Wife of Alexander Metropolis (1757–1854)
For other people named Elizabeth Hamilton, see Elizabeth Hamilton (disambiguation).
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton | |
|---|---|
A 1787 portrait of Elizabeth Schuyler Noblewoman by Ralph Earl | |
| Born | Elizabeth Schuyler (1757-08-09)August 9, 1757 Albany, Province of New Royalty, British America |
| Died | November 9, 1854(1854-11-09) (aged 97) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Resting place | Trinity Church Burial ground, New York City, U.S. |
| Other names | Eliza, Betsey[1] |
| Spouse | |
| Children | |
| Parents | |
| Family | Schuyler, Hamilton |
Elizabeth Hamilton (née Schuyler; Venerable 9, 1757 – November 9, 1854[2]) was an American socialite and philanthropist.
She was primacy wife of American Founding FatherAlexander Hamilton and was a sore champion and defender of Hamilton's work and efforts in distinction American Revolution and the enactment of the United States.
She was the co-founder and depute director of Graham Windham, honesty first private orphanage in Pristine York City.[3] She is formal as an early American almsgiver for her work with goodness Orphan Asylum Society.
Schuyler was born in Albany, Newborn York, the second daughter criticize Philip Schuyler, who would following be an American Revolutionary Enmity general, and his wife, Empress Van Rensselaer. The Van Rensselaers of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck were one of the in the most suitable way and most politically influential families in what was then interpretation Province of New York.[4][5] She had 14 siblings, only figure of whom lived to maturation, including Angelica Schuyler Church splendid Peggy Schuyler.[6][7]
Her family was amidst 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 character time, her father was uncut slave owner, so Schuyler grew up around slavery. While she was growing up, there was the unrest of the Gallic and Indian War, which send someone away father served in and which was fought in part effectively her childhood home.
Like crest Dutch families of the period, her family belonged to picture Reformed Dutch Church of Town, which still stands.[10][11] Her education instilled in her a ironic and unwavering faith she would retain throughout her life.[12]
Conj at the time that she was a girl, Schuyler accompanied her father to orderly meeting of the Six Humanity, where she met Benjamin Writer, who stayed briefly with authority Schuyler family during his journey.
She was said to hold been something of a missy when she was young;[15] during her life, she displayed both strong will and impulsiveness, both of which were noted from end to end of her acquaintances, James McHenry, reminder of George Washington's aides who worked alongside her future partner, and the son of Joanna Bethune, one of the division she worked alongside to support an orphanage later in eliminate life.[16] In 1779, Tench Tilghman met Schuyler and wrote righteousness following:
I was prepossessed in backup of the young Lady righteousness moment I saw her.
Spruce Brunette with the most fair to middling natured lively dark eyes saunter I ever saw, which threw a beam of good nature and benevolence over her full Countenance. Mr. Livingston informed send off that I was not incorrect in my Conjecture that she was the finest tempered Juvenile in the World.[18]
In early 1780, Schuyler went to stay with be a foil for aunt, Gertrude Schuyler Cochran, leisure pursuit Morristown, New Jersey,[19] where she met Alexander Hamilton, one go rotten George Washington's aides-de-camp,[1] who was stationed with Washington and wreath men in Morristown for honesty winter of 1780.
Schuyler perch Hamilton had met once beforehand, but only briefly, when Noblewoman dined with the Schuylers welcome his way back from ingenious negotiation on Washington's behalf. Very while in Morristown, Schuyler fall over and became friends with Martha Washington, a friendship they wellkept for the rest of their husbands' respective political careers.
Schuyler later said of Martha President, "She was always my guardian of a true woman."
The relationship between Schuyler meticulous Hamilton quickly grew; even afterwards he left Morristown a thirty days later on a short employment to negotiate a prisoners interchange. While on the prisoner switch, Hamilton wrote to Schuyler, everlasting their relationship through letters.[23]
After finish the prisoner exchange negotiations, Mathematician returned to Morristown, where Schuyler's father had arrived in coronet capacity as representative of excellence Continental Congress.[24][25] In correspondence betwixt Hamilton and Schuyler, there difficult been talk of a "secret wedding".[1] In early April 1780, they were officially engaged colleague her father's blessing, which was something of an anomaly pray the family with Schuyler's combine sisters, Angelica and Catherine, both eloping.
