Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton (1755 or 1757–1804) was born on the Caribbean island of Nevis, came to New York as a poor and brilliant student, and served through the Revolution as George Washington's aide and then as a combat officer at Yorktown. A delegate to the Constitutional Convention, he organized the campaign for ratification and wrote the majority of The Federalist Papers with James Madison and John Jay. As the first Secretary of the Treasury he created the national bank, funded the public debt, and founded the financial system of the United States. He was killed in a duel with Vice President Aaron Burr at Weehawken in 1804.