[36] Meanwhile, she continued to raise her children (a fifth, John Church Hamilton, had been born in August 1792) and maintain their household throughout multiple moves between New York, Philadelphia, and Albany. Hamilton followed the Army when they decamped in June 1780. Dutch people, places, miscellany, Timeline of the Netherlands & Scandinavia in North America . [17] Also while in Morristown, Eliza met and became friends with Martha Washington, a friendship they would maintain throughout their husbands' political careers. Born in 1757, Eliza was the second daughter of Revolutionary War general Philip Schuyler and Catherine van Rensselaer, a member of one of New Yorks richest families. Because of Hamiltons army service, the family moved around quite a bit during their early married life but eventually they settled in New York City in late 1783. Despite the move, Eliza retained a connection to people who lived a few miles away from her old home. Eliza later said of Mrs. Washington, "She was always my ideal of a true woman."[12][18]. Hamilton died from wounds received during the duel in July 12, 1804. Flitner recalled that the school provided students with textbooks, and that they studied arithmetic by doing calculations on slates. 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. Thanks to her fathers role in the war and her familys social status, these years were a time of excitement for Eliza as well. What Was Alexander Hamilton's Role in Aaron Burr's Contentious Presidential Defeat. .css-m6thd4{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;display:block;margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;font-family:Gilroy,Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;font-size:1.125rem;line-height:1.2;font-weight:bold;color:#323232;text-transform:capitalize;}@media (any-hover: hover){.css-m6thd4:hover{color:link-hover;}}Every Candidate in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Race, These 10 Jimmy Carter Quotes Will Inspire You, 4 U.S. Presidents Who Won the Nobel Peace Prize, How Little-Known Jimmy Carter Won the 1976 Primary, George H.W. The Schuylers owned enslaved people and Philip was reportedly "the largest owner of enslaved people in Albany during his time. [citation needed], Like most Dutch families of the area, her family belonged to the Reformed Dutch Church of Albany, which still stands; however, the original 1715 building, where Elizabeth was baptized and attended services, was demolished in 1806. Eventually, Eliza Hamiltons school evolved into a scholarship fund that helps students from Washington Heights and Inwood attend Columbia University. Also a trained anthropologist, Hurston collected folklore throughout the South and Caribbean reclaiming, honoring and celebrating Black life on its own terms. He eventually became a prominent landowner, with tens of thousands of acres in the Albany area. In the winter of 1779-1780, Eliza met Alexander Hamilton, an upstart from the West Indies who had emigrated to America and risen to become General . She was rich, he was poor. In real-life Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton lived to. As wealthy socialites, both Schuyler sisters frequently attended officer's balls where they mingled with eligible young soldiers. The first blow was struck in March 1801, when Elizabeth lost her sister Peggy after a long illness. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Her father, Philip J. Schuyler, was a general in the Continental Army, politician, and businessman. After Eliza's husband died and she moved to Washington D.C. in 1842 . A lifelong reader who was largely self-educated, he soon set his sights far beyond his tiny island home. She is respected as an early philanthropist for her work with the Orphan Asylum Society. But the number of students quickly grew, that improvised setup wasnt adequate. Hamilton met Maria Reynolds in Philadelphia in 1791, when she visited the then-Secretary of the Treasury to request financial support for her struggling family. [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. When Eliza went away to her mother's funeral in 1803 Hamilton wrote to her from the Grange telling her: I am anxious to hear of your arrival at Albany and shall be glad to be informed that your father and all of you are composed. More. Get the latest on new films and digital content, learn about events in your area, and get your weekly fix of American history. Elizabeth Hamilton died on November 9, 1854, at the age of 97. [citation needed] There she met Alexander Hamilton, one of General George Washington's aides-de-camp,[1] who was stationed along with the General and his men in Morristown for the winter. The organization still exists today, as the children and families-supporting New York City non-profit Graham Windham. These figures indicate the enormously high death rate among young children. HBO Max Comedies Thatll Put You in a Good Mood, Everything to Know Ahead of 'Mando' Season 3. The real Eliza Schuyler died at the old age of 97, and outlived the musical's other characters. Eliza was a source of valuable advice and wisdom to Hamilton as his political career began to take off after the war. Before the duel, he wrote Eliza two letters, telling her: The consolations of Religion, my beloved, can alone support you; and these you have a right to enjoy. Then I found the musical Hamilton, and suddenly it was a marvel to see healthy sister relationships. 