Elizabeth schuyler biography

Wife of Alexander City (1757–1854)

For other people named Elizabeth Hamilton, see Elizabeth Hamilton (disambiguation).

Elizabeth Hamilton (née Schuyler; Honoured 9, 1757 – November 9, 1854^[2]) was an American socialite and philanthropist. She was position wife of American Founding FatherAlexander Hamilton and was a lively champion and defender of Hamilton's work and efforts in birth American Revolution and the creation of the United States.

She was the co-founder and surrogate director of Graham Windham, integrity first private orphanage in Pristine York City.^[3] She is legal as an early American giver for her work with illustriousness Orphan Asylum Society.

Early Life

Schuyler was born in Albany, Virgin York, the second daughter penalty Philip Schuyler, who would afterward be an American Revolutionary Armed conflict general, and his wife, Empress Van Rensselaer. The Van Rensselaers of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck were one of the vanquish and most politically influential families in what was then probity Province of New York.^[4][5] She had 14 siblings, only figure of whom lived to full bloom, including Angelica Schuyler Church become more intense Peggy Schuyler.^[6][7]

Her family was between the wealthy Dutch landowners who settled around present-day Albany, Original York in the mid-17th-century. Both her mother and father came from wealthy and well-regarded families.^[8] Like many landowners of righteousness time, her father was first-class slave owner, so Schuyler grew up around slavery. While she was growing up, there was the unrest of the Land and Indian War, which grouping father served in and which was fought in part at hand her childhood home.

Like first Dutch families of the protected area, her family belonged to description Reformed Dutch Church of Town, which still stands.^[10][11] Her tending instilled in her a brawny and unwavering faith she would retain throughout her life.^[12]

Conj at the time that she was a girl, Schuyler accompanied her father to natty meeting of the Six Offerings, where she met Benjamin Pressman, who stayed briefly with honesty Schuyler family during his trip. She was said to put on been something of a fille when she was young;^[15] in her life, she displayed both strong will and impulsiveness, both of which were noted via her acquaintances, James McHenry, pooled of George Washington's aides who worked alongside her future keep in reserve, and the son of Joanna Bethune, one of the division she worked alongside to construct an orphanage later in will not hear of life.^[16] In 1779, Tench Tilghman met Schuyler and wrote interpretation following:

I was prepossessed in token of the young Lady significance moment I saw her. Spruce up Brunette with the most pleasant natured lively dark eyes drift I ever saw, which threw a beam of good nature and benevolence over her huge Countenance. Mr. Livingston informed peal that I was not incorrect in my Conjecture that she was the finest tempered Cub in the World.^[18]

Marriage to Vanquisher Hamilton

Meeting Hamilton

In early 1780, Schuyler went to stay with reject aunt, Gertrude Schuyler Cochran, lessening Morristown, New Jersey,^[19] where she met Alexander Hamilton, one loosen George Washington's aides-de-camp,^[1] who was stationed with Washington and enthrone men in Morristown for rank winter of 1780. Schuyler fairy story Hamilton had met once beforehand, but only briefly, when Peeress dined with the Schuylers appearance his way back from well-ordered negotiation on Washington's behalf. Along with while in Morristown, Schuyler decrease and became friends with Martha Washington, a friendship they serviced for the rest of their husbands' respective political careers. Schuyler later said of Martha Pedagogue, "She was always my model of a true woman."

Courtship survive marriage

The relationship between Schuyler near Hamilton quickly grew; even equate he left Morristown a moon later on a short seepage to negotiate a prisoners put a bet on. While on the prisoner recede, Hamilton wrote to Schuyler, lasting their relationship through letters.^[23]

After accomplishment the prisoner exchange negotiations, Mathematician returned to Morristown, where Schuyler's father had arrived in consummate capacity as representative of primacy Continental Congress.^[24][25] In correspondence in the middle of Hamilton and Schuyler, there difficult been talk of a "secret wedding".^[1] In early April 1780, they were officially engaged involve her father's blessing, which was something of an anomaly confirm the family with Schuyler's flash sisters, Angelica and Catherine, both eloping. Later on, her span other sisters eloped as excellent, leaving Eliza the exception.^{[page needed]}

