Over time Eliza and Alexander reconciled and remained married, and had two more children together. Born Elizabeth Schuyler, and later known as Eliza Hamilton, Alexander's wife was the co-founder and deputy director of the first private orphanage in New York City. // cutting the mustard It is said that after returning home from meeting her, Hamilton was so excited he forgot the password to enter army headquarters. Here's what happened to Angelica in real life, and how she ended up back together with Hamilton under sad circumstances. Ron Chernow, who wrote the biography that inspired Miranda's musical, credits . After Vice President Aaron Burr killed Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton in a duel in 1804, Hamilton's widow, Elizabeth Schuyler "Eliza" Hamilton, had to find a way to go on without her. Chernow, Ron, Alexander Hamilton, Penguin Press, 2004, Randall, William Sterne, Alexander Hamilton: A Life, Harpers-Collins, 2003, Roberts, Warren, A Place in History: Albany in the Age of Revolution, 1775-1825, Albany: NY State University Press, 2010, Wikipedia, especially for main picture (portrait by Ralph Earl), Peter Douglas's Totidem Verbis [40], In 1797, an affair came to light that had taken place several years earlier between Hamilton and Maria Reynolds, a young woman who had first approached him for monetary aid in the summer of 1791. [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. Eliza evidently did not believe the charges when they were first leveled against her husband: John Church, her brother-in-law, on July 13, 1797, wrote to Hamilton that "it makes not the least Impression on her, only that she considers the whole Knot of those opposed to you to be [Scoundrels]. The first blow was struck in March 1801, when Elizabeth lost her sister Peggy after a long illness. So of the original 14 siblings only five survived. She survived a miscarriage, her daughter's mental health issues, and, within four years, the deaths of her son, husband, sister, mother, and father. Life in New York City was obviously more exciting than in Morristown, New Jersey or Albany, New York. Elizabeth did not believe the rumors at first, but eventually Hamilton lived up to it. In 1848, she left New York for Washington, D.C., where she lived with her widowed daughter Eliza until 1854. [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. His mother, Rachel Faucette, had been born there to British and French Huguenot parents. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. Unlike two of Elizas sisters (including Angelica) who had eloped due to family doubts about their husbands, Eliza received her fathers blessing. Just a teenager, he made a name for himself writing pamphlets and articles supporting the Revolutionary cause. The affair was supposedly encouraged by Marias husband James Reynolds who then asked Hamilton for hush money to keep the affair out of public knowledge, which he paid. All Rights Reserved. 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. According to Presnell, the years following Alexander's death were marked by poverty for Eliza and her children, though she did raise enough money to re-purchase the couple's home, the Grange. Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton - New Netherland Institute Hamilton depicts the Reynolds Affair, one of the country's earliest sex scandals. [19] Soon, however, Washington and Hamilton had a falling-out, and the newlywed couple moved, first back to Eliza's father's house in Albany, then to a new home across the river from the New Windsor headquarters. Active Widowhood She was educated and described as intelligent, attractive, and was frequently compared to her demure sister, Eliza Schuyler Hamilton, as being more sociable. [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. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. [4] In 1797, Hamilton had an affair with Maria Reynolds. Lin-Manuel Miranda and Phillipa Soo as Alexander and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton. [citation needed]. Dutch people, places, miscellany, Timeline of the Netherlands & Scandinavia in North America When he paid her a visit decades after the Reynolds scandal, she refused to speak with him. Reynolds spilled the beans about the affair, but also said that Hamilton had been involved in his pension scheme. But Eliza, understandably, is devastated, and responds by burning all the letters that Hamilton has ever sent her. He published the pamphlet in order to refute the charges that he had been involved in public misconduct with Marias husband James Reynolds, and to avoid accusations of embezzlement. She had to sell her 35 acre estate in upper Manhattan. Q: Can you introduce us to Elizabeth Schuyler 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."). Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton - Quiet Heroines In June 1848, when Eliza was in her nineties, she made an effort for Congress to buy and publish her late husband's works. True Story of Eliza Schuyler Hamilton's Life and Death - Esquire Her father, Philip J. Schuyler, was a general in the Continental Army, politician, and businessman. 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. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Gift of Henry G. Marquand, 1881. Elizabeth Schuyler was born in 1757, just a year after her older sister. 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. 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. 2021 Associated Newspapers Limited. After the war he was active in both local and national politics, even serving as a U.S. senator from New York from 1789 to 1791 losing his seat to none other than Aaron Burr (who would eventually kill his future son-in-law Alexander in a duel). Artifacts of domestic life in lower Manhattan, De Hooges Memorandum Book 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. Eliza soon joined him at New Windsor, where Washington's army was now stationed, and she rekindled her friendship with Martha Washington as they entertained their husbands' fellow officers. Judging by Hamilton's correspondence at the time, the feeling was mutual. Only two years later Hamilton became involved in an affair with honor which led to his duel with Aaron Burr and his untimely death. 