Alexander Hamilton Jr. (January 26, 1816 – December 30, 1889), was the son of James Alexander Hamilton, and the grandson of Alexander Hamilton, one of the

Founding Fathers of the United States The Founding Fathers of the United States, known simply as the Founding Fathers or Founders, were a group of late-18th-century American Revolution, American revolutionary leaders who United Colonies, united the Thirteen Colonies, oversaw the Am ...

Early life

Hamilton was born on January 26, 1816, in New York City. He was the third of five children, and the only son, born to James Alexander Hamilton (1788–1878) and Mary Morris, the daughter of Robert Morris and Frances Ludlum and the sister of Lewis Gouverneur Morris (1808–1900). His paternal grandparents were Alexander Hamilton (1755–1804), the first

Secretary of the Treasury The United States secretary of the treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, and is the chief financial officer of the federal government of the United States. The secretary of the treasury serves as the principal a ...

, and Eliza Schuyler (1757–1854). His grandmother was the second daughter of

Philip Schuyler Philip John Schuyler (; November 18, 1804) was an American general in the Revolutionary War and a United States Senator from New York. He is usually known as Philip Schuyler, while his son is usually known as Philip J. Schuyler. Born in Alb ...

, a Revolutionary War general, and Catherine Van Rensselaer, of the Van Rensselaers of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck, one of the richest and most politically influential families in the state of New York. Hamilton attended the

United States Military Academy The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a fort, since it sits on strategic high groun ...

West Point The United States Military Academy (USMA), also known Metonymy, metonymically as West Point or simply as Army, is a United States service academies, United States service academy in West Point, New York. It was originally established as a f ...

from July 1832 to June 1835.

Career

He became a lawyer in New York City, and was a founding partner in the law firm of Hamilton and Lyon. From June 1842 to April 1844, he was the Secretary of the United States Legation at Madrid, serving under

Washington Irving Washington Irving (April 3, 1783 – November 28, 1859) was an American short-story writer, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. He is best known for his short stories "Rip Van Winkle" (1819) and " The Legen ...

. He retired from the practice of law in 1870.

U.S. Civil War

In April 1861, during the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...

, Hamilton was appointed a volunteer '' aide-de-camp'' to General John E. Wool, who commanded the

U.S. Army The United States Army (USA) is the land service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the eight U.S. uniformed services, and is designated as the Army of the United States in the U.S. Constitution.Article II, section 2, cl ...

's Department of the East in New York. On August 28, 1861, he was given an official position as Wool's additional ''aide-de-camp'', and served in that capacity until he resigned on December 11, 1861. In July 1863, during the

New York City draft riots The New York City draft riots (July 13–16, 1863), sometimes referred to as the Manhattan draft riots and known at the time as Draft Week, were violent disturbances in Lower Manhattan, widely regarded as the culmination of white working-cla ...

, he again assisted Wool, who reported to Governor Seymour that his "former aid Colonel Alexander Hamilton Jr. ... volunteered especially for this occasion, and asconstantly in attendance day and night." Hamilton wrote to President Lincoln in a letter dated May 26, 1862, calling Secretary of War

Edwin Stanton Edwin McMasters Stanton (December 19, 1814December 24, 1869) was an American lawyer and politician who served as U.S. Secretary of War under the Lincoln Administration during most of the American Civil War. Stanton's management helped organize ...

's division of General

George McClellan George Brinton McClellan (December 3, 1826 – October 29, 1885) was an American soldier, Civil War Union general, civil engineer, railroad executive, and politician who served as the 24th governor of New Jersey. A graduate of West Point, McCl ...

Army of the Potomac The Army of the Potomac was the principal Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War. It was created in July 1861 shortly after the First Battle of Bull Run and was disbanded in June 1865 following the surrender of the Confede ...

into four separate departments "the grossest mismanagement."

Personal life

In 1845, after his return from Spain, he married Angelica Livingston (1820–1896), the daughter of Maturin Livingston (1769–1847). Angelica's mother was Margaret ( née Lewis) Livingston (1780–1860), the only daughter and sole heiress of Gov. Morgan Lewis (1754–1844). They had one son, Alexander, born in 1848, who died at the age of 11 months. Hamilton was a founding member, and the first president, of New York's

Knickerbocker Club The Knickerbocker Club (known informally as The Knick) is a gentlemen's club in New York City that was founded in 1871. It is considered to be the most exclusive club in the United States and one of the most aristocratic gentlemen's clubs in th ...

when it was organized in 1871. He was also a founder of

the Union League Club The Union League Club is a private social club in New York City that was founded in 1863 in affiliation with the Union League. Its fourth and current clubhouse is located at 38 East 37th Street on the corner of Park Avenue, in the Murray Hill ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton, Alexander Jr. 1816 births 1889 deaths Lawyers from New York City People of New York (state) in the American Civil War United States Military Academy alumni Alexander Jr. Schuyler family Morris family (Morrisania and New Jersey) American people of Dutch descent American people of Scottish descent Presidents of the New York Public Library