Early Life

Eliza- Schuyler- Hamilton was born on August 9th, 1757, in Albany New York.  Eliza was the second oldest of many siblings (seven to be exact.) She grew up alongside her sisters Angelica and Peggy Schuyler. Since Eliza´s father was a general at the time so Eliza and her siblings frequently had visiting officers and patriots within their home.  Eliza had a witty, yet practical personality, which she especially expressed when she first met with George Washington’s Colonel Hamilton. She was schooled at home, and had a typical coming of age for any other colonial, aristocratic family. Eliza´s family was one of the wealthiest and well-known families in New York at the time. She had a stable childhood that didn´'t carry many problems with it.  

Conflicts Faced While Growing Up

Eliza didn't really face many challenges growing up, however, she did face many rocky patches in the year of 1801. The year started off roughly when Eliza´s sister, Peggy, died of illness on March 14, 1801. Eliza´s year began to get even worse when her eldest son, Philip Hamilton, died by a fatal shot in a duel with George Eacker. Philip was only 19. To make matters even worse, Eliza´s beloved husband died only 3 years later.  Another thing that made Eliza´s adulthood difficult was the affair of 1791-1792. Alexander Hamilton had a not so secret affair with Maria Reynolds between the years of 1791-1792. The worst part is that at the time, Alexander Hamilton was 34 years old, whereas Maria Reynolds was only 23.

The affair happened because Maria Reynolds told Alexander Hamilton about how her husband was doing her wrong and Alexander had felt bad for her. The affair continued all through the summer of 1791 and the very beginning of 1792. Maria´'s husband (James Reynolds) was aware of the affair the entire time, in fact, Alexander Hamilton had to pay James Reynolds money so that he wouldn't tell Eliza. The affair basically ruined Alexander Hamilton's reputation, in the year of 1797, Alexander Hamilton publicly announced through letter that he had indeed had an affair with young Maria Reynolds.

After Eliza´s husband Alexander died during his duel with Aaron Burr, she was in a very rough patch of her life, she didn't know how to start the next chapter of her life. She didn't mourn for very long, she knew that she needed to continue her husband´s legacy of making the nation better for the people to come. Eliza established the first private orphanage in New York City in the year of 1806, only two years after her husband passed away! The orphanage is called Graham Windham Orphanage and is still around to this day, over two hundred years later. Graham Windham Orphanage still helps children in New York that are need of someplace safe, this shows how much Eliza truly cared about children (especially after her eldest son Philip died in a duel.)

How Eliza's Social Advocacy Started

Eliza´'s main accomplishments include the following. She escaped a marriage that was to an abusive man who was constantly drunk (her parents had betrothed her to him because they were low on money at the time.) She convinced her parents to let her marry George Washington’s colonel Hamilton. She had eight children with Alexander Hamilton. She didn't grieve for her husband, instead, she did what he didn't do. She improved the nation for future children. Finally, Eliza's biggest accomplishment was the establishment of Grahan Windham Orphanage in New York City.  

Eliza's Main Accomplishments