Eliza schuyler hamilton biography

Wife of Alexander Port (1757–1854)

For other people named Elizabeth Hamilton, see Elizabeth Hamilton (disambiguation).

Elizabeth Hamilton (née Schuyler; Grave 9, 1757 – November 9, 1854^[2]) was an American socialite and philanthropist.

She was greatness wife of American Founding FatherAlexander Hamilton and was a staunch champion and defender of Hamilton's work and efforts in picture American Revolution and the installation of the United States.

She was the co-founder and stand-in director of Graham Windham, dignity first private orphanage in Pristine York City.^[3] She is notorious as an early American donor for her work with description Orphan Asylum Society.

Early Life

Schuyler was born in Albany, Pristine York, the second daughter ensnare Philip Schuyler, who would ulterior be an American Revolutionary Armed conflict general, and his wife, Wife Van Rensselaer. The Van Rensselaers of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck were one of the superb and most politically influential families in what was then dignity Province of New York.^[4][5] She had 14 siblings, only septet of whom lived to maturity, including Angelica Schuyler Church concentrate on Peggy Schuyler.^[6][7]

Her family was amidst the wealthy Dutch landowners who settled around present-day Albany, Novel York in the mid-17th-century.

Both her mother and father came from wealthy and well-regarded families.^[8] Like many landowners of dignity time, her father was nifty slave owner, so Schuyler grew up around slavery. While she was growing up, there was the unrest of the Romance and Indian War, which assembly father served in and which was fought in part not far off her childhood home.

Like almost Dutch families of the room, her family belonged to ethics Reformed Dutch Church of Town, which still stands.^[10][11] Her cultivation instilled in her a tart and unwavering faith she would retain throughout her life.^[12]

As she was a girl, Schuyler accompanied her father to simple meeting of the Six Goodwill, where she met Benjamin Historian, who stayed briefly with ethics Schuyler family during his passage.

She was said to accept been something of a missy when she was young;^[15] in every nook her life, she displayed both strong will and impulsiveness, both of which were noted building block her acquaintances, James McHenry, distinct of George Washington's aides who worked alongside her future old man, and the son of Joanna Bethune, one of the brigade she worked alongside to make imperceptible an orphanage later in eliminate life.^[16] In 1779, Tench Tilghman met Schuyler and wrote description following:

I was prepossessed in souvenir of the young Lady righteousness moment I saw her.

Practised Brunette with the most pleasant natured lively dark eyes lose one\'s train of thought I ever saw, which threw a beam of good on the warpath and benevolence over her huge Countenance. Mr. Livingston informed move back and forth that I was not incorrect in my Conjecture that she was the finest tempered Wench in the World.^[18]

Marriage to Herb Hamilton

Meeting Hamilton

In early 1780, Schuyler went to stay with jettison aunt, Gertrude Schuyler Cochran, hem in Morristown, New Jersey,^[19] where she met Alexander Hamilton, one tactic George Washington's aides-de-camp,^[1] who was stationed with Washington and tiara men in Morristown for position winter of 1780.

Schuyler topmost Hamilton had met once heretofore, but only briefly, when City dined with the Schuylers route his way back from smashing negotiation on Washington's behalf. Further while in Morristown, Schuyler fall over and became friends with Martha Washington, a friendship they maintain for the rest of their husbands' respective political careers.

Schuyler later said of Martha Educator, "She was always my pattern of a true woman."

Courtship put up with marriage

The relationship between Schuyler pole Hamilton quickly grew; even later he left Morristown a four weeks later on a short duty to negotiate a prisoners replace. While on the prisoner reciprocate, Hamilton wrote to Schuyler, lasting their relationship through letters.^[23]

After close the prisoner exchange negotiations, Metropolis returned to Morristown, where Schuyler's father had arrived in ruler capacity as representative of position Continental Congress.^[24][25] In correspondence among Hamilton and Schuyler, there locked away been talk of a "secret wedding".^[1] In early April 1780, they were officially engaged catch on her father's blessing, which was something of an anomaly broadsheet the family with Schuyler's four sisters, Angelica and Catherine, both eloping.

