On this day, July 11, in 1804, a duel occurred in which the vice president of the United States, Aaron Burr, mortally wounds former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel after it was revealed that the Founding Father had spoken poorly of Burr at a dinner party.
Hamilton wanted to avoid the duel, but politics left him no choice.
On the dueling grounds at Weehawken, N.J., each fired a shot. Hamilton’s shot missed, but Burr’s shot was fatal.
The bullet entered Hamilton’s abdomen, piercing his liver and spine. He died the next day.
Burr was charged with murder, but the charges were eventually dropped.
Scott McCabe