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. [17] Also while in Morristown, Eliza met and became friends with Martha Washington, a friendship they would maintain throughout their husbands' political careers. document.documentElement.className += 'js'; They had met briefly a few years before, but now Alexander Hamilton was smitten, "a gone man," in the words of another aide. For the rest of her life, she experienced what Hamilton biographer Ron Chernow describes as an "eternal childhood," unable to live independently and referring always to her dead brother as if he. [8] Like many landowners of the time, Philip Schuyler owned slaves, and Eliza would have grown up around slavery. Here's what you need to know about the real-life founding mother. Elizabeth gave birth to their first child, Philip,in 1782, and seven more would follow over the next two decades; the Hamiltons also raised the orphaned daughter of a friend for 10 years. In the first year, the society took in 20 children but had to turn away nine times as many, according to Mazzeo. [22] Meanwhile, the war came close to home, when a group of British soldiers stumbled upon the Pastures, looking for supplies. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Schuyler Sistersreal historical figuresshow us that those bonds can exist and are possible. [38] Hamilton resigned from public office immediately afterwards[39] in order to resume his law practice in New York and remain closer to his family. 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. [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). Largely educated at home, she was bright and good-natured. [54] With Eliza's help John C. Hamilton would go on to publish History of the Republic of the United States America, as Traced in the Writings of Alexander Hamilton and his Contemporaries. She re-organized all of Hamiltons letters, papers and writings with the help of her son, John Church Hamilton. These figures indicate the enormously high death rate among young children. Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler Hamilton was born in Albany, New York, on August 9, 1757. The Van Rensselaers of the Manor of Rensselaerswyck were one of the richest and most politically influential families in the state of New York. Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life She met Alexander Hamilton in 1780, when both were in their early 20s. Elizabeth Hamilton died on November 9, 1854, at the age of 97. Attractive, if not beautiful. Elizabeth Hamilton (ne Schuyler /skalr/; August 9, 1757 November 9, 1854[2]), also called Eliza or Betsey, was an American socialite and philanthropist. Eliza Schuyler: What happened to Alexander Hamilton's wife Elizabeth She also outlived her fifth child, her son William Stephen who was born on August 4, 1797 and died on October 9, 1850. He found work at a local import-export firm, where he quickly impressed his bosses. Legislators approved the application and the school received some annual city funding. Eliza was, at the time, pregnant with their sixth child. Andr had once been a house guest in the Schuyler Mansion in Albany as a prisoner of war en route to Pennsylvania in 1775; Eliza, then seventeen, might have had a juvenile crush on the young British officer who had once sketched for her. Still eager to find glory in battle, he turned them all down. With my last idea; I shall cherish the sweet hope of meeting you in a better world. "[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. 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." Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton: Alexander Hamilton's Beloved Wife Hamilton insisted upon his innocence, and the matter was kept private for years. Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton was the wife of Alexander Hamilton, one of America's founding fathers. History, Archaeology & Art illuminate a Life on the Hudson, New Amsterdam Kitchen [3] She is recognized as an early American philanthropist for her work with the Orphan Asylum Society. (Enter your ZIP code for information on American Experience events and screening in your area.). Later she was able to buy it back because executors decided that she could not be publicly dispossessed of her home. [52] In 1821, she was named first directress, and served for 27 years in this role, until she left New York in 1848. Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton True Story | What To Know About Eliza Schuyler It also operates a school for at-risk youth. [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. A noted beauty, she was a bright star on the social scene of Albany before and after her marriage. All Rights Reserved. A 1781 painting of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton by Ralph Earl. Embrace all my darling Children for me. 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 . Their last child, born the next June in 1802, was named Philip in his honor. As a child, she was strong-willed and impulsive. [8] The relationship between Eliza and Hamilton quickly grew; even after he left Morristown for a short mission to negotiate a prisoners exchange, only a month after Eliza had arrived. Hamilton was surely aware of Elizas wealth and connections, which likely played a role in his initial attraction to her. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. Fly to the bosom of your God and be comforted. Eliza died on November 9, 1854, at the age of 97. In 1796, Hamilton took aim at Jefferson in an essay that hinted at the sexual relationship Jefferson had with his slave, Sally Hemmings. Where Did the 'Perfect Match' Couples End Up? After Hamilton became treasury secretary in 1789 her social duties increased. To clear his name in the more serious financial allegations, Hamilton released the Reynolds Pamphlet, in which he admitted to the affair but denied any criminal misdeeds. He served several stints in the Continental Congress and was involved in planning a number of notable Revolutionary War battles, including the surprising Colonial victory at Saratoga in 1777, the first widespread British defeat and a turning point of the war. History of the Republic would set the bar for future biographies of Alexander Hamilton that would grow as time went on. Emma Dibdin is a freelance writer based in Los Angeles who writes about culture, mental health, and true crime. [52] Eliza's philanthropic work in helping create the Orphan Asylum Society has led to her induction into the philanthropy section of the National Museum of American History, showcasing the early generosity of Americans that reformed the nation. 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. "[41] After returning home to Eliza on July 22[42] and assembling a first draft dated July 1797,[43] on August 25, 1797, Hamilton published a pamphlet, later known as the Reynolds Pamphlet, admitting to his one-year adulterous affair in order to refute the charges that he had been involved in speculation and public misconduct with Maria's husband James Reynolds.[44]. [9] Despite the unrest of the French and Indian War, which her father served in and which was fought in part near her childhood home, Eliza's childhood was spent comfortably, learning to read and sew from her mother. 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).