Hamilton–Reynolds sex scandal

The Hamilton–Reynolds Affair was a political scandal around the time of the presidencies of George Washington and John Adams. Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton had a one-year affair with Maria Reynolds while paying Maria's husband, James Reynolds, blackmail money to maintain secrecy. Hamilton was forced to admit the affair after James Reynolds threatened to implicate him in Reynolds' own scheme involving unpaid back wages intended for Revolutionary War veterans. The affair was one of the first sex scandals in American political history.

In the summer of 1791, 23-year-old Maria Reynolds approached the married 34-year-old Alexander Hamilton in Philadelphia, requesting his help and monetary aid, claiming her husband James had abandoned her. Hamilton did not have any money on his person, so he retrieved her address in order to deliver the funds in person. Once Hamilton arrived at the boarding house where Maria was lodging, she brought him upstairs and led him into her bedroom where he recounts that "Some conversation ensued from which it was quickly apparent that other than pecuniary consolation would be acceptable.” The two began an illicit affair that would last, with varying frequency, approximately until June 1792.

Over the course of that year, while the affair took place, James Reynolds was well aware of his wife's unfaithfulness. He continually supported their relationship to regularly gain blackmail money from Hamilton. The common practice in the day was for the wronged husband to seek retribution in a pistol duel, but Reynolds, realizing how much Hamilton had to lose if his activity came into public view, insisted on monetary compensation instead. In fact after Hamilton had shown unequivocal signs that he wanted to end the affair in the Autumn of 1791 Hamilton received two letters on December 15, 1791, one each from Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds. The first letter, from Maria, warned of her husband's knowledge and of James' attempting to blackmail Hamilton. By this point Hamilton discontinued the affair and briefly ceased to visit, but both Reynoldses apparently were involved in the blackmailing scheme as both sent letters inviting Hamilton to continue his visits. After extorting $1000 in exchange for secrecy over Hamilton's adultery, James Reynolds rethought his request that Hamilton cease his relationship with Maria and wrote inviting him to renew his visits "as a friend", only to extort forced "loans" after each visit which the most likely colluding Maria solicited with her letters. By 2 May 1792, James Reynolds changed his mind again and requested that Hamilton no longer see his wife, but not before receiving additional payment; in the end the blackmail payments totaled over $1300 including the initial extortion. Hamilton at this point was possibly aware of both Reynoldses' being involved in the blackmail and welcomed as well as strictly complied with Reynolds' request to end the affair.

...
Wikipedia