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Collection Alexander Hamilton Papers

Timeline

A chronology of key events in the life of Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary War officer, aide-de-camp to General George Washington, and the nation’s first treasury secretary.

Alexander Hamilton (1757-1804)

  1. [1757], Jan. 11

    Hamilton's presumed birth date, on Nevis, British West Indies
  2. 1766-1768

    Clerk, trading firm of Beekman and Cruger, St. Croix
  3. 1769 

    Clerk for Nicholas Cruger, merchant, St. Croix
  4. 1772

    Left St. Croix, arrived in Boston, went to New York
  5. 1772-1773

    Attended Francis Barber's academy, Elizabethtown, N.J.
  6. 1773

    Entered King's College (later Columbia University), New York
  7. 1774

    Published A Full Vindication of the Measures of Congress from the Calumnies of Their Enemies (New York: James Rivington)
  8. 1775

    Published The Farmer Refuted, Or, A More Impartial and Comprehensive View of the Dispute between Great-Britain and the Colonies (New York: James Rivington)
  9. 1776

    Appointed captain of a New York artillery company
  10. 1777

    Appointed aide-de-camp to George Washington with rank of lieutenant colonel
  11. 1780, Dec.

    Married Elizabeth Schuyler
  12. 1781, Apr. 30

    Resigned as aide-de-camp to George Washington
  13. 1781, July

    Given command of New York and Connecticut light infantry battalion and was ordered to Virginia.
  14. 1781, Nov.

    Retired from active military duty
  15. 1782

    Appointed receiver of continental taxes for New York

    Chosen delegate from New York to the Continental Congress

    Admitted to practice of law as attorney and counselor before the New York Supreme Court of Judicature
  16. 1783, July

    Resigned from Continental Congress. Opened a law office in New York
  17. 1784

    Organized the Bank of New York
  18. 1786

    Chosen delegate to Annapolis Convention

    Elected, New York state assembly
  19. 1787

    Named delegate to the Constitutional Convention, Philadelphia

    Began series of Federalist essays
  20. 1788

    Elected a delegate to New York's ratifying convention
  21. 1789

    Appointed the first treasury secretary of the United States
  22. 1790-1791

    Prepared four major economic reports for Congress
  23. 1795, Jan. 31

    Resigned as treasury secretary
  24. 1795-1796

    Wrote a series of articles under the pseudonyms Camillus and Philo Camillus
  25. 1798

    Appointed inspector general of the army with rank of major general
  26. 1800

    Resigned as inspector general
  27. 1801

    Founded the New York Evening Post
  28. 1804, July 12

    Died in New York following a duel with Aaron Burr in Weehawken, New Jersey, on July 11