Philip Hamilton

Not to be confused with Phillip Hamilton.
Philip Hamilton
Born (1782-01-22)January 22, 1782
Albany, New York, NY, U.S.
Died November 24, 1801(1801-11-24) (aged 19)
Weehawken, New Jersey, U.S.
Nationality American
Parent(s) Alexander Hamilton
Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton
Relatives Alexander Hamilton Jr. (brother)
James Alexander Hamilton (brother)
John Church Hamilton (brother)
William S. Hamilton (brother)
Angelica Schuyler Church (aunt)
Philip Jeremiah Schuyler (uncle)
Margarita "Peggy" Schuyler Van Rensselaer (aunt)
Philip Schuyler (grandfather)
Schuyler family

Philip Hamilton (January 22, 1782 – November 24, 1801) was the first son of Alexander Hamilton, first Treasury secretary of the United States. He was a graduate of Columbia College. As a pupil, University scholars were said to have compared his virtue and knowledge to that of his father, already a renowned alumnus.[1]

Death

Philip was killed in 1801 in a duel with George I. Eacker, whom he had publicly called out in the middle of a Manhattan theatre after Eacker gave a speech during the Fourth of July readings at Columbia University that criticized his father.[2] The duel took place in Weehawken, New Jersey, the same place his father would later be shot by Aaron Burr. Acquaintances claim that Alexander Hamilton had reportedly counseled his son before the duel to discharge his weapon in the air before his opponent to settle the dispute with honor.[3]

For the first minute of the duel, neither Eacker nor Hamilton lifted their pistols. At length, Eacker lifted his pistol, and young Hamilton followed suit. George Eacker then shot Philip Hamilton, the bullet entering above his right hip and lodging in his left arm. Philip too discharged his weapon, but this may have been from an involuntary spasm.[3]

Upon hearing that his son had been shot, Alexander Hamilton was said to have collapsed out of shock. Philip Hamilton died of an infection 14 hours after the duel, his mother, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, and father at his side. His death was reported to be long and painful, ending in the home of his aunt and uncle, John Barker Church and Angelica Schuyler Church. Philip was tended to by Dr. David Hosack, who would later oversee the care of Alexander Hamilton following his fatal duel in 1804.[3] He was nineteen years of age at the time of death.[4]

In popular culture

In the 2015 Broadway musical Hamilton, the role of Philip was originated by Anthony Ramos.[5]

References

  1. Fleming, Thomas J. (2000-08-15). Duel: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and the Future of America. Basic Books. ISBN 0-465-01737-1.
  2. Hamilton, Allan McLane (1910-01-01). The intimate life of Alexander Hamilton. New York: C. Scribner's sons.
  3. 1 2 3 Chernow, Ron (2005-01-01). Alexander Hamilton. Penguin. ISBN 978-0-14-303475-9.
  4. "The American Experience – The Duel – People & Events – Philip Hamilton's Duel". PBS. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  5. "Hamilton on Internet Broadway Database". IBDB. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
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