Tim Stanley

The passionate patriot

A patriot and founding father, Alexander Hamilton — accused of being a ‘creole bastard’ and would-be dictator — was fatally wounded and left to die by the dastardly vice president Aaron Burr

issue 22 October 2016

  • Alexander Hamilton

    Ron Chernow

    Head of Zeus, pp. 832

To anyone complaining that American politics in 2016 is uncivil, consider this: in 1804, the vice president of the United States shot the former Secretary of the Treasury in a duel. Alexander Hamilton, the retired secretary, probably fired first and aimed into a tree, to show he meant no harm.

GIF Image

Disagree with half of it, enjoy reading all of it

TRY 3 MONTHS FOR $5
Our magazine articles are for subscribers only. Start your 3-month trial today for just $5 and subscribe to more than one view

Read next

Trending

Terry Barnes

Australian election: Donald Trump topples second conservative leader in a week

Tonight, Australia voted decisively for continuity. The Labor government of prime minister Anthony Albanese has not merely been re-elected. It has absolutely thumped the conservative Liberal-National party coalition, headed by Liberal leader Peter Dutton. At the close of counting tonight, Labor achieved a majority in the 150-seat parliament, winning 77 seats and leading in another

More on book review

Also by Tim Stanley

Latest

Comments

Join the debate for just £1 a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in