Alexander Hamilton was a prominent figure in the American legal system during the confederation. After serving as Secretary of the Treasury in the first cabinet of President Washington, Hamilton went back to practice law during the presidencies of Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln. He had an office on 12 Garden Street in Manhattan, and wealthy clients besieged his door. Even as he rose in prominence, Hamilton remained spellbinding in New York City courtrooms. He also often argued in Albany before appellate judges. He was a remarkable orator, speaking for hours extemporaneously without pause. His ‘affairs of honor’ included a six-hour oral argument before a panel of judges in Albany.
Alexander hamilton was a lawyer during the confederation
Alexander Hamilton was born in Nevis and moved to North America in 1772. He studied at Kings College and later joined the New York militia. After the ratification of the constitution, he became the Secretary of State for Thomas Jefferson and the fourth President of the United States in 1808. During the first presidential election in 1788, Hamilton supported John Adams and later dissented from Aaron Burr. He also sided with Thomas Jefferson over his rival Aaron Burr, breaking the tie between the two.
After the American Revolution, Hamilton began to practice law in the British colonies. He helped the fledgling American government create laws for the new nation. His legal career began in the British West Indies, where his father had been a lawyer. After graduating from law school in 1776, Hamilton specialized in international relations. Hamilton was also an ardent supporter of the British crown and helped establish the United States.
He was appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York
The appointment of Alexander Hamilton as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York was not a surprise. In his first year on the job, Hamilton concentrated on national financial crises. War debts had been accumulated under the Articles of Confederation, which set guidelines for government at the time. The Articles did not allow Congress to collect taxes from the states, and while some states acknowledged the need to do so, many did not. Consequently, inflation was high.
When the British army evacuated from the United States, Hamilton returned to New York City to establish a law practice on Wall Street. He was quickly recognized as a distinguished lawyer and argued numerous cases before the New York Supreme Court of Judicature and the Supreme Court of the United States. His notable cases include the murder trial of Levi Weeks, and a trespass case called Rutgers v. Waddington.
He was involved in ten ‘affairs of honor’ between 1795 and 1807
During his tenure as president, Alexander Hamilton was involved in at least ten ‘affairs of honor,’ most of them unsuccessful. His son, Philip, was killed in one of these duel fights. The rest of the ‘affairs of honor’ didn’t result in the death of any of the participants. The Northerners feared debasing themselves in these duels but felt they had no other choice.
While studying at King’s College (now Columbia University), Hamilton wrote pamphlets for the colonial cause. In one of these, he defended the First Continental Congress’s decision to embargo trade with Britain. Hamilton later became a captain in the Continental Army and was also involved in battles such as Trenton and Princeton. Hamilton’s actions drew the attention of General George Washington, who gave him a position on his staff.
He was a conservative lawyer
Despite his many accomplishments, Alexander Hamilton was a conservative lawyer. Though he is best remembered as the lead author of The Federalist, he was also the nation’s first secretary of the Treasury and the third vice president’s dueling victim. His role as a lawyer is not well known, but he was one of the finest in his generation. In The Political Writings of Alexander Hamilton, Volume II, edited by Carson Holloway and Bradford P. Wilson, Hamilton’s legal career is further explored.
While serving as a representative of New York in the Congress of the Confederation, Hamilton resigned to practice law. After establishing the Bank of New York, Hamilton returned to politics, serving as a delegate to the Annapolis Convention of 1786, which spurred Congress to call a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. Hamilton’s pamphlets were initially attributed to John Jay and John Adams, but they provided solid evidence of Hamilton’s precociousness.
He was a leader of one of the two great political parties of the time
In 1779, at the age of 25, Alexander Hamilton began his political efforts. He was one of the first to suggest centralization and adequate checks against anarchic tendencies. His political career grew increasingly bleak as scandals erupted and political infighting resulted in Jefferson’s victory. But in the aftermath of Jefferson’s victory, Hamilton’s political career began to turn around.
During his college years, Hamilton joined the patriot volunteer band at King’s College, where he was drilled daily with his fellow “Corsicans”. He may have even participated in the raid on Battery, which prompted the New York Providential Congress to appoint Hamilton as a captain in the company. His company defended the militia from attack at White Plains and Chatterton’s Hill in October 1776. This military service won Hamilton the interest of General Nathaniel.
He was an orphan
Alexander Hamilton was an orphan lawyer who grew up on the Caribbean island of Nevis. His mother died when he was only 12 years old, and his father abandoned his common-law family. The couple later divorced, and Hamilton was effectively an orphan. Though broke, he attended King’s College. He also became an aide-de-camp to General George Washington, becoming his voice in letters. However, he was not a member of the Republican Party.
After the war, Hamilton returned to the United States, and he was sent to study law at King’s College, now Columbia University. He became a prominent lawyer and was eventually elected to the U.S. Senate. He later became a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and the first secretary of the Treasury. He also championed the creation of the first national bank, and he authored the Federalist Papers, which still govern the U.S. Constitution.