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Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton's Birth
Eliza was born Elizabeth Schuyler on August 9th, 1757 in Albany, New York. She was the daughter of Philip Schuyler and Catherine Van Rensselaer. Philip (pictured) was a landowner and famous Revolutionary War general. As a child, Elizabeth (also known as Eliza) was the second of seven children and got along with them very well. When she was a girl, she got the chance to meet Benjamin Franklin after he stayed at the family house for a bit after traveling. -
Eliza Meets Her Future Husband
When staying with her Aunt, Gertrude Schuyler Cochran, Eliza met Alexander Hamilton (pictured). She met him in Morristown, New Jersey. Hamilton was stationed in Morristown while fighting in the Revolutionary War. After Eliza left, her and Hamilton stayed close, writing letters to each other as much as possible. -
Elizabeth Marries Alexander
Less than a year since they met, Alexander proposed to Eliza in April. In December they married at the Schuyler Mansion. Eliza was absolutely lovestruck and was "the happiest of women". Her family had loved Alexander so much, that Angelica (Eliza's sister) had even joked about Eliza sharing Alexander with her. Pictured are the wedding rings that Alexander gave Elizabeth in marriage. -
First Child
Eliza gave birth to her son Philip Schuyler Hamilton on January 22, 1782. She named her son Philip after Elizabeth's father, Philip. She found out she was pregnant while in Albany because she was staying there as her husband's career was taking off. Philip was the first of eight children. -
Eliza Has a Miscarriage
Eliza suffered a miscarriage while her husband was away. She was in no other harm according to her doctor. Though, Eliza was in a state of alarm after the miscarriage. Afterwards, Henry Knox wrote a letter to Hamilton asking for him to come to her aid because she was so distraught. -
The Reynold's Pamphlet Is Released
The Reynolds Pamphlet was released in 1797 by Alexander Hamilton. It was a descriptive account of his affair with Maria Reynolds.The pamphlet also contained all of the money he paid to Maria and James Reynolds. This tore the Schuyler Hamilton family apart and Eliza burned all of the love letters sent to her by her husband over the years. -
Eliza Loses Her Sister
In 1801, Eliza loses the first of many people in her life. Her sister, Peggy, was 42 years old. She passed away due to an illness. -
Eliza Lost Her Eldest Son
In 1801, Eliza lost her eldest son Philip. She lost him in a duel between him and George Eacker (pictured). The dispute was between Philip defending his father's honor and Philip lost the duel and the bullet settled in his left arm mortally wounding him. This caused Eliza to start warming back up a little to her husband after the Reynold's Pamphlet was published. -
Eliza Loses Her Father
Eliza's father (pictured) was very important to her. After he died, Eliza had to try her best to keep her house and family. With inheritance from her father, it helped her out a little. She had to sell her house in an auction once but later bought it back. Eliza was basically orphaned as her mother had died a year earlier. -
Eliza Loses Her Husband
In 1804, Eliza suffered the next death in her life: her husband. Alexander Hamilton was killed in a duel by Aaron Burr over a petty dispute. He aimed his pistol to the sky to make it look like Burr wanted blood, and Burr shot him in between his ribs. Eliza never married after she lost her husband and defended his legacy to the fullest ability. -
Eliza Makes The First New York Orphanage
Because her husband was an orphan and her family fostered an orphan of one of their friends, Eliza created the first private orphanage in New York City. She spent the next fifty years without her husband founding the orphanage with her friends. She later became the director of the orphanage. Eliza stayed involved in the orphanage until her nineties. On November 9, 1854, Eliza died at ninety-seven and is buried in Trinity Church by her husband and sister, Angelica.
