Burr, Aaron, 1756-1836
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Aaron Burr Jr. (February 6, 1756 – September 14, 1836) was an American politician and lawyer. A Founding Father, he served as the third vice president of the United States during President Thomas Jefferson's first term from 1801 to 1805. His role in helping form the nation, however, would be overshadowed when he killed fellow Founding Father Alexander Hamilton in an 1804 duel. The duel led to the collapse of Burr's political career and tarnished his legacy in American history.
Burr was born to a prominent family in New Jersey, where he attended the College of New Jersey, now Princeton University. Amid Burr's law studies, he served as a Continental Army officer in the American Revolutionary War from 1775 until his resignation in 1779. After leaving the military, Burr returned to his law career in New York City.
He was elected twice to the New York State Assembly (1784–1785 and 1798–1799), was appointed Attorney General of New York (1789–1791), was chosen as a U.S. senator (1791–1797) from the State of New York. Burr was Jefferson's vice-presidential candidate on the 1800 Jeffersonian Republican ticket. An electoral college tie between Jefferson and Burr resulted in the House of Representatives deciding in Jefferson's favor. Although he maintained that he supported Jefferson, the president was highly suspicious of Burr. Consequently, Burr was essentially sidelined by Jefferson. Burr fatally shot his political rival Hamilton in an 1804 duel, during the last full year of his single term as vice president. Though the duel was illegal, he was never tried, and all charges against him eventually were dropped. Nevertheless, Hamilton's death ended Burr's political career.
Burr left Washington, D.C., and traveled west, seeking new opportunities, both economic and political; further, he left behind the controversy surrounding him in more cosmopolitan parts of the country. His activities eventually led to his arrest on charges of treason in 1807. He was tried multiple times, but acquitted; nevertheless, the fallout left him with large debts and few influential friends. To avoid vigilante execution, and further charges by the state, he left the United States for Europe. He remained overseas until 1812 when he returned to the United States to practice law in New York City. He spent the remainder of his life there, dying in relative obscurity.
Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
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creatorOf | Aaron Burr (1756-1836) Collection, 1771-1958, 1782-1830 | Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special CollectionsManuscripts Division | |
creatorOf | Aaron Burr - Letters and documents, 1779-1817. | Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
creatorOf | Aaron Burr letter and receipt, 1789-1790 | Center for Brooklyn History (2020-) | |
creatorOf | Aaron Burr letters and documents, 1780-1950 | New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division | |
creatorOf | Aaron Burr letters and documents, 1780-1950. | New York State Historical Documents Inventory | |
referencedIn | Additional papers, 1849-1891. | Houghton Library | |
referencedIn | Address from the inhabitants of New Orleans to his excellence Gen. James Wilkinson, 1807 Mar. 20. | Louisiana State University, LSU Libraries | |
referencedIn | Affidavits from the records of the U.S. Court, Southern District of Ohio [microform] 1807. | University of Virginia. Library | |
creatorOf | Akeley, Carl Ethan, 1864-1926. Autograph collection of Raymond Gorges [manuscript], 1725-1928. | University of Virginia. Library | |
referencedIn | Albert J. Pickett papers, 1779-1904 | Alabama Department of Archives and History |
Filters:
Relation | Name |
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associatedWith | Adams, John, 1735-1826. |
associatedWith | Adet, Pierre Auguste. |
associatedWith | Agassiz, Louis, 1807-1873 |
associatedWith | Alden, Roger, 1754-1836 |
associatedWith | Alderson, J. |
associatedWith | Allen, Ira, 1751-1814. |
associatedWith | Alston, Joseph, 1778-1816. |
parentOf | Alston, Theodosia Burr, 1783-1813. |
associatedWith | Alvarez de Toledo, José, 1779-1858. |
associatedWith | Anonymous, fl. 1804. |
Person
Birth 1756-02-06
Death 1836-09-14
Male
Americans
French,
Spanish; Castilian,
English
Variant Names
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Burr, Aaron, 1756-1836
Burr, Aaron, 1756-1836 | Title |
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