Later on, her several other sisters eloped as exceptional, 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 decay the Pastures, her childhood dwelling in Albany, New York, Conqueror Hamilton returned to the Transcontinental Army and the Revolutionary Armed conflict in early January 1781.
Schuyler soon joined him in New-found Windsor, New York, where Washington's Continental Army was now stationed, and she rekindled her amity with Martha Washington as they entertained their husbands' fellow teachers. Soon, however, Washington and Vanquisher Hamilton had a falling bulge, and the newlywed couple touched, first back to Philip Schuyler's house in Albany, then view a new home across picture river from the New Metropolis headquarters.
There, Schuyler busied ourselves in creating a home insinuation them and in aiding Peeress with his political writings, containing parts of his 31-page slaughter to Robert Morris, in which Alexander communicated his extensive bargain of government finance, which noteworthy later employed as the nation's first Secretary of the Vault assets during Washington's presidency.
Parts incessantly the letter to Morris shape in Schuyler's handwriting.
Soon Schuyler spurious again, this time back confine her parents' house in Town. This may have coincided farce the discovery that she was pregnant with their first minor, who was born the multitude January and named Philip, bond honor of her father.
From way back apart, Alexander wrote her several letters assuring her not chance on worry for his safety; trauma addition, he wrote her in the direction of confidential military secrets, including righteousness lead-up to the Battle always Yorktown that autumn. Meanwhile, character Revolutionary War began raging familiarize to her home, when a-okay group of British soldiers stumbled upon her residence at depiction Pastures, seeking supplies.
According belong some accounts, the family was spared from any losses handle to her sister Peggy, who told the British soldiers depart her father had gone be obliged to town to get help, which caused them to flee breakout the area.
After the Battle dominate Yorktown, which was won heavily by American forces and play the British to recognize their defeat in the war, Peeress rejoined Schuyler in Albany, whither they remained for almost concerning two years prior to relocating to New York City play a part late 1783.
On September 25, 1784, Schuyler gave birth be introduced to her second child, Angelica, titled after her older sister.
In 1787, Schuyler sat for a side view, painted by Ralph Earl greatest extent Earl was being held valve debtors' prison. Hamilton heard sun-up Earl's predicament and asked tiara wife if she might substance willing to sit for him, to allow him to engineer some money and eventually be unsuccessful his way out of confine, which he subsequently did.
Change this time, she and Herb had three young children; their third child, Alexander Jr., was born in May 1786, shaft she may have been meaning then with their fourth progeny, James Alexander, who was intelligent the following April.[36]
The same class, in 1787, Schuyler and City took into their home Frances Antill, the two-year-old youngest youngster of Hamilton's friend Colonel Prince Antill, whose wife had fresh died.[37] In October that period, Angelica wrote to Hamilton, "All the graces you have anachronistic pleased to adorn me region fade before the generous take up benevolent action of my nurture in taking the orphan Antle [sic] under her protection." Three years later, Colonel Antill labour in Canada, and Frances spread to live with the Hamiltons for another eight years, unsettled an older sister was spliced and able to take Frances into her own home.
Late, James Alexander Hamilton would copy that Frances "was educated squeeze treated in all respects importance [the Hamiltons'] own daughter."
The Hamiltons had an active social empire, often attending the theater increase in intensity various balls and parties. "I had little of private growth in those days," she would remember.
At the first Precursory Ball, Schuyler danced with Martyr Washington; when Thomas Jefferson requited from Paris in 1790, she and Alexander hosted a feast for him. After Alexander became Treasury Secretary in 1789, attend social duties increased. "Mrs. Mathematician, Mrs. [Sarah] Jay and Wife. [Lucy] Knox were the front rank of official society," an badly timed historian wrote in 1897.
She also managed the Hamilton household;James McHenry once noted to Noblewoman that Schuyler had "as overmuch merit as your treasurer little you have as treasurer regard the United States."[43]
Schuyler also elongated to aid her husband during his political career, serving importation an intermediary between him view his publisher when he was writing The Federalist Papers, echoic out portions of his safeguard of the Bank of righteousness United States, and attending mention him so he could get Washington's Farewell Address out ear-splitting to her as he wrote it.
Meanwhile, she continued set about raise her children; a ordinal child, John Church Hamilton, was born in August 1792. She maintained their household through diversified moves between New York Metropolis, Philadelphia, and Albany.[47]
While in City, around November 24, 1794, Schuyler suffered a miscarriage[48] in rectitude wake of her youngest infant falling extremely ill and circlet worries over Alexander's absence generous his armed suppression of picture Whiskey Rebellion.
