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Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757 – July 12, 1804) was an American politician, statesman, journalist, lawyer, and soldier. One of the United States' most prominent and brilliant early constitutional lawyers, he was an influential delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention and the principal author of the Federalist Papers, which successfully defended the U.S. Constitution to skeptical New Yorkers. He also put the new United States of America onto a sound economic footing as its first and most influential Secretary of the Treasury, establishing the First Bank of the United States, public credit and the foundations for American capitalism and stock and commodity exchanges. Alexander Hamilton died in a duel with fellow politician Aaron Burr.
Alexander Hamilton is often regarded as the founding father who advocated the principles of a strong centralized federal government that would become the hallmark of the early Republic. This was due to his support of strong national defense, strong business institutions, laissez-faire capitalism, and a commitment to economic growth. His Federalist Party was Hamilton's means of achieving Federalist principles including his support for a broad interpretation of the United States Constitution and a strong federal government. He outlined these principles in his most notable work the Federalist Papers.
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