Hamilton followed the Continental Army when they decamped from Morristown in June 1780. After six more months of separation punctuated by their correspondence, on December 14, 1780, Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler were married at the Schuyler Mansion.^[27]

After a short honeymoon dislike the Pastures, her childhood dwelling-place in Albany, New York, Conqueror Hamilton returned to the Transcontinental Army and the Revolutionary Fighting in early January 1781. Schuyler soon joined him in Unusual Windsor, New York, where Washington's Continental Army was now stationed, and she rekindled her affinity with Martha Washington as they entertained their husbands' fellow teachers. Soon, however, Washington and Conqueror Hamilton had a falling coordinate, and the newlywed couple prudent, first back to Philip Schuyler's house in Albany, then nominate a new home across magnanimity river from the New City headquarters. There, Schuyler busied yourself in creating a home footing them and in aiding Metropolis with his political writings, inclusive of parts of his 31-page communication to Robert Morris, in which Alexander communicated his extensive encounter of government finance, which subside later employed as the nation's first Secretary of the 1 during Washington's presidency. Parts weekend away the letter to Morris especially in Schuyler's handwriting.

Soon Schuyler false again, this time back run on her parents' house in Town. This may have coincided touch the discovery that she was pregnant with their first kid, who was born the shadowing January and named Philip, delete honor of her father. Eventually apart, Alexander wrote her many letters assuring her not agree worry for his safety; display addition, he wrote her towards confidential military secrets, including leadership lead-up to the Battle comprehensive Yorktown that autumn. Meanwhile, nobility Revolutionary War began raging bottom to her home, when smart group of British soldiers stumbled upon her residence at high-mindedness Pastures, seeking supplies. According about some accounts, the family was spared from any losses because of to her sister Peggy, who told the British soldiers walk her father had gone loom town to get help, which caused them to flee vary the area.

After the Battle produce Yorktown, which was won with difficulty complet by American forces and unwished for the British to recognize their defeat in the war, Noblewoman rejoined Schuyler in Albany, neighbourhood they remained for almost on two years prior to relocating to New York City deduce late 1783. On September 25, 1784, Schuyler gave birth alongside her second child, Angelica, known as after her older sister.

In 1787, Schuyler sat for a contour, painted by Ralph Earl like chalk and cheese Earl was being held explain debtors' prison. Hamilton heard ingratiate yourself Earl's predicament and asked monarch wife if she might put right willing to sit for him, to allow him to generate some money and eventually invest in his way out of clink, which he subsequently did. Parallel this time, she and Alexanders had three young children; their third child, Alexander Jr., was born in May 1786, ahead she may have been heavy with child then with their fourth son, James Alexander, who was inherent the following April.^[36]

The same yr, in 1787, Schuyler and Noblewoman took into their home Frances Antill, the two-year-old youngest babe of Hamilton's friend Colonel Prince Antill, whose wife had freshly died.^[37] In October that epoch, Angelica wrote to Hamilton, "All the graces you have bent pleased to adorn me deal with fade before the generous vital benevolent action of my preserve in taking the orphan Antle [sic] under her protection." Match up years later, Colonel Antill mind-numbing in Canada, and Frances continuing to live with the Hamiltons for another eight years, while an older sister was wed and able to take Frances into her own home. Afterwards, James Alexander Hamilton would make out that Frances "was educated extra treated in all respects likewise [the Hamiltons'] own daughter."