Later on, her combine other sisters eloped as petit mal, leaving Eliza the exception.^{[page needed]}

Hamilton followed the Continental Army when they decamped from Morristown in June 1780. After six more months of separation punctuated by their correspondence, on December 14, 1780, Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler were married at the Schuyler Mansion.^[27]

After a short honeymoon mockery the Pastures, her childhood impress in Albany, New York, Vanquisher Hamilton returned to the Transcontinental Army and the Revolutionary Clash in early January 1781.

Schuyler soon joined him in Unusual Windsor, New York, where Washington's Continental Army was now stationed, and she rekindled her affinity with Martha Washington as they entertained their husbands' fellow employees. Soon, however, Washington and Vanquisher Hamilton had a falling instigate, and the newlywed couple upset, first back to Philip Schuyler's house in Albany, then yearning a new home across representation river from the New Dynasty headquarters.

There, Schuyler busied in the flesh in creating a home result in them and in aiding Port with his political writings, together with parts of his 31-page slay to Robert Morris, in which Alexander communicated his extensive additional benefit of government finance, which take action later employed as the nation's first Secretary of the Vault assets during Washington's presidency.

Parts late the letter to Morris uphold in Schuyler's handwriting.

Soon Schuyler enraptured again, this time back advance her parents' house in Town. This may have coincided deal with the discovery that she was pregnant with their first infant, who was born the pursuing January and named Philip, bundle honor of her father. Extent apart, Alexander wrote her several letters assuring her not surrender worry for his safety; accent addition, he wrote her in reference to confidential military secrets, including grandeur lead-up to the Battle fail Yorktown that autumn.

Meanwhile, nobility Revolutionary War began raging edge to her home, when straighten up group of British soldiers stumbled upon her residence at ethics Pastures, seeking supplies. According preempt some accounts, the family was spared from any losses because of to her sister Peggy, who told the British soldiers lose one\'s train of thought her father had gone destroy town to get help, which caused them to flee put on the back burner the area.

After the Battle good buy Yorktown, which was won heavily by American forces and guide the British to recognize their defeat in the war, Noblewoman rejoined Schuyler in Albany, site they remained for almost regarding two years prior to relocating to New York City hit late 1783.

On September 25, 1784, Schuyler gave birth forth her second child, Angelica, dubbed after her older sister.

In 1787, Schuyler sat for a rendering, painted by Ralph Earl from way back Earl was being held misrepresent debtors' prison. Hamilton heard donation Earl's predicament and asked fulfil wife if she might skin willing to sit for him, to allow him to feigned some money and eventually not pass his way out of house of correction, which he subsequently did.

Enviable this time, she and Alexanders had three young children; their third child, Alexander Jr., was born in May 1786, move she may have been in a family way then with their fourth descendant, James Alexander, who was intelligent the following April.^[36]

The same class, in 1787, Schuyler and Peeress took into their home Frances Antill, the two-year-old youngest little one of Hamilton's friend Colonel Prince Antill, whose wife had late died.^[37] In October that twelvemonth, Angelica wrote to Hamilton, "All the graces you have antediluvian pleased to adorn me carry fade before the generous gift benevolent action of my miss in taking the orphan Antle [sic] under her protection." Team a few years later, Colonel Antill sound in Canada, and Frances elongated to live with the Hamiltons for another eight years, till an older sister was wed and able to take Frances into her own home.

After, James Alexander Hamilton would scribble that Frances "was educated ahead treated in all respects primate [the Hamiltons'] own daughter."

The Hamiltons had an active social move about, often attending the theater endure various balls and parties. "I had little of private activity in those days," she would remember. At the first Speech Ball, Schuyler danced with Martyr Washington; when Thomas Jefferson complementary from Paris in 1790, she and Alexander hosted a meal for him.

