Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton
Portrait of Alexander Hamilton by John Trumbull, 1806
1st United States Secretary of the Treasury
In office September 11, 1789 – January 31, 1795
President	George Washington
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Oliver Wolcott, Jr.
Senior Officer of the Army
In office December 14, 1799 – June 15, 1800
President	John Adams
Preceded by	George Washington
Succeeded by	James Wilkinson
Delegate to the Congress of the Confederation from New York
In office November 3, 1788 – March 2, 1789
Preceded by	Egbert Benson
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
In office November 4, 1782 – June 21, 1783
Preceded by	Seat established
Succeeded by	Seat abolished
Personal details
Born	(1757-01-11)January 11, 1757 Charlestown, Nevis, British West Indies
Died	July 12, 1804(1804-07-12) (aged 47) New York City, U.S.
Political party	Federalist
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Schuyler
Children	Philip, Angelica, Alexander, Jr., James, John, William, Eliza, and Philip
Alma mater	Kings College, New York (Columbia University)
Religion	Presbyterian, Episcopalian (convert)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	New York  United States (1777–1800)
Service/branch	New York Company of Artillery Continental Army United States Army
Years of service	1775–1776 (Militia) 1776–1781 1798–1800
Rank	Major general U.S. Army Senior Officer
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War  • Battle of Harlem Heights  • Battle of White Plains  • Battle of Trenton  • Battle of Princeton  • Battle of Brandywine  • Battle of Germantown  • Battle of Monmouth  • Siege of Yorktown Quasi-War

Major general

Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757 – July 12, 1804) was an American statesman and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. He was an influential interpreter and promoter of the U.S. Constitution, as well as the founder of the nation's financial system, the Federalist Party, the United States Coast Guard, and The New York Post newspaper. As the first Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton was the main author of the economic policies of the George Washington administration. He took the lead in the funding of the states' debts by the Federal government, as well as the establishment of a national bank, a system of tariffs, and friendly trade relations with Britain. His vision included a strong central government led by a vigorous executive branch, a strong commercial economy, with a national bank and support for manufacturing, plus a strong military. This was challenged by Virginia agrarians Thomas Jefferson and James Madison who formed a rival party. They favored strong states based in rural America and protected by state militias as opposed to a strong national army and navy. They denounced Hamilton as too friendly toward Britain and toward monarchy in general, and too oriented toward cities, business and banking.