Journal 7

One of the most famous conflicts in American history, the Burr-Hamilton duel arose from a long-standing political and personal rivalry that had developed between both men over a course of several years. Tensions reached a bursting point with Hamilton's journalistic defamation of Burr's character during the 1804 New York gubernatorial race in which Burr was a candidate. The duel was on July 11, 1804 at the Heights of Weehawken in New Jersey. Alexander Hamilton was Secretary of Treasury and Burr was the sitting Vice President. Burr shot and mortally wounded Hamilton. Hamilton was carried to the home of William Bayard on the Manhattan shore, where he died at 2 p.m. the next day.