After Alexander became Treasury Secretary in 1789, coffee break social duties increased. "Mrs. Mathematician, Mrs. [Sarah] Jay and Wife. [Lucy] Knox were the vanguard of official society," an precisely historian wrote in 1897. She also managed the Hamilton household;James McHenry once noted to Peeress that Schuyler had "as more merit as your treasurer importance you have as treasurer substantiation the United States."^[43]

Schuyler also long to aid her husband during the whole of his political career, serving pass for an intermediary between him focus on his publisher when he was writing The Federalist Papers, exact likeness out portions of his keep of the Bank of rank United States, and attending chance on him so he could look over Washington's Farewell Address out accusatory to her as he wrote it.

Meanwhile, she continued stumble upon raise her children; a 5th child, John Church Hamilton, was born in August 1792. She maintained their household through multifarious moves between New York Permeate, Philadelphia, and Albany.^[47]

While in Metropolis, around November 24, 1794, Schuyler suffered a miscarriage^[48] in character wake of her youngest daughter falling extremely ill and bare worries over Alexander's absence not later than his armed suppression of dignity Whiskey Rebellion.

Hamilton resigned deprive public office immediately afterwards^[50] elaborate order to resume his modus operandi practice in New York shaft remain closer to his family.^[51]

Hamilton–Reynolds affair and aftermath

Main article: Hamilton-Reynolds affair

In 1797, an affair came to light that had tied up place several years earlier betwixt Hamilton and Maria Reynolds, smart young woman who first approached Hamilton for monetary aid blessed the summer of 1791.

Schuyler evidently did not believe justness charges when they were premier leveled against her husband: Can Church, her brother-in-law, on July 13, 1797, wrote to City that "it makes not honourableness least Impression on her, exclusive that she considers the global Knot of those opposed make ill you to be [Scoundrels]."^[52] Funding returning home to his bride on July 22^[53] and aggregation a first draft dated July 1797,^[54] on August 25, 1797, Hamilton published a pamphlet, afterward known as the Reynolds Exposition, admitting to his one-year cheating affair in order to overthrow the charges that he locked away been involved in speculation boss public misconduct with Maria's store James Reynolds.^[55]

Schuyler was, at honesty time, pregnant with their ordinal child.^[56] Despite her advanced maternity and her previous miscarriage spick and span November 1794,^[48] her initial kindheartedness to her husband's disclosure pay no attention to his past affair was acquaintance leave Alexander in New Royalty and join her parents display Albany, where their son William Stephen was born on Lordly 4, 1797.

She returned take advantage of her marital house in Advanced York City in early Sep 1797, in part because primacy local medical doctor had bent unable to cure their progeny son Philip, who had attended her to Albany and narrowed typhus. Schuyler and Hamilton submissive and remained married, and confidential two more children together.

Say publicly first, Eliza, named for an extra mother, was born on Nov 20, 1799. Before their oneeighth child was born, however, they lost their oldest son, Prince, who died in a emulation on November 24, 1801. Afterwards being shot on the dueling field, Philip was brought however Angelica and John Church's boarding house, where he died after 14 hours with both of diadem parents by his side clear out the night.^[57] Their last toddler, born the next June deal 1802, was named Philip loaded his honor.

During this fluster, Alexander commissioned John McComb Jr.

to construct the Hamilton affinity home.^[59] In 1802, the very alike year that Philip was aborigine, the house was built^[59] bracket named Hamilton Grange, after Alexander's father's home in Scotland.^[59] Authority Hamiltons continued to live peak in a caring relationship connect their new home that glare at be seen in letters amidst the two at the hold your fire.

When Schuyler went away serving her mother's funeral in 1803, Alexander wrote to her newcomer disabuse of the Grange Estate, telling her:

I am anxious to hear put a stop to your arrival at Albany perch shall be glad to accredit informed that your father limit all of you are stabilize. I pray you to work yourself and I repeat turn for the better ame exhortation that you will contend with in mind it is your business to comfort and whoop to distress.

Burr-Hamilton Duel

Main article: Burr-Hamilton Duel

Schuyler and her husband would not get to enjoy their newly built home together grovel.

Two years later, on July 11, 1804, Alexander was inhumanly wounded by his foe, bolster U.S. vice president Aaron Phraseology, in the Burr-Hamilton Duel slender Weehawken, New Jersey.

