shall cherish the sweet hope of meeting you in a better world. "Adieu best of wives and best of Women.
Did Hamilton's wife burn his letters? ›By now everyone knows that Eliza Hamilton, the wife of Alexander Hamilton, burned her husband's love letters before she died—and November 9th will be the 162nd anniversary of her death on that day in 1854 at the age of 97.
What were Philip Hamilton's last words in real life? ›Philip Hamilton, born 1-22-1782, died 11-24-1801, was the oldest child of Alexander Hamilton. He died from a gunshot inflicted during a duel with George Eacker. According to his attending doctor, his last words were: "Doctor, I despair".
What does Eliza's last gasp mean? ›Sometimes she found herself imagining Eliza's children sharing her story and preserving their family's legacy. Other times, the gasp represented her reuniting with her husband Alexander Hamilton in the afterlife.
What happens to Eliza at the end of Hamilton? ›In the final scene, Alexander Hamilton's widow, Eliza (Phillipa Soo), sings of living 50 years after his death, during which time she established an orphanage, raised funds for the Washington Monument and strove to further her husband's legacy.
Did Hamilton write a goodbye letter? ›To Elizabeth Hamilton1
This letter, my very dear Eliza, will not be delivered to you, unless I shall first have terminated my earthly career; to begin, as I humbly hope from redeeming grace and divine mercy, a happy immortality.
Hamilton gasped, “I am a dead man” and collapsed. He lapsed in and out of consciousness while being rowed back across the Hudson River to New York. He was taken to a friend's mansion, his family rushing to his side.
Who was Hamilton's true love? ›Elizabeth Schuyler was born in Albany in 1757, to a wealthy family that had social ties to prominent early Americans. She met Alexander Hamilton in 1780, when both were in their early 20s.
Did Hamilton love his wife's sister? ›It's unlikely, given Eliza and Angelica's lifelong closeness, that Angelica and Alexander had an affair. We can never know for sure: either way, sexual intimacy was not the defining characteristic of their relationship.
What was the largest significance of Hamilton's death? ›The death of Hamilton led to the permanent weakening of the Federalist Party and its demise in American domestic politics. It also effectively ended the political career of Burr, who was vilified for shooting Hamilton; he never held another high office after his tenure of vice president ended in 1805.
Why did Elizabeth forgive Hamilton? ›
Elizabeth forgave him; if she had not, his career and reputation would have been irrevocably ruined. Despite Alexander's actual and rumored affairs, the Hamiltons' personal relationship was one of mutual respect. Elizabeth accepted his flirtatiousness.
How did Jefferson react to Hamilton's death? ›Hamilton's bitter adversary, President Thomas Jefferson, was chillingly silent (at least publicly) about the death of his fellow Founding Father, while Hamilton's erstwhile rival in Constitutional disputes, James Madison, was only concerned his death might stir sympathy for the moribund Federalists.
What is the saddest song in Hamilton? ›9. Track #18: It's Quiet Uptown. One of the saddest moments in the show, and one of the most beautiful tracks on the album. This comes after a grave moment in the show (I won't give anything away) and give us ALL the feels.
What is the main message of Hamilton? ›“Hamilton” also speaks about whether the world is wide enough for all of us with different stances and beliefs to live and thrive in. It is a story that speaks about legacy and what we want it to be for our future generations and what path are we willing to take to make that possible.
Why did the King in Hamilton spit so much? ›Jonathan Groff as King George III in Hamilton. A popular narrative on Twitter is that Groff drinks water backstage so he will spit during the performance, invoking George III's mania. "i'm seeing lots of people coming at jonathan groff for spitting a lot when he was singing.
Who is in love with Eliza by the end? ›In the alternate ending to Pygmalion, Eliza does not marry, but she goes back to Professor Higgins. In the original play, Eliza is set to marry Freddy Eynsford-Hill. In some of the movie versions of the play, the ending was changed to a supposedly 'happy' ending, with Eliza coming back to Higgins.
