Alexander Hamilton, a delegate to the Constitutional Convention and major author of the Federalist papers, was the United States' first secretary of the treasury. Alexander Hamilton was born circa January 11, 1755 or 1757 (the exact date is unknown), on the island of Nevis, British West Indies. A quick learner, Hamilton deemed himself quite capable of becoming a self-made man. Intent on learning through hands-on experience, he left King's College before graduating to join forces with the Patriots in their protest of British-imposed taxes and commercial business regulations. In 1773, when he was around 16 years old, Hamilton arrived in New York, where he enrolled in King's College (later renamed Columbia University). Despite his gratitude toward his generous patrons, with the American colonies on the brink of a revolution, Hamilton was drawn more to political involvement than he was to academics. In 1774, he wrote his first political article defending the Patriots' cause against the interests of pro-British Loyalists. In 1777, Hamilton became General George Washington's assistant. Also in 1777 George Washington promotes Alexander Hamilton to the rank of lieutenant colonel and names him to his staff. A lifelong friendship begins. Hamilton will watch Washington struggle to hold together the underfunded, disorganized Continental Army. He will recognize that the problems that plague the Army -- a lack of central organization and a source of collecting revenue to fund operations -- will have to be solved if a free American nation is to survive.In 1788, he convinced New Yorkers to agree to ratify the U.S Constitution. He then served as the nation's first secretary of the treasury, from 1789 to 1795. On July 12, 1804, in New York City, Hamilton died of a gunshot wound that he sustained during a duel with Aaron Burr.
"Power over a man's subsistence is power over his will."
-Alexander Hamilton
"Real liberty is neither found in despotism or the extremes of democracy, but in moderate governments."