Eulogies

Dearly beloved, we gather here today to celebrate the life of Mr. Alexander Hamilton. To celebrate the way he lived his life, and how he died; fighting for what he believed in. He fought in our Revolution to forward what he thought was right, and then moved into our political system for the same reason. He was always trying to better our society, and even though he was not a born Englishman or American, he was and always will be one of us in our hearts. We can only hope he has found the freedom and happiness that he always wished for our nation in heaven, and we pray that God in his infinite wisdom will forgive him in any ways that he has sinned and let him into his paradise. I now welcome to the stand Mrs. Hamilton, as she would like to speak on the life of her husband.

• 

  Eliza Hamilton

“Thank you all for coming. I know my late husband would have appreciated all of you being here. I would like to speak for a short while about what my husband accomplished, and while you may know of some of the things he did, I’m almost certain you don’t know everything. And I am here to remedy that, to explain that my dear husband—no matter if you agreed with him or not, fought with or against him, liked him or hated him—was a hard working and honest man through and through. Alexander did not speak of where he was born often, nor did he speak of his early childhood. All I know for sure is that his mother died when he was quite young, and given his father had left his mother two years prior, he was left to fend for himself and his younger brother.

“Through years of turmoil and work though, he was able to gather enough money to come to America, in hopes of a new life. He enrolled in college, just soon enough to be swept into the revolution by his own will. He wrote endlessly for the revolutionary cause, fighting with his pen against the greater enemy of ignorance. He was enrolled in the continental army shortly after Washington became General, and shortly after that he became one of Washington’s aide-de-camps. That’s when I met him.”

[she looks thoughtful for a moment, smiles] “He was… full of life. We met while I was visiting my aunt and uncle in Morristown, and almost instantly I fell for him. He moved with such confidence, like nothing could hold him down. He was ragged from fighting of course, and I’m sure the dark circles under his eyes were from several all-nighters writing…” [she chuckles] “but he looked so intelligent. After talking for far too long I’m sure, we decided we would continue conversing through letters. My sister Angelica tells me I never looked so excited to receive a letter. I would send my response as soon as I got his letter, and I know he was doing the same for how quickly he responded. We were engaged in April of the same year we met, and we got formally married at the end of that year in New York. Shortly after marriage we had our first child, and we named him Philip after my father. The war ended, and I was looking forward to spending more time with him, but he just kept writing and working. He went into law with one of his war associates… a Mr. Aaron Burr. A lot of things happened between us after the war…” [she pauses and frowns] “But in the end…” [she looks up] “Alexander, I forgive you for everything. In the end I know you loved me, and that’s all that matters. I know that he did a lot of important things in shaping this nation that I’ve either glossed over or left out in this speech. But to me he was my husband, and he; no matter his flaws; was a good man.” [she wipes her tears] “Thank you all for coming. It means a lot more than you could know.”

"One last thing. My husband cared deeply for his writings, as he felt that it was one of the most influential ways he could truly effect the world around him. Seeing that, I thought it would honor his memory to have a certain selection of his writings on display here. If you have a short amount of time to spare, please, look over some of my husband's writings. It would mean the world to him and myself."

"Here is some of his work on the Fedaralist Papers with Mr. Madison and Mr. Jay," "and some of his writings as Treasury Secretary," "and lastly some of his earlier work, from before the Revolution, addressed towards Mr. Seabury."

• 

  Hercules Mulligan

“I knew Alexander before many of you. I met him when he was in college and he stayed with my family for a short while. We bonded over time, speaking of the upcoming conflict, what we both believed was right for America, and so on. I eventually had the honor to fight side by side with him in the Revolutionary War; he was an outstanding soldier. I remember the first time we fought in a real battle… it seems like only yesterday we were young men who believed wholeheartedly that we were making history. Although I suppose he did make history in some ways. I hear that after the war Washington made him his Treasury Secretary, and he was able to supervise the beginnings of the first bank in America. However, all I would be able to say to him now if I could, is that he was a good friend and soldier, and I’m sure if Washington were still with us he would be proud of what you’ve accomplished.”

• 

  James Madison

“Many of you don’t know me very well, if at all. My name is James Madison, and Hamilton was a good friend of mine many years ago. Although it almost feels like a different lifetime when we were not political enemies, I do in fact speak the truth when I say we were once friends. Although I hate to admit it, he does not get enough credit for everything that he’s done. He helped rewrite the rules so that our country as it is now could exist. As Mr. Mulligan touched on, he helped establish the First Bank of America, among many other important and admirable accomplishments. To be honest though, in his political career he was quite the nuisance for Jefferson and I. However, I should not be brash, he was standing up for what he thought was right, and I can fully respect that. For what it’s worth, I hope he rests in peace.”