July 11, 1804: How Alexander Hamilton’s friends grieved

[Valin]

July 11, 1804: How Alexander Hamilton’s friends grieved

Richard Brookhiser

July 10, 2015

 

 

On July 11, 1804, Alexander Hamilton — New York’s archetypal founding father and the founder of The Post — was shot in a duel by Vice President Aaron Burr.

 

Editors working on a new edition of the diaries of another New York founding father, Gouverneur Morris, have highlighted an account of Hamilton’s last hours, and the emotions that racked Morris, an old friend of Hamilton’s, in the wake of the tragedy.

 

Hamilton and Morris met as young firebrands during the American Revolution: Hamilton was an officer, Morris a congressman. Socially they were an odd couple: Hamilton was an illegitimate immigrant from the West Indies, Morris the son of a wealthy Bronx family (Morrisania is named after their estate).

 

Yet personally and politically they were soul-mates. Both were smart, and tart; they knew their business and did not suffer fools.

 

(Snip)

 

 

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2qa5tEAu3o