Alexander Hamilton

Object Details

Exhibition Label

Born Nevis, West Indies

Illegitimate and orphaned at an early age, Alexander Hamilton possessed drive and intelligence that attracted wealthy patrons who sent him to North America to study at King’s College (now Columbia University). An early advocate for independence from Britain, he enlisted in the army and came to the attention of George Washington, who made him a member of his military “family.”

After independence, Hamilton supported a stronger national government, assisting in the ratification of the Constitution by authoring, with John Jay and James Madison, the most original contribution to American political thought, the Federalist Papers. Washington, impressed with Hamilton’s mastery of economics, made him the first secretary of treasury. Hamilton’s policies—assumption of state debts, encouragement of commerce and manufacturing, and promotion of a national bank—are credited with laying the groundwork for a strong republic. He was killed in a duel with the vice president, Aaron Burr.

Provenance

Henry Cabot Lodge; his son George C. Lodge; gift to NPG 1979

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; Gift of Henry Cabot Lodge

1806

Object number

NPG.79.216

Artist

John Trumbull, 6 Jun 1756 - 10 Nov 1843

Copy after

Giuseppe Ceracchi, 4 Jul 1751 - 31 Jan 1801

Sitter

Alexander Hamilton, 11 Jan 1757 - 11 Jul 1804

Type

Painting

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

Stretcher: 77.5 x 62.2 x 3.5cm (30 1/2 x 24 1/2 x 1 3/8")

Frame: 89.2 x 73.7 x 9.2cm (35 1/8 x 29 x 3 5/8")

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Exhibition

American Origins

On View

NPG, East Gallery 140

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Alexander Hamilton: Male

Alexander Hamilton: Law and Law Enforcement\Lawyer

Alexander Hamilton: Literature\Writer

Alexander Hamilton: Military\Army\Officer\Revolution

Alexander Hamilton: Politics and Government\Cabinet Member\Secretary of Treasury

Alexander Hamilton: Politics and Government\Congressman\Continental

Portrait

Record ID

npg_NPG.79.216

Metadata Usage (Object Detail Text)

CC0