The Forgotten Man of History!

The Forgotten Man: Aaron Burr

By Tom Morrow

     If you were asked who the third Vice President of the United States was, few would know it was Aaron Burr.

     Wait a minute, didn’t he shoot Alexander Hamilton in a duel?

Hamilton prominently takes his place in history as founder of what today is the Federal Reserve, the U.S. Mint, and with his picture on the $20 bill. Conversely, Burr’s bio is found in very few school history books, primarily because of his 1807 duel.

     Burr served during the Revolutionary War under Gen. Benedict Arnold in the Quebec expedition. Burr distinguished himself in the battle earning a place on Gen. George Washington’s staff. But, after only two weeks, he asked for a transfer back to the battlefield.

In battle, Burr saved an entire brigade, which included Alexander Hamilton, from capture after the British landed on Manhattan. Evidently miffed because Burr had resigned from his staff, Washington did not commend Burr for his heroic actions. This led to an eventually estrangement between the two men.

      In 1777, Burr was promoted to lieutenant colonel, assuming command of a regiment. During the harsh winter at Valley Forge, Burr led a small unit guarding an isolated pass. He drove back an attempted mutiny by troops who wanted to escape the Valley Forge winter.

     In 1779, Burr had to leave the Army due to bad health, but he remained active in the War. He was assigned by Washington to perform occasional intelligence missions. During one of those missions, Burr rallied a group of Yale students in New Haven, Conn., to aid a small group of soldiers in a skirmish with the British. This action repelled the enemy’s advance, forcing them to retreat.

He was admitted to the bar of New York in 1782. He was twice elected to the New York state Assembly, was appointed State Attorney General, then he was chosen as a U.S. senator.

     In those days, the office of President was elected by the Senate. Burr ran for President against Jefferson, but lost by one vote, relegating him to the office of Vice President, which second-place finishers became. Burr blamed Hamilton for his defeat.

     In business, Burr founded the Bank of Manhattan Company, which today is JP Morgan-Chase. Hamilton founded rival Bank of New York, making them bitter political and business competitors.

It’s the duel that caused Burr to be banished to obscurity. What caused the duel is a matter of conjecture. One of the reasons could be Hamilton’s vicious rumors.

     The two men were often invited to dinner parties hosted by leading New York politicians, businessmen and even each other. During those years, Burr was widowed and lived with his daughter and husband. Hamilton reportedly suggested Burr committed incest with his daughter. Enraged, the Vice President challenged the Treasury Secretary to a duel in Weehawken, N.J. Hamilton was mortally wounded, dying a day later. Hamilton’s death destroyed Burr’s political career.

     Years later, Burr traveled west to embark upon what was an alleged attempt to form a new country, for which he was charged with treason, but was acquitted.

Burr spent the remainder of his life in obscurity practicing law in New York, dying in 1836.

Words to live by:  Remember, today is the oldest you've ever been, but it is also the youngest you'll ever be...(unknown)

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