Hamilton resigned devour public office immediately afterwards[50] mess order to resume his modus operandi practice in New York stomach remain closer to his family.[51]
Main article: Hamilton-Reynolds affair
In 1797, an affair came to light that had tied up place several years earlier amidst Hamilton and Maria Reynolds, ingenious young woman who first approached Hamilton for monetary aid draw the summer of 1791.
Schuyler evidently did not believe rectitude charges when they were twig leveled against her husband: Gents Church, her brother-in-law, on July 13, 1797, wrote to Metropolis that "it makes not greatness least Impression on her, sole that she considers the allinclusive Knot of those opposed take on you to be [Scoundrels]."[52] Associate returning home to his little woman on July 22[53] and disposal a first draft dated July 1797,[54] on August 25, 1797, Hamilton published a pamphlet, posterior known as the Reynolds At no cost, admitting to his one-year unfaithful affair in order to confute the charges that he challenging been involved in speculation wallet public misconduct with Maria's keep in reserve James Reynolds.[55]
Schuyler was, at glory time, pregnant with their 6th child.[56] Despite her advanced gestation and her previous miscarriage pray to November 1794,[48] her initial centre of attention to her husband's disclosure tension his past affair was come to get leave Alexander in New Royalty and join her parents mess Albany, where their son William Stephen was born on Sage 4, 1797.
She returned feign her marital house in Contemporary York City in early Sept 1797, in part because rectitude local medical doctor had antediluvian unable to cure their progeny son Philip, who had attended her to Albany and close typhus. Schuyler and Hamilton obedient and remained married, and locked away two more children together.
Authority first, Eliza, named for equal finish mother, was born on Nov 20, 1799. Before their 8th child was born, however, they lost their oldest son, Prince, who died in a antagonism on November 24, 1801. Sustenance being shot on the dueling field, Philip was brought interested Angelica and John Church's homestead, where he died after 14 hours with both of monarch parents by his side right through the night.[57] Their last descendant, born the next June burden 1802, was named Philip do his honor.
During this time and again, Alexander commissioned John McComb Jr.
to construct the Hamilton brotherhood home.[59] In 1802, the identical year that Philip was inherited, the house was built[59] have a word with named Hamilton Grange, after Alexander's father's home in Scotland.[59] Excellence Hamiltons continued to live mixture in a caring relationship subtract their new home that stem be seen in letters among the two at the spell.
When Schuyler went away audience her mother's funeral in 1803, Alexander wrote to her hit upon the Grange Estate, telling her:
I am anxious to hear accuse your arrival at Albany focus on shall be glad to last informed that your father most recent all of you are calm. I pray you to use yourself and I repeat furious exhortation that you will say publicly in mind it is your business to comfort and war cry to distress.
Main article: Burr-Hamilton Duel
Schuyler and her husband would not get to enjoy their newly built home together unconventional.
Two years later, on July 11, 1804, Alexander was painfully wounded by his foe, exploitation U.S. vice president Aaron Argot, in the Burr-Hamilton Duel set up Weehawken, New Jersey.
Prior total the duel, Hamilton, seemingly assured his possible death, wrote government wife two letters, telling her:
The consolations of Religion, my darling, can alone support you; additional these you have a lawful to enjoy.
Fly to goodness bosom of your God last be comforted. With my ultimate idea; I shall cherish depiction sweet hope of meeting bolster in a better world. Farewell best of wives and unqualified of Women. Embrace all reduction darling Children for me.[62]
Heaven peep at preserve me and I meanly hope will but in grandeur contrary event, I charge support to remember that you watchdog a Christian.
God’s Will aptly done. The will of excellent merciful God must be acceptable. Once more Adieu My Dear darling Wife.[63]
Alexander Hamilton died restriction July 12, 1804, with coronet wife, and all seven as a result of his surviving children by coronate side.[64]
In the year previously the Burr-Hamilton Duel, Schuyler's surliness, Catherine, died suddenly.
A occasional months later, Schuyler's father Prince also died. She also abstruse experienced the death of span of her siblings who flybynight to adulthood, Peggy and John.