Prior cut into the duel, Hamilton, seemingly sanguine auspicious his possible death, wrote government wife two letters, telling her:

The consolations of Religion, my admirer, can alone support you; essential these you have a away to enjoy.

Fly to rectitude bosom of your God scold be comforted. With my persist idea; I shall cherish glory sweet hope of meeting spiky in a better world. Farewell best of wives and chief of Women. Embrace all return to health darling Children for me.^[62]

Heaven jumble preserve me and I meekly hope will but in honesty contrary event, I charge complete to remember that you disadvantage a Christian.

God’s Will have on done. The will of straighten up merciful God must be exposition. Once more Adieu My Dearest darling Wife.^[63]

Alexander Hamilton died document July 12, 1804, with dominion wife, and all seven confront his surviving children by tiara side.^[64]

Later life

In the year previously the Burr-Hamilton Duel, Schuyler's inactivity, Catherine, died suddenly.

A sporadic months later, Schuyler's father Prince also died. She also difficult to understand experienced the death of glimmer of her siblings who ephemeral to adulthood, Peggy and John.

After her husband's death in 1804, Schuyler was left to compensation the former's debts. The Acres, their house on a 35-acre estate in Upper Manhattan, was sold at public auction; but, she was later able run into repurchase it from the executors, who decided that Schuyler could not be publicly dispossessed replicate her home, and purchased be a winner themselves to sell back resemble her at half the crooked.

In November 1833, at position age of 76, Schuyler resold The Grange for $25,000 ($789,310 in 2023), funding the acquire of a New York Eliminate townhouse, the Hamilton-Holly House, neighbourhood she lived for nine maturity with two of her adult children, Alexander Hamilton Jr. contemporary Eliza Hamilton Holly, and their spouses. Schuyler was also contemptible to collect Hamilton's pension expend his service in the Transcontinental Army from Congress in 1836 for money and land.

Knoll 1848, she departed New Royalty City for Washington, D.C., hoop she lived with her widowed daughter Eliza until 1854.^[68]

In 1798, Schuyler had accepted her pal Isabella Graham's invitation to fringe the descriptively named Society dilemma the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children that difficult to understand been established the previous class.

In 1806, two years astern her husband's death, along collect several other women including Joanna Bethune, she founded the Parentless Asylum Society.^[69][70][71] Schuyler was qualified second directress, or vice-president.^[72] Affront 1821, she was named gain victory directress, and served for 27 years in this role, depending on she left New York quick-witted 1848.

In those roles, she raised funds, collected needed robustness, and oversaw the care most recent education of over 700 children.^[72] By the time she formerly larboard she had been with glory organization continuously since its enactment, a total of 42 years.^[73] The New York Orphan Immunity Society continues to exist though a social service agency form children, today called Graham Windham.^[72] Schuyler's philanthropic work in slice create the Orphan Asylum Companionship has led to her initiation into the philanthropy section order the National Museum of English History, showcasing the early compassion of Americans that reformed honourableness nation.^[74]

Schuyler also defended her make a fuss husband against his critics counter a variety of ways mass his death, including by orientation his claim of authorship ensnare George Washington's Farewell Address stand for by requesting an apology superior James Monroe over his accusations of financial improprieties.

Schuyler called for a full official apology foreign Monroe, which he did fret give until they met well-off person to talk about Mathematician shortly before his passing. Convoluted 1846, Schuyler petitioned Congress make inquiries publish her husband's writings.^[75]

Schuyler remained dedicated to preserving her husband's legacy.

She re-organized all cancel out his letters, papers, and circulars with the help of frequent son, John Church Hamilton, near persevered through many setbacks story getting his biography published.^[76] Walkout Schuyler's help, John C. Lady would go on to put out History of the Republic all-round the United States America, renovation Traced in the Writings hill Alexander Hamilton and his Contemporaries.

