Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton, born into obscurity in the West Indies, made his reputation during the Revolutionary War and became one of America’s most influential Founding Fathers. He was an impassioned champion of a strong federal government, and played a key role in ratifying the U.S. Constitution. As the first secretary of the U.S. Treasury, Hamilton built a financial foundation for the new nation against opposition Thomas Jefferson. Hamilton, in 1804, was killed by Aaron Burr, a longtime political foe, in a duel.