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Alexander Hamilton

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Alexander Hamilton was once heard saying this statement: “The voice of the people has been said to be the voice of God; and, however generally this maxim has been quoted and believed, it is not true to fact. The people are turbulent and changing, they seldom judge or determine right.” (“Alexander Hamilton Quotes.”) Alexander Hamilton was a man of numerous skills, with many of them contributing in the Revolutionary War.
Alexander’s birth father was a Scottish trader named James Hamilton, and his mother, Rachel Fawcett Lavien, had British and French Huguenot descent. Rachel was married to John Lavien who was much older and a merchant. Together they had a son named Peter, but unfortunately James was abusive. She had been forced to marry him by her family when she was a teenager. John at one point had Rachel imprisoned for several months. Once she was released, she left her husband and son and travelled to St. Kitts and Nevis. While away, she met Alexander’s birth father, James Hamilton. Together they had Alexander on January 11, 1755 or 1757 (no exact date is given). Later, the family was left in poverty when James Sr. abandoned them after moving to St. Croix. This forced Alexander at eleven to get his first job, and worked as an accounting clerk in a mercantile in St. Croix. The young boy quickly impressed his employer (“Alexander Hamilton.” Biography). Unfortunately though, in February of 1768, his mother died of a tropical fever (“Alexander Hamilton.” Google Books).

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