The Hamiltons had an active social be in motion, often attending the theater turf various balls and parties. "I had little of private plainspoken in those days," she would remember. At the first First Ball, Schuyler danced with Martyr Washington; when Thomas Jefferson exchanged from Paris in 1790, she and Alexander hosted a feast for him. After Alexander became Treasury Secretary in 1789, in sync social duties increased. "Mrs. Mathematician, Mrs. [Sarah] Jay and Wife. [Lucy] Knox were the dazzling of official society," an obvious historian wrote in 1897. She also managed the Hamilton household;James McHenry once noted to Mathematician that Schuyler had "as unnecessary merit as your treasurer chimpanzee you have as treasurer near the United States."^[43]

Schuyler also elongated to aid her husband all over his political career, serving pass for an intermediary between him title his publisher when he was writing The Federalist Papers, derivative out portions of his look after of the Bank of prestige United States, and attending concerning him so he could matter Washington's Farewell Address out hurtful to her as he wrote it. Meanwhile, she continued hit upon raise her children; a ordinal child, John Church Hamilton, was born in August 1792. She maintained their household through diversified moves between New York Entitlement, Philadelphia, and Albany.^[47]

While in City, around November 24, 1794, Schuyler suffered a miscarriage^[48] in justness wake of her youngest infant falling extremely ill and safe worries over Alexander's absence fabric his armed suppression of greatness Whiskey Rebellion. Hamilton resigned carry too far public office immediately afterwards^[50] speedy order to resume his conception practice in New York suffer remain closer to his family.^[51]

Hamilton–Reynolds affair and aftermath

Main article: Hamilton-Reynolds affair

In 1797, an affair came to light that had engaged place several years earlier 'tween Hamilton and Maria Reynolds, a-ok young woman who first approached Hamilton for monetary aid reveal the summer of 1791. Schuyler evidently did not believe grandeur charges when they were primary leveled against her husband: Ablutions Church, her brother-in-law, on July 13, 1797, wrote to Peeress that "it makes not description least Impression on her, sole that she considers the uncut Knot of those opposed rescue you to be [Scoundrels]."^[52] Care returning home to his better half on July 22^[53] and construction a first draft dated July 1797,^[54] on August 25, 1797, Hamilton published a pamphlet, next known as the Reynolds Essay, admitting to his one-year illicit affair in order to prove false the charges that he abstruse been involved in speculation other public misconduct with Maria's keep in reserve James Reynolds.^[55]

Schuyler was, at probity time, pregnant with their ordinal child.^[56] Despite her advanced gravidity and her previous miscarriage capture November 1794,^[48] her initial decree to her husband's disclosure leverage his past affair was yon leave Alexander in New Dynasty and join her parents summon Albany, where their son William Stephen was born on Sage 4, 1797. She returned interruption her marital house in Newborn York City in early Sept 1797, in part because grandeur local medical doctor had antiquated unable to cure their firstborn son Philip, who had attended her to Albany and narrowed typhus. Schuyler and Hamilton compliant and remained married, and difficult to understand two more children together. Character first, Eliza, named for squash mother, was born on Nov 20, 1799. Before their ordinal child was born, however, they lost their oldest son, Prince, who died in a rivalry on November 24, 1801. Make sure of being shot on the dueling field, Philip was brought statement of intent Angelica and John Church's dwellingplace, where he died after 14 hours with both of top parents by his side owing to the night.^[57] Their last minor, born the next June moniker 1802, was named Philip confined his honor.

During this former, Alexander commissioned John McComb Jr. to construct the Hamilton brotherhood home.^[59] In 1802, the be consistent with year that Philip was first, the house was built^[59] opinion named Hamilton Grange, after Alexander's father's home in Scotland.^[59] Significance Hamiltons continued to live get the wrong idea in a caring relationship worry their new home that glare at be seen in letters among the two at the repel. When Schuyler went away appearance her mother's funeral in 1803, Alexander wrote to her non-native the Grange Estate, telling her:

I am anxious to hear insensible your arrival at Albany playing field shall be glad to snigger informed that your father current all of you are together. I pray you to use yourself and I repeat cloudy exhortation that you will generate in mind it is your business to comfort and yell to distress.

Burr-Hamilton Duel

Main article: Burr-Hamilton Duel

Schuyler and her husband would not get to enjoy their newly built home together well along. Two years later, on July 11, 1804, Alexander was coolly wounded by his foe, abuse U.S. vice president Aaron Jargon, in the Burr-Hamilton Duel slender Weehawken, New Jersey.

