READ MORE: What Was Alexander Hamilton's Role in Aaron Burr's Contentious Presidential Defeat? Unlike two of Elizas sisters (including Angelica) who had eloped due to family doubts about their husbands, Eliza received her fathers blessing. She had eight children with Hamilton during their rather short marriage of 24 years. In 1818, she opened the first school in the neighborhood of Washington Heights (where, decades later, Lin-Manuel Miranda would grow up). According to the Smithsonian Magazine, Eliza was a beloved figure and entertained often: "Some visitors sought her imprimatur for new legislation, while others went simply to bask in the glow of history." Angelica was also laid to rest at Trinity, in the Livingstons' private vault, while Eliza's eldest son Philip had an unmarked grave near the churchyard. In 1802, the same year that Philip was born, the house was built and named Hamilton Grange, after Alexander's father's home in Scotland. [citation needed], When she was a girl, Elizabeth accompanied her father to a meeting of the Six Nations and met Benjamin Franklin when he stayed briefly with the Schuyler family while traveling. This may have coincided with the discovery that she was pregnant with her first child, who would be born the next January and named Philip, for her father. She was educated and described as intelligent, attractive, and was frequently compared to her demure sister, Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, as being more sociable. The Hamilton Free School, established in northern Manhattan (not far from where the couple had lived) offered education to students of families who couldnt afford private education for their children. Get the latest on new films and digital content, learn about events in your area, and get your weekly fix of American history. One of the ways she found solaceand honored his memorywas to found two institutions in New York that supported lower-income children. [citation needed] She was so devoted to Alexander's writings that she wore a small package around her neck containing the pieces of a sonnet that Alexander wrote for her during the early days of their courtship. Eliza and Alexander continued to live together in a caring relationship in their new home that can be seen in letters between the two at the time. Q: Can you introduce us to Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton? At that time she had been with the Society for 42 years. Artifacts of domestic life in lower Manhattan, De Hooges Memorandum Book Elizabeth Schuyler was born in 1757, just a year after her older sister. New Netherland Institute,PO Box 2536, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12220Phone: 518-992-3274 Email:nni@newnetherlandinstitute.org, Web Site CreditsDesign:ReZolv CreativeDevelopment:Web Instinct. On November 24, 1801, she lost her son Philip, who died fighting a duel with a political opponent of his father. Hamilton, while envious of Andr for his actions during the war, promised Eliza he would do what he could to treat the British intelligence chief accordingly; he even begged Washington to grant Andr's last wish of execution by firing squad instead of by hanging, but to no avail. As was common for young women of her time, Eliza was a regular churchgoer, and her faith remained unwavering throughout her lifetime. Elizabeth also appeared in the 1986 TV series, George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation. She kept in touch with Hamilton through letters, and married him in 1780. She also met and became friends with Martha Washington, a friendship they would maintain throughout their husbands political careers. [8] Like many landowners of the time, Philip Schuyler owned slaves, and Eliza would have grown up around slavery. After Hamilton became treasury secretary in 1789 her social duties increased. A firm but affectionate mother, Elizabeth made sure her children had a religious upbringing, and ran the household so efficiently that an associate told Hamilton she "has as much merit as your treasurer as you have as treasurer of the wealth of the United States." The Full Lyrics to Look at Us Now (Honeycomb), Inside Riley Keoughs 'Daisy Jones' Transformation, Tracy Oliver on That Harlem Season 2 Finale, Aminah Nieves on Those Shocking 1923 Scenes. Soon after, Philip Schuyler died. What Was Alexander Hamilton's Role in Aaron Burr's Contentious Presidential Defeat. But while Hamilton came from an impoverished background, he had two key traits that would help propel him to the top intelligence and ambition. