The broadway play is coming to Denver next year, I wanted to be prepared knowing the back story. Hamilton sounds like a prodigy. I’m half way through now, covering his upbringing, his parents situation and his becoming an orphan in St. Croix at age 14. Becoming a clerk for a local accountant, he began to understand trade, smuggling and customs. The West Indies are a major sugar producer, called white gold, it was in high demand. The West Indies were also a port of entry for African Slaves necessary for the sugar production. Hamilton saw all this and likely formed his abolitionist stance early on.
Beginning to write for local newspapers, he is noticed for his advanced ideas and offered a scholarship in a northeastern college. Choosing between Princeton and Kings college, he chose the later entering at the old age of 18. Most students entered at age 12 or 13. But Hamilton, smallish and delicate fudged his age to 15 and began his studies. Ambitious and seeking fame, he joins the Patriots as an infantry officer as part of the New York regiment. Distinguishing himself both as an officer and an intellectual knowing multiple languages. He is reassigned to Washington’s staff for 4 years. Not satisfied, he longs to further distinguish himself in combat and forces Washington to allow him to assume command as a Colonel leading an artillery commander earning fame in Yorktown establishing himself as a Revolutionary war hero at the age of 25. Pretty incredible.
Following the war, he observes the elite are in the law profession, not taking the traditional route by clerking for an established lawyer, he’s self-educates himself and passes the bar establishing his own practice in New York City. Marrying into a leading New York family, the Schuyler’s.
Incredible man with intellect and ambition. He was both lucky and opportunistic he rose to the top of American power and influence all by the time he was 32 years old.
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