Alexander Hamilton: Triumph and Tragedies Essay -- Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton:Triumphs and Tragedies To die a tragic death by the hand of another man- to carve ones way through destiny and shape one's future from the humblest of beginnings- to forge a legacy by a medium only those heralded as our countries "Forefathers" have per chanced to meddle with- these are the makings and the foundations for which great men and the dreams of our country rely upon. Everyone has heard the name Alexander Hamilton, but few are familiar with his views and actions regarding the survival of the young American republic. He could be recognized for anything from serving our fledgling country by fighting in the New York militia; to serving his community as a lawyer and as a national tax agent; to beginning his political career as a representative for New York at the National Congress. Though most would agree his most important contribution to our struggling republic was to spearhead the project which formed the doctrine helping to establish the foundation in which modern democracy is based, the Articles of Confederation. Alexander’s family history along with his life story is almost as rich as the country’s who he helped to build. "[Alexander's] maternal grandfather, one John Faucette, ...emigrated from France to the West Indies sometime before 1700, ...moved to Nevis, became a planter and took a wife- Mary, [with whom he had children]. Confusion reigns as to whether there were one or two Mary Faucettes or two Faucette couples" (Emery 52). There was a "deed of gift"(Emery 54) between John Faucette and Mary Faucette in 1714 and another record of marriage between John Faucette and Mary Uppington of Nevis on August 21, 1718, leading to the possible conclusions either John had multiple lovers of the same first name at or around the same time, or it is uncertain beyond this point in history as to what is truly known about Alexander Hamilton’s past. Either way, Mary Faucette (Alexander’s grandmother) has been thought to have been plagued with poor luck, so much so that it is eve n referred to as an "extraordinarily stormy passage" (Emery 54) of a life. Though she appeared to have weathered well- "John Church Hamilton, Alexander's fourth son and first biographer, leaves this record of Rachel's impact on her son: 'He spoke of her as vividly impressed upon his memory' as a woman of intelligence, culture and elegance of form..." (Emery 55)... ...palian church, and was read his last rights. From the meager beginnings of a bastard child born out of wedlock, to one man heralding the power of friendship to the most powerful man in an early republic, Alexander Hamilton proved that what would come to be known as the American dream can be realized by anyone. Native or not; rich or poor; with the drive to realize your dreams, you can achieve them. Hamilton made great advances toward what we know as America today and left behind a legacy that has too commonly become forgotten. Bibliography Emery, Noemie. Alexander Hamilton an Intimate Portrait. New York. G.P. Putnam’s Sons.1982 Hendrickson, Robert. Hamilton I (1757-1789). New York. Mason Charter. 1976. Mitchell, Joseph B. Decisive Battles of the American Revolution. New York. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. 1962 Morgan, Edmund S. The birth of the Republic, 1763-89. Chicago London. The University of Chicago Press.1956. Morris, Richard B. Witnesses at the creation Hamilton, Madison, Jay, and the Constitution. New York. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 1985. Stokesbury, James L. A short History of the American Revolution. New York. William Morrow and Company, Inc. 1991.