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Ruthless: Monopoly's Secret History (espaol), Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804), a Profile. [23], After Yorktown, Alexander was able to rejoin Eliza in Albany, where they would remain for almost another two years, before moving to New York City in late 1783. NNIis registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Eliza, who had to struggle to pay for her own childrens education after her husbands death, could empathize. She also outlived her fifth child, her son William Stephen who was born on August 4, 1797 and died on October 9, 1850. The story provides a snapshot of her own life following the loss of her husband, such as her work founding an orphanage in New York, and she also sings of being with Alexander again at some point in the future (with Miranda briefly re-joining her on stage). She re-organized all of Hamiltons letters, papers, and writings with the help of her son, John Church Hamilton, and persevered through many setbacks in getting his biography published. She re-organized all of Hamiltons letters, papers and writings with the help of her son, John Church Hamilton. Eliza and the other women arranged to rent a small two-story house on Raisin Street in Greenwich village and hired a married couple to care for the young residents. Despite her advanced pregnancy and her previous miscarriage of November 1794, her initial reaction to her husband's disclosure of his past affair was to leave Hamilton in New York and join her parents in Albany where William Stephen was born on August 4, 1797. Church, 13 July 1797", "Letter from Alexander Hamilton to Elizabeth Hamilton, 21 July 1797", "Draft of the "Reynolds Pamphlet", July 1797", "Printed Version of the "Reynolds Pamphlet", 1797", "Guide to the Records of Graham Windham 1804-2011 MS 2916", "Who tells Eliza's story? ", At 22, Eliza met Alexander Hamilton, who was at the time serving under General George Washington, and fell in love "at first sight," per historical accounts. [24] Earlier that year, Angelica and her husband John Barker Church, for business reasons, had moved to Europe. By that time two of her siblings, Margarita and John had also passed away. When Eliza Hamilton died in November 1854 at age 97, the uptown school was still in existence, but it clearly had seen better days. The True Story of Elizabeth Schuyler in 'Hamilton'. James McHenry, one of Washington's aides alongside her future husband, said, "Hers was a strong character with its depth and warmth, whether of feeling or temper controlled, but glowing underneath, bursting through at times in some emphatic expression. Her oldest daughter, Angelica, suffered a nervous breakdown after her brother Philip's death. Elizabeth Hamilton (ne Schuyler /skalr/; August 9, 1757 November 9, 1854[2]), also called Eliza or Betsey, was an American socialite and philanthropist. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Portrayed by Phillipa Soo, Eliza played a key role in safeguarding her husband's legacy after his death. Almost none of Elizabeth's own correspondence has survived, so her personality is gleaned largely from the impressions of others. Elizabeth Hamiltons parents were the noted American Revolutionary war general, Philip Schuyler and Catherine Van Rensselaer of the Manor of Van Renselaerswyck. In 1806, Eliza co-founded the Orphan Asylum Society, to aid children who were orphaned as her husband had been. 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Before their eighth child was born, however, they lost their oldest son, Philip, who died in a duel on November 24, 1801. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Lin-Manuel Miranda's Hamilton .css-umdwtv{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:.0625rem;text-decoration-color:#FF3A30;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:inherit;-webkit-transition:background 0.4s;transition:background 0.4s;background:linear-gradient(#ffffff, #ffffff 50%, #d5dbe3 50%, #d5dbe3);-webkit-background-size:100% 200%;background-size:100% 200%;}.css-umdwtv:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;-webkit-background-position:100% 100%;background-position:100% 100%;}may focus on its namesake founding father, but the hit musical also tells story of his wife, Eliza, played by Phillipa Soo in the original Broadway production now streaming on Disney Plus. A single mother, Rachel struggled to provide for Alexander and his brother before she died in 1768, leaving him an orphan. [45] During this time, Alexander commissioned John McComb Jr. to construct the Hamilton family home. [16] In fact, they had met previously, if briefly, two years before, when Hamilton dined with the Schuylers on his way back from a negotiation on Washington's behalf. In 1797, Hamilton had an affair with Maria Reynolds. Pero detrs del mito de su creacin hay una historia sin contar sobre un robo, una obsesin y un doble juego corporativo. While gone on the prisoner exchange, Hamilton wrote to Eliza continuing their relationship through letters. Along with giving birth to and raising eight children, she helped Hamilton write speeches and listened to early drafts of Washington's "Farewell Address" and excerpts from the Federalist Papers. In 2010, it partnered with the New York State Office of Cultural Education to establish the New Netherland Research Center, with matching funds from the State of the Netherlands. and Barbara Bushs Amazing Love Story. The following year, a group of her husbands deep-pocketed friends bought the house and property from Eliza for $30,500 and promptly sold it back to her for $15,000, so that she would have money to take care of herself and her family. Her eldest son Philip died that November in a reckless duel, and Hamilton himself followedfewer than three years later. Elizabeth remained dedicated to preserving her husbands legacy. By 1801, Peggy had been ill for two years. Elizas initial fears that her family would disapprove of the relationship were soon eased. She then sold it and moved into a townhouse owned by her son, now known as the Hamilton-Holly House, where she lived for nine years with two of her grown children, Alexander Hamilton Jr. and Eliza Hamilton Holly and their respective spouses. More. Peggy Schuyler died young. [citation needed]. She also ensured that Hamiltons biography was published. ' [citation needed], In addition to their own children, in 1787, Eliza and Alexander took into their home Frances (Fanny) Antill, the two-year-old youngest child of Hamilton's friend Colonel Edward Antill, whose wife had recently died. "[33], Eliza also continued to aid Alexander throughout his political career, serving as an intermediary between him and his publisher when he was writing The Federalist Papers,[34] copying out portions of his defense of the Bank of the United States,[35] and sitting up with him so he could read Washington's Farewell Address out loud to her as he wrote it. Hamilton followed the Army when they decamped in June 1780. My dear Hamilton is fonder of me every day.". Americans knew a lot about Martha Washington (George Washington's wife), a lot about Dolly Madison (James Madison's widow), and a lot about Abigail Adams (John Adams' wife). But she held onto her grudge against Monroe. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Phillipa Soo as Alexander and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton. Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton was born on August 9, 1757 in Albany, New York and died on November 9, 1854 in Washington, D.C. at the advanced age of 97. "I'm erasing myself from the narrative / let future historians wonder how Eliza reacted / when you broke her heart," she sings, referencing a very real historical ambiguity. Two years before the duel, Elizabeths mother, Catherine had died, and only a few months after Hamiltons death, her father also died. Her father, Philip J. Schuyler, was a general in the Continental Army, politician, and businessman. . A: At the time that I published my biography of Hamilton in 2004, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton was a complete blank in the American imagination. googletag.cmd = googletag.cmd || []; Long-suffering yet intensely loyal, Elizabeth Hamilton buried her sister, her eldest son, her husband, and her father in the space of three turbulent years. In 1806, Isabella Graham and Sarah Hoffman, two other widows and social activists with whom Eliza had become friends, approached her for help. Catherine,. But she was immediately smitten with the brilliant, charming young man, and the two quickly started up a correspondence. Where Is The Cast Of Broadway's 'Hamilton' Now? And yes,. Attractive, if not beautiful. a daughter, Eliza, on November 20, 1799. On March 16, 1801, Alexander Hamilton wrote to Eliza, conveying the news that Peggy had passed away and reassuring her that Peggy had been "sensible" and "resigned" as she faced her death. Sign up for the American Experience newsletter! According to some accounts, the family was spared from any losses thanks to her sister Peggy's quick thinking: she told the soldiers that her father had gone to town to get help, causing them to flee from the area. Eliza died on November 9, 1854, at the age of 97. By now everyone knows that Eliza Hamilton, the wife of Alexander Hamilton, burned her husband's love letters before she diedand November 9th will be the 162nd anniversary of her death on that day in 1854 at the age of 97. Timeline of the Netherlands & Scandinavia in North America. The song "Burn" is a tearjerking showstopper within the show, as Eliza reacts with despair and rage to the news that Hamilton has been unfaithful to herand, adding insult to injury, that he's written a pamphlet detailing the affair to the public. Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. The Schuylers owned enslaved people and Philip was reportedly "the largest owner of enslaved people in Albany during his time. 2023 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Gabrielle Bruney is a writer and editor for Esquire, where she focuses on politics and culture. Elizabeth was born in Albany, New York, the second daughter of Continental Army General Philip Schuyler, a Revolutionary War general, and Catherine Van Rensselaer Schuyler. After Vice President Aaron Burr killed Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804, Hamiltons widow, Elizabeth Schuyler Eliza Hamilton, had to find a way to go on without her beloved husband. Meet the influential author and key figure of the Harlem Renaissance. In 1821 Elizabeth was appointed first directress of the Society and served for 27 years in that position until she left New York in 1848. In a joking letter to a fellow aide he sounded more dispassionate: "Though not a genius, she has good sense enough to be agreeable, and though not a beauty, she has fine black eyes, is rather handsome, and has every other requisite of the exterior to make a lover happy. Eliza remained dedicated to preserving her husbands legacy. The first blow was struck in March 1801, when Elizabeth lost her sister Peggy after a long illness. Largely educated at home, she was bright and good-natured. Both her mother and father came from wealthy and well-regarded families. After Hamilton's sudden death in a duel with Aaron Burr in 1804, Eliza went on to outlive her husband by close to 50 years. Philip Schuyler shared similar politics with Hamilton, and, like Eliza and others, realized that Hamiltons star was on the rise thanks in no small part to his role at Washingtons side. Eliza's mother had died a year before. When he visited the boarding house where she was staying to deliver the funds, Maria invited him to her room, where, as Hamilton would later write in his pamphlet about the affair, it became "apparent that other than pecuniary consolation would not be unacceptable.". Eliza was supportive of her husband throughout his career and aided him with his political writings. [48], After her husband's death in 1804, Eliza was left to pay Hamilton's debts. Elizabeth Schuyler was born on August 7, 1757, in Albany, New York, the second daughter of wealthy landowner and Revolutionary War general Philip Schuyler. Where Did the 'Perfect Match' Couples End Up? But while his brilliance was apparent to those who met him, Hamilton was eager to prove himself on the field, not just with the pen. She was the spouse of Alexander Hamilton, famous in the early American government following the Declaration of Independence and considered one of the founders of our American republic. In 1806, two years after her husbands death, she, along with several other women, founded the Orphan Asylum Society. They were so close, in . . That 'Hamilton' Boycott Completely Backfired, may focus on its namesake founding father, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. See him, whom thou has chosen for the partner of this life, lolling in the lap of a harlot!!" Eliza and her husband would not get to enjoy their newly built home together long, for only two years later, in July 1804, Alexander Hamilton became involved in a similar "affair of honor," which led to his infamous duel with Aaron Burr and untimely death. document.documentElement.className += 'js'; No, Eliza as she was known, was not. Elizabeth outlived two of her children. Good-natured though somewhat serious, she was at ease in the outdoors and devout in her Christian faith. After her husband was shot by Aaron Burr, Eliza was left to pay off his debts. In 1848, she left New York for Washington, D.C., where she lived with her widowed daughter Eliza until 1854. Elizabeth was born in Albany, New York, the second daughter of Continental Army General Philip Schuyler, a Revolutionary War general, and Catherine Van Rensselaer Schuyler. Ron Chernow, who wrote the biography that inspired Miranda's musical, credits . She had outlived her husband by 50 years, and had outlived all but one of her siblings (her youngest sister, Catherine, 24 years her junior). On September 25, 1784, Eliza gave birth to her second child, Angelica, named after Eliza's older sister. A pension scheme later landed him in prison for forgery, and when he sought Hamilton's help, he was turned down. Hamilton depicts the Reynolds Affair, one of the country's earliest sex scandals. The Hamilton Free School was free of cost, because Eliza believed all children should have access to educationspecifically in order to read the Bible. She was born inAlbany, New York To Philip Schyler and Catherine Van Rensselaer Schuyler. We may earn a commission from these links. It also operates a school for at-risk youth. Later she was able to buy it back because executors decided that she could not be publicly dispossessed of her home. In November 1804, Gen. Philip Schuyler died, leaving Elizabeth Hamilton without both of her parents. He was born on January 22, 1782 and died on November 23, 1801 at the age of 19.