Born January 11, 1755
Nevis, British West Indies
Died July 12, 1804
New York, New York

Secretary of the treasury, political leader, lawyer, soldier, journalist

Alexander Hamilton served as a trusted secretary to General George Washington (see entry) during the American Revolution (1775–83) and fought in the famous battle at Yorktown that ended the war. He is best known for his economic policies after the war, and for his role as the main author of the Federalist Papers. A brave soldier and talented writer and speaker, he seemed to have a solution for every problem he encountered.

Alexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1755, in the town of Charleston on the island of Nevis (pronounced NEE-vus) in the West Indies, a group of islands that are located between the United States and South America. He was born to Rachel Fawcitt Lavien, daughter of a...