Aaron Burr

NAME Aaron Burr

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Aaron Burr is famous for being the third Vice President of the United States and for his infamous duel with Alexander Hamilton, which resulted in Hamilton's death.

BIRTH Aaron Burr was born on February 6, 1756, in Newark, New Jersey.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Burr came from a prominent family. His father, Aaron Burr Sr., was a prominent minister and the second president of the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University) His mother, Esther Edwards Burr, was the daughter of the famous theologian Jonathan Edwards.

CHILDHOOD Burr was orphaned at a young age; his father died when he was just 19 months old, and his mother died a year later. He and his sister Sarah were then raised by their wealthy maternal uncle, Timothy Edwards.

EDUCATION Burr entered the College of New Jersey at the age of 13 and graduated summa cum laude in 1772. He initially studied theology but later decided to pursue a career in law.

CAREER RECORD Burr served as an officer in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, later becoming a successful lawyer and politician. He served as New York State Attorney General, U.S. Senator from New York, and Vice President under Thomas Jefferson from 1801 to 1805.

APPEARANCE Burr was known to be of medium height with a slender but athletic build. He was handsome with piercing eyes, and a commanding presence.

Aaron Burr By John Vanderlyn -

FASHION Burr dressed in the fashion of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, often wearing well-tailored suits and maintaining a meticulous appearance.

CHARACTER Burr was intelligent, ambitious, and charismatic. However, he was also seen as cunning, manipulative, untrustworthy and controversial due to his political and personal actions.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Burr was known to have a sharp wit and a dry, sarcastic sense of humor, which he often used to charm and disarm those around him.

RELATIONSHIPS Burr married Theodosia Bartow Prevost, a widow, on July 2, 1782 at her home, The Hermitage. Their first child, Theodosia and the only one to survive to adulthood, was born on June 21, 1783. She was deeply cherished by Burr but predeceased him when she was lost at sea aged 29. Theodosia Bartow Prevost died in 1794. 

Burr was the father of at least three other children and he adopted two sons. 

At the age of 77, Burr married a wealthy widow named Eliza Jumel in 1833. However, the marriage was short-lived, lasting only four months before they separated. Jumel filed for divorce, citing Burr's squandering of her fortune through land speculation losses. Their divorce was finalized on September 14, 1836, the day of Burr's death.

He had a son, John, with an Indian servant, Mary Eamons, who became a celebrated abolitionist and key figure in the Underground Railroad, confirmed by a DNA test.

MONEY AND FAME Burr experienced both wealth and financial difficulties throughout his life. He was well-known during his time, both for his political career and his infamous duel with Hamilton. Burr went broke speculatively buying parcels of land in upstate New York.

FOOD AND DRINK Burr likely enjoyed the finer foods and beverages available at the time.

MUSIC AND ARTS Burr appreciated the arts and was known to enjoy music, particularly the violin.

LITERATURE Burr was well-read and had a substantial personal library. He enjoyed literature and was known to be an avid reader of various subjects.

Burr once set out to write an official history of the Revolutionary War but was blocked by George Washington.

NATURE Burr had an appreciation for nature, often spending time outdoors, especially during his military campaigns.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Burr enjoyed physical activities such as horseback riding and fencing, the latter being both a hobby and a skill he would tragically use in his duel with Hamilton.

SCIENCE AND MATHS Burr had a keen interest in various scientific and mathematical topics, reflecting his broad intellectual pursuits.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY  Raised in a religious family, Burr's early exposure to theology influenced his philosophical outlook, although he later distanced himself from strict religious dogma.

POLITICS Affiliated with the Democratic-Republican Party, Burr's political career was marked by his service as Vice President and his ambition, which often put him at odds with other founding fathers. 

Aaron Burr, a smooth talker with a healthy dose of ambition, waded into the murky waters of American politics. He became a Democratic-Republican, aligning himself with Thomas Jefferson, another Founding Father with a bit of a rebellious streak.

Speaking of rebellion, 1800 rolls around, and there's a bit of a snafu in the presidential election. Jefferson and Burr tie! The whole thing goes to the House of Representatives, where, in a display of political mudslinging that would make today's Congress blush, a backroom deal gets Jefferson the presidency and Burr the consolation prize of Vice President. Awkward, much?

Well, buckle up, because things are about to get even more awkward. Burr, you see, had this thing with Alexander Hamilton, another Founding Father but one who fell squarely in the "not-a-fan" camp when it came to Burr. Their rivalry was legendary, fueled by personality clashes and political differences. It all came to a head in 1804, when pistols dawned and shots were fired. Hamilton, sadly, ended up the loser in that duel, leaving Burr with a murder charge hanging over his head and a reputation that would forever be, well, stained.

An early 20th century illustration of Burr (right) dueling with Hamilton

Now, you might think being wanted for murder would put a damper on your political career. Not for Aaron Burr! The man finished his term as Vice President like nothing happened, then hightailed it out of dodge to avoid those pesky murder charges. He even tried to cook up some harebrained schemes to carve out his own little empire in the American Southwest. Didn't exactly pan out.

SCANDAL In a tragic culmination of their long-standing feud, Aaron Burr fatally wounded Alexander Hamilton, the former US Treasury Secretary, in a pistol duel on July 11, 1804, near Weehawken, New Jersey. Hamilton died the following day after being transported to the Manhattan shore home of William Bayard.

He was later involved in a conspiracy, known as the Burr Conspiracy, aiming to create an independent nation in the center of North America and/or the Southwestern United States, for which he was tried and acquitted of treason.

Burr was the only Vice President ever accused of murder.

MILITARY RECORD Burr served with distinction in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Burr maintained good health for most of his life, staying physically active through his military service and personal hobbies. In his final years, he suffered multiple strokes that left him partially paralyzed and debilitated.

HOMES Burr lived in various places throughout his life, including:

New Jersey: Born in Newark, and likely spent some time there as a child.

New York City: Established himself as a lawyer and politician here. He also owned land in what is now the West Village, including a famous carriage house (11 Barrow Street) that still stands today.

Albany, New York: Served in the state legislature here.

Europe: After the duel with Hamilton and facing legal troubles, Burr spent time in Europe. Specific locations are not widely known.

Staten Island, New York: Died in Port Richmond in his later years.

TRAVEL Burr traveled extensively within the United States and spent time in Europe, particularly during his self-imposed exile after the duel with Hamilton.

DEATH Burr died on September 14, 1836, aged 80, in a boarding house on Staten Island, in the village of Port Richmond. The boarding house later became known as the St. James Hotel.

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Burr has been depicted in various works of historical fiction, biographies, and notably in the Broadway musical Hamilton, where he is portrayed as a central figure.

 Time Magazine named him the "worst vice president of the United States."

ACHIEVEMENTS Despite his controversial life, Burr's achievements include his service as Vice President, his military contributions during the Revolutionary War, and his successful legal career. His life remains a topic of fascination and study in American history.