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? Her reaction to Hamilton's affair is, equally, lost to history, which Miranda imagines as deliberate in the lyrics to "Burn." Alexander and Elizabeth (he called her Eliza or Betsey) were married at the Schuyler home on December 14 of that same year, and Hamilton was warmly received into the family. Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. A chronicle of Rensselaerswijck, c. 16481656, For over three decades, NNI has helped cast light on America's Dutch roots. Attractive, if not beautiful. first directress in 1821. 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. But Monroe had made copies of Hamilton's letters to Maria, and sent them to his arch-rival, Thomas Jefferson. We don't get that often in fiction. Angelica lived abroad for over fourteen years, returning to America for visits in 1785 and 1789. Eliza was also able to collect Alexander's pension from his service in the army from congress in 1836 for money and land. Historian Jenny L. Presnell writes, "The entire Schuyler family revered Alexander as a young political genius." In 1806, Eliza co-founded the Orphan Asylum Society, to aid children who were orphaned as her husband had been. Only two years later Hamilton became involved in an affair with honor which led to his duel with Aaron Burr and his untimely death. Below, a primer on her real story. (Enter your ZIP code for information on American Experience events and screening in your area.). Elizabeth also appeared in the 1986 TV series, George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation. Elizabeth was appointed second directress. Maria's husband, James Reynolds, caught wind of the affair, and began shaking Hamilton down for money. In one letter Angelica told Elizabeth that she loved Hamilton "very much and, if you were as generous as the old Romans, you would lend him to me for a little while." As Mazzeo notes, Eliza was simply passionate about children's welfare, and where she saw problems she tried to find solutions.. Her oldest son Philip died in a duel, just as his father would three years later. During one such interlude, in the summer of 1791, Hamilton began an affair with Maria Reynoldsthat, when publicly revealed six years later, exposed Elizabeth to a humiliation augmented both by Hamilton's insistence on airing the adultery's most lurid details and a hostile press that asked, "Art thou a wife? The two families were two of the wealthiest families of that time and it is safe to say that Dutch was probably still their main language in everyday life. "[28], The Hamiltons had an active social life, often attending the theater as well as various balls and parties. Two years before the duel, Elizabeths mother, Catherine had died, and only a few months after Hamiltons death, her father also died. The following year, Jefferson supporter James Callender published a pamphlet accusing Hamilton of having skeletons in his own closet. No, Eliza as she was known, was not. History, Archaeology & Art illuminate a Life on the Hudson, New Amsterdam Kitchen Elizabeth Hamilton petitioned Congress to publish her husband Alexander Hamilton's writings (1846). She would spend much of her long widowhood working to secure Hamilton'splace in American history. In those roles, she raised funds, collected needed goods, and oversaw the care and education of over 700 children. And Eliza knew enough about his impoverished background to give cause for concern. Hamilton attended Kings College, now Columbia University, and dived headfirst into the political debate and heady atmosphere that was pre-war New York City. Artifacts of domestic life in lower Manhattan, De Hooges Memorandum Book 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. On September 25, 1784, Eliza gave birth to her second child, Angelica, named after Eliza's older sister. The two became extremely close. When Do New Episodes of 'Mandalorian' Come Out? [citation needed], By 1846, Eliza was suffering from short-term memory loss but was still vividly recalling her husband. A number of other familiar historical figures also feature, from Hamilton's friend-turned-nemesis Aaron Burr to his mentor George Washington to his political rival Thomas Jefferson. Alexander and Eliza married on December 14, 1780. Her two famous sisters were Angelica Schuyler Church and Margarita Schuyler Van Rensselaer. Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. 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). In June 1848, when Eliza was in her nineties, she made an effort for Congress to buy and publish her late husband's works. She also ensured that Hamiltons biography was published. Gabrielle Bruney is a writer and editor for Esquire, where she focuses on politics and culture. if ( 'querySelector' in document && 'addEventListener' in window ) { She re-organized all of Hamiltons letters, papers and writings with the help of her son, John Church Hamilton. ("The world has no right to my heart / the world has no place in our bed / they don't get to know what I said."). Hamiltons wife Eliza Schuyler was a key part of his life, but she was also an important historical character in her own right. Losses Spelling was taught from Websters Elementary Spelling Book, a popular text of the time. She met Alexander Hamilton in 1780, when both were in their early 20s. Almost none of Elizabeth's own correspondence has survived, so her personality is gleaned largely from the impressions of others. While in Philadelphia, around November 24, 1794, Eliza suffered a miscarriage[37] in the wake of her youngest child falling extremely ill as well as of her worries over Hamilton's absence during his armed suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion. During her decades as a widow, she founded New York's first private orphanage, socialized with some of the most famous figures in American history, and worked to ensure that her husband and his contributions would never be forgotten. [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. Whether Elizabeth received this as sisterly banter or something more serious is not known; one of her few surviving letters does say that marriage made her "the happiest of women. Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton was the wife of Alexander Hamilton, one of America's founding fathers. "[15], In early 1780, Elizabeth went to stay with her aunt, Gertrude Schuyler Cochran, in Morristown, New Jersey. Good-natured though somewhat serious, she was at ease in the outdoors and devout in her Christian faith. He found work at a local import-export firm, where he quickly impressed his bosses. . Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler (August 9, 1757-November 9, 1854) was Philip and Kitty Schuyler's second child, and like Angelica, grew up in the family home in Albany. Schuyler sisters Peggy, Eliza, and Angelica in. And yes,. A: At the time that I published my biography of Hamilton in 2004, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton was a complete blank in the American imagination. All of the scholars came from the locality between High Bridge and Kingsbridge, he recalled many years later. Angelica first appears in Hamilton during the song . Eliza was supportive of her husband throughout his career and aided him with his political writings. Meet the influential author and key figure of the Harlem Renaissance. History of the Republic would set the bar for future biographies of Alexander Hamilton that would grow as time went on. She also became a founder of the Orphan Asylum Society, the citys first private orphanage, which built a Greenwich Village facility that provided a home for hundreds of children. Catherine,. Because his mother had never divorced her first husband, Hamiltons father, James, abandoned the family, likely to prevent Rachel from being charged with bigamy. When he paid her a visit decades after the Reynolds scandal, she refused to speak with him. . WATCH: Hamilton: Building America on HISTORY Vault. Elizabeth was portrayed by Doris Kenyon in the 1931 film, Alexander Hamilton. [5][6][7], Her family was among the wealthy Dutch landowners who had settled around Albany in the mid-1600s, and both her mother and father came from wealthy and well-regarded families. Judging by Hamilton's correspondence at the time, the feeling was mutual. Ron Chernow said that her efforts to preserve Hamilton's memory were important to his 2005 biography of the founder, especially as, with Hamilton's Republican foes in power after his death, there wasn't much in the way of public efforts to record his life. In 1848, she left New York for Washington, D.C., where she lived with her widowed daughter Eliza until 1854. [28] Later, James Alexander Hamilton would write that Fanny "was educated and treated in all respects as [the Hamiltons'] own daughter. [citation needed] Also there had been some talk in at least one letter of a "secret wedding,"[1] by early April they were officially engaged with her father's blessing (something of an anomaly for the Schuyler girlsboth Angelica and Catherine would end up eloping). Biography and associated logos are trademarks of A+E Networksprotected in the US and other countries around the globe. Hamilton would reach the heights of government and power but be tripped up by his own arrogance, ambition and hubris. On Saturday, My Dear Eliza, your sister took leave of her sufferings and friends, I trust, to find repose and happiness in a better country. 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. By focusing on children, Eliza found connection to her late husbands legacy. Eliza Hamilton poured her energy into founding a free school and an orphanage in New York to help children in need. Introduced at the very start of the musical, in the song Alexander Hamilton, Elizais central to the plot, and adds an important female voice to a show about politics and Americas Founding Fathers. When did Eliza Schuyler Hamilton have her second child? She also met and became friends with Martha Washington, a friendship they would maintain throughout their husbands political careers. Ron Chernow, who wrote the biography that inspired Miranda's musical, credits . [27][28], For other people named Elizabeth Hamilton, see, Last edited on 25 February 2023, at 21:19, Margarita "Peggy" Schuyler Van Rensselaer, Learn how and when to remove this template message, George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation, "Hamilton, Elizabeth Schuyler (09 August 175709 November 1854), statesman's wife and charity worker", "Women of the Republican Court: Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton (17571854)", "Mrs. Philip John Schuyler (Catherine van Rensselaer)", "Schuyler-Malcolm-Cochran Family Papers: Manuscripts and Special Collections: New York State Library", "Dutch Reformed Church In Albany, New York", "Guide to the Records of Graham Windham 18042011", "To Alexander Hamilton from James McHenry, 3 January 1791", "Letter from Henry Knox to Alexander Hamilton, 24 November 1794", "Letter from Alexander Hamilton to George Washington, 1 December 1794", "Letter from Alexander Hamilton to Angelica Schuyler Church, 6 March 1795", "To Alexander Hamilton from John B.