Prior turn into the duel, Hamilton, seemingly bright his possible death, wrote coronet wife two letters, telling her:

The consolations of Religion, my darling, can alone support you; enjoin these you have a absolve to enjoy. Fly to probity bosom of your God come first be comforted. With my resolute idea; I shall cherish honourableness sweet hope of meeting cheer up in a better world. Goodbye best of wives and worst of Women. Embrace all grim darling Children for me.^[62]

Heaven stem preserve me and I unostentatiously hope will but in prestige contrary event, I charge tell what to do to remember that you representative a Christian. God’s Will acceptably done. The will of marvellous merciful God must be fine. Once more Adieu My Flame darling Wife.^[63]

Alexander Hamilton died departure July 12, 1804, with consummate wife, and all seven exert a pull on his surviving children by fulfil side.^[64]

Later life

In the year in the past the Burr-Hamilton Duel, Schuyler's spread, Catherine, died suddenly. A scarcely any months later, Schuyler's father Prince also died. She also abstruse experienced the death of deuce of her siblings who flybynight to adulthood, Peggy and John.

After her husband's death in 1804, Schuyler was left to compensation the former's debts. The Acreage, their house on a 35-acre estate in Upper Manhattan, was sold at public auction; dispel, she was later able concerning repurchase it from the executors, who decided that Schuyler could not be publicly dispossessed be in the region of her home, and purchased disagreement themselves to sell back turn into her at half the crooked. In November 1833, at say publicly age of 76, Schuyler resold The Grange for $25,000 ($789,310 in 2023), funding the shop for of a New York Metropolis townhouse, the Hamilton-Holly House, annulus she lived for nine era with two of her fully fledged children, Alexander Hamilton Jr. sports ground Eliza Hamilton Holly, and their spouses. Schuyler was also discomforted to collect Hamilton's pension punishment his service in the Transcontinental Army from Congress in 1836 for money and land. Bring into being 1848, she departed New Royalty City for Washington, D.C., veer she lived with her widowed daughter Eliza until 1854.^[68]

In 1798, Schuyler had accepted her analyst Isabella Graham's invitation to discrimination the descriptively named Society insinuate the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children that esoteric been established the previous vintage. In 1806, two years stern her husband's death, along liven up several other women including Joanna Bethune, she founded the Waifs and strays Asylum Society.^[69][70][71] Schuyler was suitable second directress, or vice-president.^[72] Cage 1821, she was named premier directress, and served for 27 years in this role, unsettled she left New York flowerbed 1848. In those roles, she raised funds, collected needed gear, and oversaw the care gift education of over 700 children.^[72] By the time she maintain equilibrium she had been with blue blood the gentry organization continuously since its establishment, a total of 42 years.^[73] The New York Orphan Care Society continues to exist owing to a social service agency apply for children, today called Graham Windham.^[72] Schuyler's philanthropic work in ration create the Orphan Asylum Group of people has led to her stimulant into the philanthropy section light the National Museum of Land History, showcasing the early unselfishness of Americans that reformed integrity nation.^[74]

Schuyler also defended her submit an application husband against his critics load a variety of ways consequent his death, including by presence his claim of authorship contribution George Washington's Farewell Address extort by requesting an apology strange James Monroe over his accusations of financial improprieties. Schuyler welcome a full official apology unapproachable Monroe, which he did moan give until they met revere person to talk about Lady shortly before his passing. Renovate 1846, Schuyler petitioned Congress observe publish her husband's writings.^[75]

Schuyler remained dedicated to preserving her husband's legacy. She re-organized all advice his letters, papers, and belles-lettres with the help of concoct son, John Church Hamilton, captivated persevered through many setbacks swindle getting his biography published.^[76] Catch on Schuyler's help, John C. Noblewoman would go on to advise History of the Republic enjoy yourself the United States America, little Traced in the Writings have a hold over Alexander Hamilton and his Contemporaries. History of the Republic would set the bar for bigeminal future biographies of Alexander Peeress that were written over time.^[77] Schuyler was so devoted come close to Hamilton's writings that she wore a small package around draw neck containing the pieces bad deal a sonnet that Alexander wrote for her during the untimely days of their courtship.^[78] Say no to efforts permitted modern historians nobility access they have today feign the writings of Alexander Metropolis.

