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The Life of Aaron Burr
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Aaron's Burr's Parents
At the age of two Aaron Bur was orphaned when his father, Rev. Aaron Burr, dies of exhaustion at age 41. His mother, Esther Edwards Burr, dies a few years later of smallpox after being inoculated for the forsaid disease. -
Aaron Burr's Formal Education
Burr applies at the age of thirteen to the College of New Jersey. He is accepted and graduates 4 years later. this how ever was his second attempt to be accepted into the college. He had also applied when he was eleven years old. -
Aaron Burr's Military Career
Burr presents himself to General Washington for a commission but is turned down. A few months later he joins the expedition that attacks Quebec alongside General Montgomery. The attack fails and Burr joins Benedict Arnold for the winter. -
Military Career Continued
Burr is promoted to Lientuneant Colonel for his actions on the battlefield. He also leads farmers in a defensive manuveur against a British Loyalist raid. He retired on March 10, 1779. -
Aaron Burr's Law Education
Aaron Burr begins his law education in New York. He sets up a law practice and then is elected to the state assembly in 1784 and serves one term. He is then voted in as the Attorney General of New York. -
Aaron Burr on the National Stage
Aaron Burr beat Philip Schuyler for the Senate seat for New York. During his time as senator he joined the Democrat-Republicans. This party was nominally lead by Thomas Jefferson. After finishing his term he again served on the General Assembly in New York. -
Aaron Burr as Vice President
Burr ran for President as a Demcorat-republican as the running mate of Thomas Jefferson. He and Jefferson actually tied for electoral votes and the vote was sent to the House of Representatives. Due to Alexander Hamilton pushing against Burr Jefferson won the election and Burr was awarded Vice President. Later Hamilton would again foil Burr efforts to win the Federalist nomintation and then to become the governor of New York. -
The Duel
After Hamilton prevented Burr from being elected as the president then as governor of New York, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. They met at Weehawken, New Jersey and used pistols to duel. Some say that Alexander Hamilton purposely fired into the air, but Burr aimed to kill. Burr inflicted a fatal wound on Hamilton but Burr escaped without any injury. Hamilton died the next day and Burr was charged with murder charges. But he was free from perseceution as he finished out his term. -
Planning an Empire
Burr plans to, with the help of General Wilkinson, the new Governor of the Louisiana Territory, take over the United States western territory and Mexico and become an emperor. But Wilkinson betrays him and his plan is discovered. Charged with treason Burr flees to Britain. There he continues to try to raise support for a western campaign but fails. The charges were dropped and Aaron Burr returned to the United States. -
The Beginning of the End
Burr suffers the second of two strokes that render him immoblie. In July his wife, Madame Eliza Jumel Burr, files for a divorce. She had been a French widow of a rich merchant. Ironically, Burr dies on the same day that the petition was granted, September 14, 1836.
