Alexander Hamilton: Life of the Party Quiz

Answer: Nevis

Located in the northern part of the Leeward Islands in the Carribean Sea, Nevis was known as the "Queen of the Carabees," due to its rich sugar plantations. The exact year of Hamilton's birth is somewhat disputed. Some scholars, as well as Hamilton himself, claimed that he was born January 11, 1757.

Others point to the probate court records of St. Croix, which state that, at the time of his mother's death in 1768, young Alexander was 13 years old, making his birth year 1755.

Answer: Shipping clerk

Left parentless by his father's abandonment and his mother's death, Hamilton was taken in as a clerk for the shipping firm of Beckman and Cruger. His superb performance in this position led one of his employers, Nicholas Cruger, to sponsor Hamilton's education in America.

Answer: The college president refused his request to study at his own rapid pace.

Hamilton had wanted to study at an accelerated pace, rather than be forced to study at the college's scheduled pace. Princeton's president, Rev. John Witherspoon, refused this request. The reason why is unknown. Some historians have theorized that Witherspoon, a leader in the Presbyterian church, had learned of Hamilton's illegitimacy and had refused him based on that.

After all, precedent had been set for an accelerated schedule, as both Benjamin Rush and James Madison, among others, had been allowed to progress as quickly as they wished. King's College, however, responded favorably to Hamilton's request.

Answer: William Duer, Gouvernor Morris

Originally, Hamilton had conceived of five authors contributing to the writings of "Publius." Morris, however, declined Hamilton's request and Duer decided to write his own separate articles. As it was, the bulk of the writing fell to Hamilton, who wrote 51 of the 85 articles, and Madison, who wrote 29. Jay contributed 4 before he became ill with rheumatism, and made only one more contribution.

As for the others, Monroe and Clinton were staunch anti-Hamiltonians, Lansing and Yates were Hamilton's fellow delegates to the Constitutional Convention on 1787 (and cronies of Clinton), Schuyler was Hamilton's father-in-law, and Church was Hamilton's brother-in-law.

Answer: Maria Reynolds

Reynolds was a con artist who, along with her husband James, set Hamilton up for blackmail in the summer of 1791, by having Maria pose as a woman scorned by her husband. Requesting financial assistance from Hamilton, then Treasury Secretary, she offered herself as collateral for the loan. Hamilton had many strengths, but knowing when a woman was playing him for a fool was not one of them. Reynolds' husband reappeared on the scene, demanding money for Hamilton having "ruined" his wife for him. Hamilton soon learned that Maria was in on the scam, yet continued to see her.

A little over a year later, James Reynolds was thrown into prison for attempted fraud. When Hamilton refused to intercede on his behalf, Reynolds accused Hamilton of dirty deeds.

When confronted by Congressmen Frederick Muhlenberg, James Monroe and Abraham Venable with these charges, Hamilton went into such great detail of his affair with Mrs. Reynolds and the subsequent blackmail that the congressmen were embarrassed and agreed that it was a private matter. Rumors persisted, however, that Hamilton was dirty.

In 1797, to refute those charges, and against the advice of his friends, Hamilton made public his affair with Maria, by showing that James Reynolds was the one involved in illegalities. The others? Shippon was the wife of Benedict Arnold. Her theatrics convinced Hamilton (and everyone else, including Washington) that she knew not of Arnold's traitorous plans. After the papers of Lord General George Howe, British commander at the time of Arnold's underhanded dealings, were made public in the 1950's, it was learned that she was involved as deeply as Arnold. Angelica Church was the sister of Hamilton's wife, Elizabeth. It has been rumored that he also had an affair with her. Catherine Livingston, Hamilton's first unrequited love, was the daughter of William Livingston, head of one of New York's elite families. Hamilton's prowess with the ladies led Martha Washington to name a tomcat of hers "Hamilton", in no small part due to their shared fondness for the opposite sex.

Answer: Colonel

Hamilton began his career as a captain of artillery in the New York militia. His achievements in the field led to a promotion to lieutenant colonel and aide-de-camp on General Washington's staff. After a falling out with Washington, Hamilton was given another field command of artillery, where he once again proved himself adept at the art of war.

Answer: Yellow fever

Yellow fever was a common occurrence on the 18th century, as the cause (mosquitoes) was unknown. It was suspected that slaves from Africa brought the disease over with them. The usual mode of treatment was bleeding and enemas, and it was this technique that was used on Rachel. Most likely, it also hastened her death. Hamilton also contracted the disease, but recovered.

Answer: Philip

20-year-old Philip Hamilton was killed in November 1801, in a duel with George Eacker. Seems Philip and a friend had goaded Eacker over a pro-Jefferson (and anti-Federalist) speech he had given four months earlier. Eacker challenged both to a duel. The first, with Philip's friend, went off without any injuries. Philip's duel, however, ended with much more tragic consequences.

Interestingly, the field where Philip's duel took place was the same field where Hamilton and Aaron Burr met three years later. Also, the pistols used by Hamilton and Burr were the same ones used in Philip Hamilton's duel.

Answer: He was late for a meeting with Washington.

10 minutes is all it took to drive a wedge between Washington and his most trusted aid. Washington, in passing Hamilton as the latter was delivering orders on the General's behalf, requested Hamilton to meet with him. Detained by business with the Marquis de Lafayette, Hamilton returned to find Washington angrily pacing at the top of the stairs and reportedly accused Hamilton of disrespecting him by not immediately returning. Hamilton, who had tried for some time to acquire a field command, was overcome by that frustration and angrily replied that he was unaware that he had kept Washington waiting, but if the General felt he had been disrespected, then "we must part." Less than an hour later, Washington sent his sole remaining aide to try to mend fences with Hamilton, but, for once, Washington's famous temper had cost him dearly.

In a letter to a friend, James McHenry, Hamilton stated that Washington "will find me inflexible. He shall for once repent his ill-humor." The rift was not permanent, of course, as Hamilton and Washington patched things up in time for Alexander to become President Washington's first Treasury secretary.

Answer: 31

The bullet had sliced through a rib and his liver, and shattered a vertebra, leaving Hamilton paralysed from the waist down. Hamilton's wife had no idea that the duel was taking place. It was only afterwards that Hamilton requested that his wife and children be brought so that he might see them and say goodbye.