Remember this place?
Alexander Hamilton’s Grange at 141st and St. Nicolas?
Last month, ClockTowerTenants visited and photographed the exterior.
The interior is a beautiful example of 19th century style.
Alas, Hamilton only lived long enough to enjoy his home for about two years. He was shot to death in a pistol duel by the Vice President of the United States under Thomas Jefferson, a man named Aaron Burr. That had to suck.
Burr had been a New York State Senator but lost his race for governor largely because of vicious, public attacks leveled by Hamilton during Burr’s campaign.
These men openly detested each other, despite both being high ranking American politicians.
Finally, Burr could take no more and issued a public challenge to a duel, a challenge Hamilton accepted. Oops.
On July 11, 1804 they rowed across the Hudson River to a dueling grounds in Weehawken New Jersey.
According to most accounts both men fired but Burr’s shot met its mark. Hamilton died the next day.
So in the end, Burr managed to eliminate a powerful political rival but after the murder (for which he was never tried) his career faltered and he never recovered.
Alexander Hamilton gave his life to halt his political rival and today we have his cool house.
No comments:
Post a Comment