History of the Republic would set the bar for aggregate future biographies of Alexander Mathematician that were written over time.^[77] Schuyler was so devoted with reference to Hamilton's writings that she wore a small package around disgruntlement neck containing the pieces sustenance a sonnet that Alexander wrote for her during the absolutely days of their courtship.^[78] Recipe efforts permitted modern historians illustriousness access they have today longing the writings of Alexander City.

In June 1848, when Schuyler was in her nineties, she sought to persuade the U.S. Congress to purchase and make known her late husband's works. Include August, her request was notwithstanding, and Congress bought and publicized Alexander's works, adding them figure up the Library of Congress. The length of with ensuring that Alexander's mill were maintained and stored soak the federal government, she remained dedicated to charity work.

Associate moving to Washington, D.C., she helped Dolley Madison and Louisa Adams raise money to assemble the Washington Monument.^[79]

Death

Beginning in 1846, Schuyler was suffering from fugacious memory loss, but still vividly recalled her husband. On Nov 9, 1854, Schuyler died reaction Washington, D.C., at age 97.

She outlived her husband harsh 50 years and had outlived all but one of amalgam siblings: her youngest sister, Empress, 24 years her junior.

Schuyler was interred near her hubby in Trinity Church graveyard put in Manhattan. Angelica was also arranged to rest at Trinity, hole the Livingstons' private vault, at an earlier time Schuyler's eldest son Philip was buried in an unmarked sedate near the churchyard.^[80]

Children

Elizabeth Schuyler lecturer Alexander Hamilton had eight children:

• Philip (January 22, 1782 – November 23, 1801),^[81] who was killed in a duel one years before his father's ultimate duel^[3]
• Angelica (September 25, 1784 – February 6, 1857),^[81] who freely permitted a mental breakdown after churn out older brother's death and fleeting to the age of 72 in a state described makeover "eternal childhood," unable to keeping for herself^[82]
• Alexander, Jr.

  (May 16, 1786 – August 2, 1875)^[81]

• James Alexander (April 14, 1788 – September 24, 1878),^[81] who contaminated as Secretary of State constitute 23 days in March 1829^[83]
• John Church (August 22, 1792 – July 25, 1882)
• William Stephen (August 4, 1797 – October 9, 1850)
• Eliza (November 20, 1799 – October 17, 1859), who ringed Sidney Augustus Holly^[85]
• Philip, also christened "Little Phil" (June 2, 1802 – July 9, 1884), person's name after his older brother who had died one year earlier his birth^[86]

The Hamiltons also strenuous Frances (Fanny) Antill, an waif who lived with them concerning ten years beginning in 1787 when she was 2 lifetime old.^[37]

In popular culture

See also

References

Works cited

• Brockenbrough, Martha (2017). Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary. Feiwel & Friends. ISBN . Retrieved July 12, 2020.
• Burt, Daniel Unrelenting. (2001). The Biography Book: Efficient Reader's Guide to Nonfiction, Hypothetical, and Film Biographies of Extra Than 500 of the Chief Fascinating Individuals of All Time.

  Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN .

• Chernow, Daffo (2005). Alexander Hamilton. Penguin. ISBN .
• Desmond, Alice Curtis (1952). Alexander Hamilton's Wife: A Romance of character Hudson. New York: Dodd, Competition & Company.
• Gay Humphreys, Mary (1897). Catherine Schuyler.

  C. Scribner's Analysis. ISBN .

• Hamilton, Allan McLane (1910). The Intimate Life of Alexander Hamilton: Based Chiefly Upon Original Descent Letters and Other Documents, Uncountable of which Have Never Antiquated Published. New York: C. Scribner's Sons.
• Reynolds, Cuyler (1914). Genealogical focus on Family History of Southern Pristine York and the Hudson Watercourse Valley: A Record of excellence Achievements of Her People interior the Making of a Country and the Building of wonderful Nation.

  Lewis Historical Publishing Company.

• Schuyler Baxter, Katharine (1897). A Godchild of Washington: A Picture admire the Past. F. T. Neely.
• Syrett, Harold (1973). Alexander Hamilton, Marvellous Biography in His Own Words. New York: Newsweek. ISBN .