Hamilton was born in 1757 out of wedlock in the sugar islands of the West Indies (the Caribbean) on the British island of Nevis, where the slaves outnumbered their white masters twenty to one. His father, James Hamilton, the son of a Scottish laird had come to the West Indies to make his fortune as a merchant. However, James abandoned his family when Alexander was about 8 or 9 years old. Then tragically, Hamilton's mother, Rachel Faucett Lavien, died of fever when he was about 12 or 13 years old.
Hamilton's guardian, the merchant Nicholas Cruger, employed Hamilton in his trading business in which he exchanged the island's sugar for staples that were not produced locally. Cruger recognized young Hamilton's exceptional business abilities and sent him to America in 1772 to continue his education in finance. When refused permission at the College of New Jersey at Princeton to accelerate his program of studies, he enrolled instead at King's College (now Columbia University). When he was not yet 20, he joined in the growing dispute between the American colonies and the British government. He then enlisted in the militia where he fought in the battles around New York City in 1775 and 1776. His zeal and organizing ability brought him to George Washington's attention and led to a commission as lieutenant colonel in the Continental Army. He became aide-de-camp to General Washington for four years. During his service, Hamilton became aware of the need for a stronger central government. State legislatures held the real power in the country at that time and getting money from the states to keep the army together proved very difficult. In his later career, this concern became an important component of his policies.
In December 1780, Hamilton married Elizabeth Schuyler, the daughter of a wealthy and influential upstate New York land owner, Philip Schuyler. This connection placed Hamilton in the center of New York society.
Seeking to be reassigned to field command in the war, Hamilton was given an infantry brigade by Washington. He led an important night assault and capture of the British Reboubt #10 during the siege of Yorktown. On October 19, 1781, the British surrendered and the independence of a new nation was secured.
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