The character of aaron burr in founding brothers from. Hamilton into far too heroic a figure and in many ways demonized aaron burr. Before that, he gained a national reputation as a brilliant attorney. Jefferson wanted to make sure burr would never be president. Aaron burr killed one of the nations most important founders, lost several key elections and is now often relegated to being a historical footnote. The secret wife of aaron burr by susan holloway scott. This definitive biography of the revolutionary era villain overturns every myth and image we have of himthe narrative of americas founding is filled with godlike geniusesfranklin, washington, adams, jeffersonversus the villainous aaron burr. No one seems to be concerned that the 2nd in command of the burr mission was andrew jackson. Born on february 6, 1756, in newark, new jersey, aaron burr was elected to the u.
Burr, aaron, 17561836, europe description and travel publisher rochester, n. In 1804, while serving as vice president, aaron burr fought a duel with his political nemesis, alexander hamilton, and killed him. Inspired by a woman and events forgotten by history, bestselling author susan holloway scott weaves together carefully researched fact and fiction to tell the story of mary emmons, and the place she held in the lifeand the heartof the notorious aaron burr. The other was aaron burr 17561836, a man best known for killing former treasury secretary alexander hamilton in a duel. In alexanders version of the story, when van pelt asked burr, on his deathbed, if he had good hope the lord would graciously pardon his sins burr replied, on that. In 1807, he was charged with conspiracy, which ruined his political career. Aaron burr, along with benedict arnold, were americas original bad boys. A historical fiction book about burr s secret wife, by susan holloway scott, is due for release next. The aaron burr association association objectives from our constitution in 1946. A brilliant law student, burr interrupted his study to serve in the american revolution and proved himself a valiant soldier in early campaigns. Aaron burr remains one of the most darkly compelling figures in early united states history.
Thomas jefferson is a fey, especially dark and pedantic hypocrite who schemed and bribed witnesses in support of a false charge of treason against burr, to whom he almost lost the presidency in the election of 1800. Discover librarianselected research resources on aaron burr from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals, magazines. Aaron burr, cofounder of college of new jersey, now princeton university, and ester edwards burr, daughter of new england preacher jonathan edwards. The aaron burr whom we meet through isenbergs eyeopening biography is a feminist, an enlightenment figure on par with jefferson, a patriot, andmost importantlya man. The aaron burr whom we meet through isenbergs eyeopening biography is a feminist, an enlightenment figure on par with jefferson, a patriot, andmost importantlya man with powerful enemies in an age of vitriolic political fighting. Burr 1973 portrays the eponymous antihero as a fascinating and honorable gentleman, and portrays his contemporary opponents as mortal men. The secret wife of aaron burr historical novel society. Her life starts in her native india, as the outcast daughter of rape by an english soldier, and. List of books and articles about aaron burr online.
He was the third vice president of the united states 18011805, serving during president thomas jeffersons first term burr. List of books and articles about aaron burr online research. The secret wife of aaron burr susan holloway scott. Burr was critical of washington and jefferson and wasnt afraid to stand up for the division of power in government. Both arnold and burr went down in history as men accused of treason, and in time each died as a man without a country. Best known as the man who killed alexander hamilton in a duel at weehawken, new jersey, burr served as a u. Image 8 of the aaron burr conspiracy in the ohio valley. The founder of modern political campaigning, killer of alexander hamilton in a duel, and father of a conspiracy to create an. The founder of modern political campaigning, killer of alexander hamilton in a duel, and father of a conspiracy to create an independent nation in the heart of the us. Most schoolchildren can tell you that aaron burr killed alexander hamilton in a duel. Burr is the first book of the sevennovel series, narratives of empire, with which gore vidal.
The murder of jim fisk for the love of josie mansfield, 2012, etc. Contributor names henshaw, lesley, 1888 from old catalog. The friction between the two men escalated to the point that burr invited hamilton to a fatal duel in which hamilton was killed. Though he was a hero of the revolutionary war, a prominent new york politician, and vice president of the united states, aaron burr is today best remembered. But burr was also involved in a number of other controversial episodes, including one of the most disputed elections in american history and a peculiar expedition to the western territories that resulted in burr. Henry clays defense of aaron burr from a politically motivated u. The secret wife of aaron burr kindle edition by scott. Attorney marked the start of his national political career, and the end of burr s. Aaron burr, james wilkinson and the southwest conspiracy. When aaron burr resigned the vice presidency a few days before his term expired march 4, 1805, he faced murder charges in two states for killing alexander hamilton in a duel. To keep alive the memory of colonel aaron burr as a student, a soldier, a lawyer, a politician, a patron of the arts, an educator, a banker, and as a husband and father and to secure for him the honor and respect which are due him as one of the leading figures.
Vidals novel goes a long way in humanizing burr, but does not necessarily minimize his notoriety. In 1833, burr is newly married, an aging statesman considered a monster by many. The trial of aaron burr for high treason, in the circuit court of the united states for the district of virginia, summer term, 1807. Burr 1973, by gore vidal, is a historical novel that challenges the traditional foundingfathers iconography of united states history, by means of a narrative that includes a fictional memoir, by aaron burr, in representing the. Treasury, on july 11, 1804, that resulted in the death of hamilton the following day. Vice president aaron burr and alexander hamilton, former secretary of the u. Brands goes beyond what is commonly known about burr to show his more admirable side, which lay in. In 1807, he was arrested, tried, and acquitted of treason.
During a duel in 1804, burr killed alexander hamilton. Sherri burr is working on a book, aaron burr s family of color. Published in 1892, the life and times of aaron burr was likely one of the books consumed by vidal in his preparations for his novel, as his burr sounds very much like the one described by the. He had an antagonistic relationship with alexander hamilton, whom he blamed for his loss in the new york gubernatorial election. Theres times youre surprised at the thoughts a book prompts. Henry clay and aaron burrs mysterious western adventure. The private journal of aaron burr internet archive. Unfortunately despite numerous footnotes, this book is poorly documented. In the first popular book to focus on one of the most. Aaron burr, vicepresident who killed hamilton, had. Sex and violence ruined aaron burrs name unfairly, according to this life of jeffersons no. Aaron burr was vilified by thomas jefferson but this book tells us the story of the american revolution and early politics all the way to martin van burens presidency. Mary emmons, the longtime family slave then freed mistress of aaron burr. Susan holloway scott, bestselling historical fiction author.
Like hamilton, he had been orphanedboth of burr s parents died before his. Aaron burr is mostly remembered for a single violent act, the fatal shooting of alexander hamilton in their famous duel in new jersey on july 11, 1804. Scott i, eliza hamilton, has taken on a difficult task here in imaginatively illuminating the life of a woman hidden in history. Aaron burr was a politician from new jersey who served as thomas jefferson s vice president for one term. Burr s lineage meant he was destined for the top of society. That aaron burr shot and mortally wounded alexander hamilton in a duel of honor on july 11, 1804, is a wellknown fact. Rather, vidals novel reflects a plausible portrait of the only vicepresident to literally get away with murder.