Elizabeth Schuyler
Hamilton
By Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton
Edited By Neela Singh August 9, 1757. The day I was born. Of course I don’t remember that day, but if that day hadn't happened I wouldn't be where I am now. I am Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton and this is my story. The most important part of my life was the period during the Revolutionary War and the years after it. During this time I met my husband, Alexander Hamilton, aided him with his political duties and writings, and I had my eight, now seven, wonderful children.
I was born in Albany, New York. I am the second daughter of Phillip Schuyler, the
Continental Army General and senator, and Catherine Van Rensselaer. I am very close with two of my sisters, Angelica and Peggy. I had fourteen siblings, but only seven lived to adulthood. My family are descendants of the Dutch landowners that settled in Albany during the mid seventeenth century. I will admit, but not to boast, that my family is quite wealthy. My mother and father grew up in homes with wealthy families too. Though we have money, I do not like what we spend it on. For instance, my father owned slaves when I was young. Now that I am able to realize what slavery really is, I do not agree with it at all. Being from a wealthy family, I can say that I have had many opportunities many others haven’t. For example, when I was a young girl I traveled with my father quite a few times and met some important people, like
Benjamin Franklin. I had a luxurious childhood. I was taught by some of the best tutors you could find. I am very fortunate to have had the education that I did.
My upbringing played an important role in my political views. Philip Schuyler, my father, was especially influential. My father, as a Revolutionary War General and New York
Senator, was very much for the war. Some may even call him a “war hero.” He was named New
York representative in the first Continental Congress. He was also an adviser to General
Washington. He was part of the Federalist Party, just as my husband was. I too was for the war, but some after effects I could’ve done without. I am not a fan of war but I believe it was necessary to break away from England. My neighbor was one of the unlucky and had to tend to a British soldier and house him. She doesn't have much money so it was hard on her. I also know of many people who wanted to move West but couldn't because of the Proclamation of 1763.
The Stamp Act was especially hard on our family because of all the papers Alex had, but I still supported him in his work. I wanted him to reach his goals.
My husband was an amazing man. He did some incredible things to help our country go from bankruptcy to prosperity. I supported my husband in all he did, but he could sometimes be focused too much on work. He wrote like he was running out of time, and it turns out he was.
Alexander Hamilton immigrated from the Caribbean at sixteen. His father left him when he was ten and his mother died when he was twelve. He came here to make a difference. And he definitely did. His goal was to go to college then reform the financial system. He wasn't going to give up. He was hired by Washington to assist him with his papers and other work. But Alex really wanted to be in combat. He thought it was an honorable thing to be able to fight for freedom and die for your country. But I was quite afraid when General Washington eventually let him lead a battalion. I needed him alive. But he survived and I was so grateful. Especially since we were expecting our first child. Alex was so excited. But nineteen years later we lost our
Philip in a duel against George Eacker. We were devastated.
Before all of that happened Alex had quite the career. After fighting in the Revolutionary
War, he, John Jay, and James Madison wrote The Federalist Papers. These essays defended the proposed Constitution. There were eighty-five essays total. John Jay fell ill after writing five,
James Madison wrote twenty-nine...and Hamilton...he wrote the other fifty-one! After writing for hours on end he was very proud of himself for having done such a big project. In 1789
Washington appointed Alex as the first US Secretary of the Treasury. He finally had some power, something he had never experienced before. Alex wanted to reform the financial system.
It was his big goal from the beginning, before he ever came to New York. He worked and worked and worked on his plan for reform, got the votes and it was accepted by Congress. He was a hard worker but sometimes he worked too hard. There were many sleepless nights.
Washington asked for Alex’s input on many affairs. Alex’s opinion was valued, but not by all. He had quite a feud with Thomas Jefferson. They were at each other all the time. They never agreed on a single thing. Alex endorsed Jefferson in the election of eighteen-hundred, though it solely was for the purpose of aggravating Aaron Burr. They, too, had quite the feud.
One night Angelica, my eldest sister, came home from London and we were to go to my father’s cabin upstate. We begged Alex to come with us, to take a much needed break. He refused. I was upset but I let it go. But while I was gone, the unimaginable happened. Maria
Reynolds came knocking on the door. She asked him for a little money and to walk her home because her husband was treating her terribly. I had no idea since I was with my children and sister upstate. Little did I know that Maria had other intentions. Just before my husband died,
Jefferson, Madison, and Burr found out what Alex had done. Maria’s husband found out what was happening and Alex was forced to pay him to be quiet and the shenanigans went on. The three men were going to expose him so Alex did it himself. He wrote about it and put it in the newspaper. Alex had had an affair. This is when my life started to spiral. There was grief from my son’s death and then there was anger. I made Alex sleep in his office. He lost the rights to my heart. It was hard on our family. I wanted to get away from everyone and everything so we moved uptown, and there, after some convincing, I forgave him. I knew that I eventually would.
After all he had done for our young country and how he fought for life for me, I knew that he was really sorry. After this whole ordeal, another tragic thing happened. Alex died. In the election of eighteen-hundred, Jefferson and Burr were head to head. Alex was recovering from grief but he still endorsed one of the men. Burr was a so-called “friend” to Alex so everyone must’ve thought he would endorse Burr. But that was not the case. Alex believed that Burr had absolutely no morals. So, with that logic, Alex endorsed Jefferson despite their feud. Burr was upset and challenged Alex to a duel. I had no knowledge of this until after it happened. Burr shot Alex. He died the following day with me and our children by his side.
It was one of the saddest, most heartbreaking days of my life. But I know that Alex would’ve wanted me to stay strong. So I really am trying. I'm telling his story. I'm keeping his legacy going, wondering if it would ever be told after I’m gone. I got more time which is what
Alex always wanted. In honor of him I helped found the first private orphanage in New York
City. I value the lives of children so much. They are our future. After all Alex did for our country, he deserved to have something that was in memory of him. Alex was an orphan himself.
He helped create lives for the children in America.
Alex helped create this country. I really appreciate him for that. So in the end, I realize that I am more appreciative of the separation from England than I thought I was. If this hadn't happened, I wouldn't have met Alex and I wouldn't be where I am today. My life is better because of some of the results of the war. Though it may have taken a while, there was a good ending. And there were so many reasons life was better. Our country was started and my husband helped with that and that's a big accomplishment. We were being represented in our government and weren’t being taxed unfairly, life has gotten so much better. It was the right choice to become our own country. Bibliography
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