Alexander Hamilton Museum
Description
Presented by St. Croix Heritage House
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton on the U.S. Ten Dollar Bill
A Caribbean man who should have been a U.S. President. Born in the West Indies (Nevis), and St. Croix was the boyhood home of Alexander Hamilton. The man who made modern America.
An American Founding Father (co-authored the U.S. Constitution).
The architect of the American Financial System and the U.S. Federal Government.
First U.S. Treasury Secretary (He is one of two person who's face appears on a U.S. currency that were Non-Presidents). He created the U.S. Mint and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Although Alexander Hamilton is perhaps best known for his famous duel with Aaron Burr, it is his role as the founder of The Bank of New York and The New York Post that is among his most important legacies.
Federal Reserve/Central Bank
Alexander Hamilton formed the First National Bank of America in 1784 and became its first director. His objective was to create a central bank modeled after the Bank of England. The United States government becoming a Federal government under Washington’s presidency was to then assume all the State’s debt and borrow all its money from First National Bank.
In 1791 his goals were realized and the First National Bank of America received its charter from the US government and became The United States of America’s first Central Bank. The charter ran for 20 years until 1811 (approximated) when it failed to be renewed for five years. After a five year period the First National Bank of America reacquire its charter and continued to push America into debt, much the same way the Banks of England and France did to their countries.
Not all things went as planned for the central bank though. In 1836 President Andrew Jackson vetoed the bank and it lost its power for 37 years. In 1867 the bank was chartered once again. Finally in 1913 the First National Bank of America became the Federal Reserve that we all know.
U.S. Treasury Department
Alexander Hamilton Signature on The United States Constitution
(His signature appears next to the named state of New York - click the image document to enlarge)
Image of St. Croix, his boyhood home, replic fire arms in his duel with Aaron Burr
Author Ron Chernow interview on Alexander Hamilton: