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My Friend Hamilton -Who I shot. "My Friend Hamilton?Whom I Shot" A
Historiographical Discussion of the Duel Between Aaron Burr and ...
... Afterwards, Burr took to referring to "my friend Hamilton, whom I shot." At any
rate, Burr was vilified nationally for his deed, and Hamilton was less-than ...
... There are several evidence that I base my conclusions on ... the tree as the doctor
mentioned, letters Hamilton write to his wife and his fellow friend a doctor ...
... of February 1756 when my good friend Aaron Burr ... My family lived next door to the
Burr residence ... Hamilton's shot missed Aaron, hitting a tree branch above his ...
... by a letter written to his friend Edward Stevens ... though not my character, to exalt
my station." During ... At forty-nine, Hamilton was shot, fell mortally wounded ...
Submitted by countvoncount on April 25, 2005
Category: English
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"My Friend Hamilton—Whom I Shot"
A Historiographical Discussion of the Duel Between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton
Steven C. Smith
Phi Alpha Theta
Ohio Regional Conference
Ohio Northern University
3 April 2004
The duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton holds a significant relevance in
American history and should be examined within the context of early American culture and
politics. The recent historiography of the incident provides us with a complex, evolving web of
conflicting interpretations. Since the day of this tragic duel, contemporaries and historians have
puzzled over why these two prominent American statesmen confronted each other on the Plains
of Weehawken. What circumstances or events could have motivated two of the most brilliant
political minds in America to endanger their lives and reputations by taking aim at each other on
that dismal day?
The recent historiography of the event can be divided into two schools which I shall
denote as the "contextual" school and the "psycho-historical" school. These differing "schools"
demonstrate the complexity of history and the extent to which a variety of factors, including bias
and changing frames of reference can influence interpretive study and conclusions. It is the
object of this discussion, therefore, to examine the heretofore mentioned interpretations, and to
critically analyze the differing ideas concerning the Burr-Hamilton duel.
The most succinct version of the event, as told by Joseph J. Ellis reads
On the morning of July 11, 1804, Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton were rowed across the
Hudson River in separate boats to a secluded spot near Weehawken, New Jersey. There, in
accord with the customs of the code duello, they exchanged pistol shots at ten paces. Hamilton
was struck on his right side...
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