Aaron Burr May 2026

Aaron Burr Jr. (1756–1836) was a central yet divisive figure in early American history, serving as the third Vice President of the United States. Primarily remembered for killing Alexander Hamilton in an 1804 duel and his later trial for treason, he was also a distinguished Revolutionary War officer and an innovative political strategist who helped build the Democratic-Republican Party . His life was marked by extreme highs of political power and deep troughs of personal and professional ruin. Early Life and Revolutionary Service

Burr halted his legal studies in 1775 to join the Continental Army. He distinguished himself through several key actions: aaron burr

: Burr briefly served on Washington’s staff but left after only a few weeks due to a mutual dislike that would persist throughout their careers. Aaron Burr Jr

After the war, Burr built a flourishing law practice in New York City and entered politics. He served as New York’s Attorney General and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1791, defeating Philip Schuyler, the father-in-law of Alexander Hamilton. His life was marked by extreme highs of

Burr's political zenith came during the presidential election of 1800 . He successfully organized the Tammany Society into a political machine to win New York for the Democratic-Republicans. This led to an Electoral College tie between him and his running mate, Thomas Jefferson. After 36 ballots in the House of Representatives, Jefferson was elected president and Burr vice president, largely due to Hamilton’s influence in preventing a Burr victory. The Hamilton Duel (1804) Aaron Burr | American Battlefield Trust