Events to mark 212th anniversary of Alexander Hamilton-Aaron Burr duel in Weehawken

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Monday, July 11, 2016
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NEW YORK (WABC) -- Amid Hamilton's great success on Broadway, Monday marks the 212th anniversary of the deadly duel between Alexander Hamilton and Vice President Aaron Burr.

The two met on the dueling grounds in Weehawken, New Jersey.

By some accounts, Hamilton decided the duel was morally wrong and fired into the air. But Burr fired, and struck Hamilton in the stomach. He died the next day.

The killing outraged the country and led to Burr's political downfall.

An annual gathering will be held Monday at 6 p.m. at the Hamilton Memorial overlooking the Weehawken dueling grounds.

Douglas Hamilton, the 5th great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton, will give a speech.


Here are some of the other events marking the date:

--Talk: "Colleagues, Friends, and Frenemies: Hamilton and the New York Bar (1782-1804)" at the Alexander Hamilton US Custom House

Attorney Pooja Nair speaks on the early members of the New York Bar, including Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, and Brockholst Livingston, and the shifting allegiances and interesting connections they shared over the course of their prominent legal careers.

This event is hosted in conjunction with the National Archives at New York City, which is home to the original Roll of Attorneys with the signatures of Hamilton, Burr, and others practicing law in the New York City area at the turn of the 19th century.

The talk will be held at the National Archives at New York City Learning Center inside the Alexander Hamilton US Custom House, which stands on the site of Ft. George, where Alexander Hamilton was stationed in 1776 as a captain of the New York Artillery Company.

See the All Places Hamilton page for Ft. George/Grand Battery.

Admission: Free. Reservations in advance recommended - call the National Archives at 866-840-1752 or email newyork.archives@nara.gov to reserve a seat.

Time: 12-1 pm (plus Q&A), Monday, July 11th

Location: 3rd floor-Learning Center, National Archives at New York City, Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House, One Bowling Green, Lower Manhattan, NY

--Duel Remembrance in Weehawken, NJ

Join the annual gathering at the Hamilton Memorial overlooking the Weehawken Dueling Grounds to commemorate the anniversary of the fatal duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton.

The theme of this year's gathering is "Celebrating the New Generation of U.S. Currency." Douglas Hamilton, 5th great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton, will again speak at the Hamilton Memorial Bust in Weehawken, NJ a year after his call to action to keep Alexander Hamilton on the $10 bill. The event will reflect on the collective and individual efforts that contributed to the preservation of Alexander Hamilton's place of honor on the next generation of U.S. currency.

Following the remembrance gathering, don't miss Thomas Fleming's talk on the Hamilton-Burr duel (see below). This event is co-sponsored by the Weehawken Historical Comission and the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society.

See the All Places Hamilton page on Weehawken Dueling Grounds.

Time: 6 pm, Monday, July 11th

Location: Alexander Hamilton statue

Hamilton Ave in Weehawken, New Jersey

--Talk: "Honor: The Key to Understanding Alexander Hamilton's Life - And Death"

Thomas Fleming, author of Duel: Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, And The Future Of America, will be the featured speaker on the 212th anniversary of the Hamilton-Burr duel in Weehawken.

This event is co-sponsored by the Weehawken Historical Commission and the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society.

Learn more about Thomas Fleming from his HamilTEN Questions interview.

Admission: Free

Time: 7:30 pm, Monday, July 11th

Location: Elks Lodge, 2 50th St, Weehawken, NJ


Tuesday, July 12th, 2016

--Walking Tour: Alexander Hamilton's New York

The Museum of American Finance is hosting an hour and a half walking tour through Wall Street Walks to explore the Financial District on foot, with an emphasis on Alexander Hamilton's contributions to financial history.

Tickets: $15, which includes admission to the Museum of American Finance and a Lunch and Learn event. Purchase tickets here.

Time: 11 am - 12:30 pm, Tuesday, July 12th

Meeting Location: Museum of American Finance

48 Wall Street, Manhattan

--Graveside Remembrance Ceremony at Trinity Church

Join us in the Trinity Church courtyard for a brief memorial service to honor Alexander Hamilton. Trinity Church clergy, the AHA Society, and the US Coast Guard will lead a procession to Hamilton's grave, followed by a blessing and wreath laying ceremony. The service will be directly followed by a talk by our keynote speaker, Richard Brookhiser

Note: Feel free to bring flowers to leave at the gravesite.

See the All Places Hamilton page on Trinity Church.

Time: 1 - 1:30 pm, Tuesday, July 12th

Location: Hamilton's Gravesite at Trinity Church

Broadway at Wall Street, Manhattan

--Keynote Talk by Richard Brookhiser at Trinity Church

Richard Brookhiser, Hamilton scholar, will speak inside Trinity Church and be recognized for his numerous contributions for over two decades for a national understanding of Alexander Hamilton's remarkable legacy. His talk is entitled "Alexander Hamilton, the Man Who Made America Prosperous," and will be followed by an audience Q&A session.

Learn more about Richard Brookhiser from his HamilTEN Questions interview.

See the All Places Hamilton page on Trinity Church.

Admission: Free

Time: 1:30 - 2:30 pm, Tuesday, July 12th

Location: Trinity Church, on Broadway at Wall Street, Manhattan

--Special Exhibition of Original Documents at Trinity Church

Directly following Richard Broohiser's talk inside Trinity Church, Trinity Archives welcomes attendees to view original documents associated with Alexander Hamilton and Trinity Church in a temporary exhibtion.

See the All Places Hamilton page on Trinity Church.

Admission: Free

Time: 2:30 - 5 pm, Tuesday, July 12th

Location: Trinity Church, on Broadway at Wall Street, Manhattan

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