Who was Aaron Burr?
Aaron Burr, February 6, 1756 to September 14, 1836, was a major American political figure in the 1700 and 1800s, serving as a Private, Captain, Aide-de-camp to General Israel Putnam, and a Lieutenant Colonel under George Washington, all from 1775 to 1779, as well as serving as the third Vice President of the United States under President Thomas Jefferson from March 4, 1801 to March 4, 1805.
One year after the American Revolution ended on September 3, 1783, Aaron Burr moved to New York to begin his political career.
From 1784 to 1785 and 1798 to 1799, Burr represented New York in the state legislature; from 1789 to 1791, he was appointed by Governor George Clinton to oversee legal interpretations and state land operations; he served as a United States Senator from New York from 1791 to 1797, defeating Alexander Hamilton’s father-in-law, Philip Schuyler, before serving as the Vice President of the United States.
Meanwhile, in 1791, Aaron Burr and Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton began an intense political rivalry when he beat Philip Schuyler in the United States Senate.
This loss sparked political animosity between the two as Hamilton had counted on his father-in-law’s support for his federal policies.
Nine years later, during the Election of 1800, Aaron Burr and fellow Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson ran for President, but ended up tying with 73 electoral votes, as the electoral system did not separate votes between President and Vice President, leading to a contingent election within the House of Representatives.
In February 1801, the House elected Jefferson on the 36th ballot, with heavy support from Alexander Hamilton.
Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr’s intense political feud came to an end in 1804 during the New York gubernatorial race, as Burr lost to Democratic-Republican Morgan Lewis, who received 58.2 percent of the vote.
During the race, Hamilton described Burr as “despicable” and an “embryo-Caesar,” which were leaked in a letter written by Charles D. Cooper, published by the Albany Register in April 1804.
Upon losing the election, Burr and Hamilton met in Weehawken, New Jersey, on July 11, 1804, where they famously dueled, leading to Hamilton being shot and dying the next day.
Frequently Asked Questions:
1) Did Aaron Burr go to jail for killing Alexander Hamilton?
No, although murder charges were considered by juries in New York and New Jersey, Burr was never prosecuted or convicted for Hamilton’s death.
Source: https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/vice-president-profile-aaron-burr
2) Was Aaron Burr arrested?
Yes. Aaron Burr was arrested and tried for treason in 1807 regarding an alleged conspiracy to form an independent nation in the Western territories, though he was acquitted.
Source: https://study.com/learn/lesson/video/aaron-burr-duel-trial.html
3) What is the Manhattan Company?
In 1799, Aaron Burr founded the Manhattan Company under the guise of solving New York City’s clean water crisis, but used it as a “Trojan horse” to start a bank and break Alexander Hamilton’s financial monopoly.
Source: https://bankingjournal.aba.com/2020/11/aaron-burrs-pipeline-from-commerce-to-banking/
Why it matters
Aaron Burr’s actions during his vice presidency, political rivalries, and his fatal duel with Alexander Hamilton shaped the nation’s political culture and highlighted the intense conflicts of the young United States of America.