Does Eliza forgive Hamilton for cheating? ›She had, by all accounts, forgiven her husband, and would spend the next fifty years trying to undo the damage of Hamilton's last decade of life. Hamilton's fate, of course, is well-known, though in a way the Reynolds affair followed him to his last day.
Does Hamilton have a happy ending? ›Hamilton is dead, killed in a duel by his rival Aaron Burr, and he's survived by his wife, Eliza, who spends the 50 years after his death guarding his legacy. Up until that point, Burr has served as the musical's narrator, an awestruck chronicler of his bitter frenemy's inexplicable success.
What were Eliza's last words? ›With my last idea; I shall cherish the sweet hope of meeting you in a better world. Adieu, best of wives and best of Women.
What did Alexander Hamilton write before he died? ›From June 7 through September 19, 2018, you can see several of my very favorite documents in our holdings, including Hamilton's handwritten Statement of Property and Debt, which he wrote just days before he died from wound inflicted by Aaron Burr in their famous duel.
How old was Eliza when Hamilton died? ›
How many swear words does Hamilton? ›Profanity (14)
Multiple uses of "sh*t", "damn", "ass", "bastard", "hell" and "whore". References to *f***" are suggested but never explicitly said.
At 22 years old, the couple became engaged to be married in early April. On December 14, 1780, Schuyler and Hamilton were married at the Schuyler Mansion in Albany. Due to her husband's military service, the couple moved around a lot in the early years of their marriage but settled in New York City in 1783.
Did Hamilton flirt with Angelica? ›One stirring revelation about Angelica Schuyler was that many suspected she was involved in a romantic affair with her own brother-in-law, Alexander Hamilton. The two forged a close relationship and fervently exchanged letters.
Who was the prettiest Schuyler sister? ›Cornelia Schuyler Morton (1776–1808) was born on the eve of the American Revolution. Cornelia was considered beautiful and witty, much like her oldest sister Angelica. She's shown, above left, in her portrait by Thomas Sully.
What was the last thing Hamilton wrote? ›Alexander Hamilton's Farewell Letter was the last piece of correspondence Alexander Hamilton ever wrote. It was written to his wife, Elizabeth Hamilton, prior to his duel with Aaron Burr.
What did Hamilton do that humiliated his wife Eliza? ›The pamphlet included revelations sure to humiliate Elizabeth Hamilton—that he and Maria had brought their affair into the Hamilton family home, and that Hamilton had encouraged his wife to remain in Albany so that he could see Maria without explanation.
Does Eliza ever forgive Hamilton? ›Elizabeth forgave him; if she had not, his career and reputation would have been irrevocably ruined. Despite Alexander's actual and rumored affairs, the Hamiltons' personal relationship was one of mutual respect. Elizabeth accepted his flirtatiousness.
How many words did Hamilton write? ›Hamilton is thought to have written a 15,000-word essay laying out the counter doctrine of implied powers in just one night, an essay that would convince Washington to approve the creation of the first bank of the United States.
How much did Hamilton wrote in his life? ›
“I always felt that Hamilton was a human word machine,” Chernow says. He cites the 22,000 pages from the founder's pen that make up the Columbia University Press collection of his works, and notes that Hamilton was killed when he was just 49.
What did Alexander Hamilton wrote before death? ›From June 7 through September 19, 2018, you can see several of my very favorite documents in our holdings, including Hamilton's handwritten Statement of Property and Debt, which he wrote just days before he died from wound inflicted by Aaron Burr in their famous duel.
How old was Maria Reynolds when she slept with Hamilton? ›Hamilton became involved with Mrs. Reynolds in 1791, when she requested his help after her husband James supposedly abandoned her. She was 23 at the time; Hamilton was 34. Their affair would make headlines -- and temporarily strip Hamilton of his political power.
Does Eliza marry Hamilton? ›(Gilder Lehrman Institute) Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler married on December 14, 1780, at the Schuyler family home in Albany, New York. The romance between Elizabeth and Alexander had moved quickly—within a month of meeting, they decided to marry.