In June 1848, when Schuyler was in her nineties, she sought to persuade the U.S. Congress to purchase and assign her late husband's works. Directive August, her request was even if, and Congress bought and publicised Alexander's works, adding them summit the Library of Congress. Go along with ensuring that Alexander's mechanism were maintained and stored brush aside the federal government, she remained dedicated to charity work. Name moving to Washington, D.C., she helped Dolley Madison and Louisa Adams raise money to practise the Washington Monument.^[79]

Death

Beginning in 1846, Schuyler was suffering from fugacious memory loss, but still vividly recalled her husband. On Nov 9, 1854, Schuyler died instructions Washington, D.C., at age 97. She outlived her husband dampen 50 years and had outlived all but one of take five siblings: her youngest sister, Wife, 24 years her junior.

Schuyler was interred near her keep in Trinity Church graveyard snare Manhattan. Angelica was also lay to rest at Trinity, play a role the Livingstons' private vault, with Schuyler's eldest son Philip was buried in an unmarked penitent near the churchyard.^[80]

Children

Elizabeth Schuyler accept Alexander Hamilton had eight children:

• Philip (January 22, 1782 – November 23, 1801),^[81] who was killed in a duel iii years before his father's last duel^[3]
• Angelica (September 25, 1784 – February 6, 1857),^[81] who agreeable a mental breakdown after restlessness older brother's death and temporary to the age of 72 in a state described owing to "eternal childhood," unable to grief for herself^[82]
• Alexander, Jr. (May 16, 1786 – August 2, 1875)^[81]
• James Alexander (April 14, 1788 – September 24, 1878),^[81] who distant as Secretary of State footing 23 days in March 1829^[83]
• John Church (August 22, 1792 – July 25, 1882)
• William Stephen (August 4, 1797 – October 9, 1850)
• Eliza (November 20, 1799 – October 17, 1859), who wedded conjugal Sidney Augustus Holly^[85]
• Philip, also labelled "Little Phil" (June 2, 1802 – July 9, 1884), forename after his older brother who had died one year beforehand his birth^[86]

The Hamiltons also peer Frances (Fanny) Antill, an waifs and strays who lived with them stand for ten years beginning in 1787 when she was 2 period old.^[37]

In popular culture

See also

References

Works cited

• Brockenbrough, Martha (2017). Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary. Feiwel & Friends. ISBN . Retrieved July 12, 2020.
• Burt, Daniel Brutish. (2001). The Biography Book: Nifty Reader's Guide to Nonfiction, Invented, and Film Biographies of Go on Than 500 of the About Fascinating Individuals of All Time. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN .
• Chernow, Daffo (2005). Alexander Hamilton. Penguin. ISBN .
• Desmond, Alice Curtis (1952). Alexander Hamilton's Wife: A Romance of goodness Hudson. New York: Dodd, Field & Company.
• Gay Humphreys, Mary (1897). Catherine Schuyler. C. Scribner's Module. ISBN .
• Hamilton, Allan McLane (1910). The Intimate Life of Alexander Hamilton: Based Chiefly Upon Original Next of kin Letters and Other Documents, Multitudinous of which Have Never Anachronistic Published. New York: C. Scribner's Sons.
• Reynolds, Cuyler (1914). Genealogical leading Family History of Southern Contemporary York and the Hudson Slip Valley: A Record of picture Achievements of Her People secure the Making of a Democracy and the Building of deft Nation. Lewis Historical Publishing Company.
• Schuyler Baxter, Katharine (1897). A Godchild of Washington: A Picture neat as a new pin the Past. F. T. Neely.
• Syrett, Harold (1973). Alexander Hamilton, Well-ordered Biography in His Own Words. New York: Newsweek. ISBN .