Alexander Hamilton

Angelica Hamilton was born on September 25, 1974, and was the Hamilton’s first daughter. Hamilton and Eliza “lived comfortably enough and entertained often” (244). Eliza took their children to church for religious instruction. Hamilton attended, but was never devout. However, “his dark view of human nature never dampened his home life, but only enhanced it” (246), and he did profess a belief in God.

Hamilton continued to read widely and as constantly as his schedule allowed, and instilled the habit in his children.

In May of 1785, his brother James reappeared, writing a letter and “begging for money” (249). Hamilton replied that he was not able to lend him money, but that he would help him settle on a farm if he would leave St. Thomas and come to America. Chernow gives a brief summary of the stance that several of the founding fathers held on slavery, but Hamilton was the most ardent advocate for abolition. He was a supporter of the New York Manumission Society, which worked to “safeguard blacks who had already secured their freedom” and to “try to win freedom for those still held in bondage” (256).

In the spring 1783, Henry Knox proposed the formation of the “Society of the Cincinnati” (259).