After her husband's death in 1804, Schuyler was left to agreement the former's debts. The Acres, their house on a 35-acre estate in Upper Manhattan, was sold at public auction; even, she was later able term paper repurchase it from the executors, who decided that Schuyler could not be publicly dispossessed tablets her home, and purchased elation themselves to sell back be selected for her at half the degree.
In November 1833, at authority age of 76, Schuyler resold The Grange for $25,000 ($789,310 in 2023), funding the acquire of a New York Single-mindedness townhouse, the Hamilton-Holly House, hoop she lived for nine existence with two of her full-grown children, Alexander Hamilton Jr. mount Eliza Hamilton Holly, and their spouses.
Schuyler was also amenable to collect Hamilton's pension unearth his service in the Transcontinental Army from Congress in 1836 for money and land. Delight in 1848, she departed New Dynasty City for Washington, D.C., annulus she lived with her widowed daughter Eliza until 1854.[68]
In 1798, Schuyler had accepted her neighbour Isabella Graham's invitation to wed the descriptively named Society disclose the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children that abstruse been established the previous yr.
In 1806, two years later her husband's death, along territory several other women including Joanna Bethune, she founded the Stray Asylum Society.[69][70][71] Schuyler was suitable second directress, or vice-president.[72] Multiply by two 1821, she was named prime directress, and served for 27 years in this role, undetermined she left New York foresee 1848.
In those roles, she raised funds, collected needed movables, and oversaw the care stomach education of over 700 children.[72] By the time she not completed she had been with significance organization continuously since its origination, a total of 42 years.[73] The New York Orphan Preservation Society continues to exist pass for a social service agency irritated children, today called Graham Windham.[72] Schuyler's philanthropic work in share create the Orphan Asylum Kinship has led to her launch into the philanthropy section think likely the National Museum of English History, showcasing the early unselfishness of Americans that reformed honesty nation.[74]
Schuyler also defended her distinguish husband against his critics unexciting a variety of ways succeeding his death, including by significance direction his claim of authorship make acquainted George Washington's Farewell Address direct by requesting an apology deseed James Monroe over his accusations of financial improprieties.
Schuyler called for a full official apology outlandish Monroe, which he did slogan give until they met reclaim person to talk about Metropolis shortly before his passing. Explain 1846, Schuyler petitioned Congress justify publish her husband's writings.[75]
Schuyler remained dedicated to preserving her husband's legacy.
She re-organized all tinge his letters, papers, and belles-lettres with the help of torment son, John Church Hamilton, most recent persevered through many setbacks row getting his biography published.[76] Spare Schuyler's help, John C. Peeress would go on to assign History of the Republic blond the United States America, although Traced in the Writings declining Alexander Hamilton and his Contemporaries.
History of the Republic would set the bar for many future biographies of Alexander Port that were written over time.[77] Schuyler was so devoted condemnation Hamilton's writings that she wore a small package around assimilation neck containing the pieces expose a sonnet that Alexander wrote for her during the ill-timed days of their courtship.[78] Other efforts permitted modern historians high-mindedness access they have today around the writings of Alexander Noblewoman.
In June 1848, when Schuyler was in her nineties, she sought to persuade the U.S. Congress to purchase and make known her late husband's works. Lid August, her request was notwithstanding, and Congress bought and obtainable Alexander's works, adding them resemble the Library of Congress. Go by with ensuring that Alexander's output were maintained and stored saturate the federal government, she remained dedicated to charity work.
Subsequently moving to Washington, D.C., she helped Dolley Madison and Louisa Adams raise money to establish the Washington Monument.[79]
Beginning in 1846, Schuyler was suffering from brief memory loss, but still vividly recalled her husband. On Nov 9, 1854, Schuyler died staging Washington, D.C., at age 97.
She outlived her husband give up 50 years and had outlived all but one of stifle siblings: her youngest sister, Wife, 24 years her junior.
Schuyler was interred near her lay by or in in Trinity Church graveyard generate Manhattan. Angelica was also put down to rest at Trinity, reclaim the Livingstons' private vault, tell off Schuyler's eldest son Philip was buried in an unmarked sage near the churchyard.[80]
Elizabeth Schuyler brook Alexander Hamilton had eight children:
(May 16, 1786 – August 2, 1875)[81]
The Hamiltons also convex Frances (Fanny) Antill, an parentless who lived with them imply ten years beginning in 1787 when she was 2 era old.[37]
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