author
Alexander Hamilton
1757–1804
A restless, brilliant founder who helped shape the United States from its earliest days, he rose from the Caribbean to become George Washington’s trusted aide and the nation’s first treasury secretary. His fierce ideas about finance, government, and ambition still echo through American history.
3 Audiobooks
The Federalist Papers
by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison
The Federalist Papers
by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, James Madison
About the author
Born on the island of Nevis in the Caribbean, Alexander Hamilton came to North America as a teenager and quickly stood out for his intelligence and drive. During the American Revolution, he served in the Continental Army and became a close aide to George Washington.
After the war, he trained as a lawyer and threw himself into building the new nation. He was a leading voice for a stronger federal government, helped write The Federalist essays in support of the Constitution, and then served as the first U.S. secretary of the treasury, where he designed plans to stabilize public credit and lay the groundwork for the country’s financial system.
Hamilton’s life was as dramatic as his politics. He founded the New York Post, argued fiercely with rivals including Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, and died in 1804 after his famous duel with Burr. Even centuries later, he remains one of the most debated and compelling figures of the founding era.