Posted on 06/14/2004 7:29:54 PM PDT by wagglebee
WEEHAWKEN, N.J. -- Douglas Hamilton plans to pay tribute to the family name, even if it means losing _ again.
Next month, Hamilton, a fifth great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton, will stand in for his founding father ancestor when the Weehawken Historical Commission re-enacts the July 11, 1804, duel with Aaron Burr that left Hamilton mortally wounded.
Antonio Burr, a descendant of Aaron Burr's cousin, will stand in for his equally famous ancestor. There are no direct descendants of Aaron Burr.
"Some people in the family questioned re-enacting somebody getting shot, but I have received assurance the re-enactment will be done with taste. We are not there to commemorate somebody getting shot, we are commemorating Hamilton and Burr's contribution to America 200 years ago," Douglas Hamilton, 51, told The Sunday Star-Ledger of Newark.
Hamilton is an IBM sales representative from Columbus, Ohio. Burr, also 51, is a forensic psychologist who practices in Hoboken.
"As a child, I learned I was a descendant of an old American family that dated back to the Revolution, and that we were connected to this event of great historical purpose," Burr said.
At the time of the duel, Alexander Hamilton, who helped shape the U.S. Constitution, was a prominent New York lawyer and had served as the fledgling nation's first treasurer.
Burr, who was born in Newark and attended what is now Princeton University, was vice president under Thomas Jefferson thanks to a tie in the Electoral College in the 1800 presidential election. It was resolved by a vote in the House of Representatives that handed Jefferson the presidency.
Hamilton and Burr were longtime political rivals, and Hamilton helped elect Jefferson.
The bad blood grew worse when Burr ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York in early 1804. He wrongly blamed Hamilton for the loss after reading a newspaper account that said Hamilton had spoken ill of him during the campaign.
Burr then challenged Hamilton to the duel, and the pair secretly squared off at the base of the Weehawken Palisades, a location that became popular for dueling because of its proximity to New York, where the practice had been outlawed.
From 10 yards away the men fired .56-caliber pistols. Burr's shot struck Hamilton in the right side, wounding him. He died the next day in New York.
An unscathed Burr fled by boat to Perth Amboy and on through southern New Jersey to avoid a prosecution. He returned to Washington, where he completed his term in March 1805.
(Excerpt) Read more at nynewsday.com ...
OK, I must be having Alzheimer's again. I thought this was another (most) famous of the duels at our Dueling Grounds in Bladensburg, MD.
Sometimes I have to agree about the duels, tho! LOL I believe, tho, that it didn't have to end w/some1 dead or even shot. I think just the satisfaction that they faced off was sometimes enough (if nothing bad happened).
Too bad it wasn't Raymond Burr. Hard to miss that guy.
...I don't recommend it...
ping
When we lost that check & balance, we ended up with the system we have now.
Was dueling a battle to the death? What happened if both missed? Did they load up again and again till one fell or both walk off still pissed?
Interesting article
When swords were used,the first to draw blood won.Other times,that too was to the death.
This particular duel,was supposed to NOT be to the death and Burr,as was his wont,was a blaggardly poltroon,who aimed to kill.
Thanks PE
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