Peter Lytton’s many failed business attempts drove him to commit suicide, leaving no provision for the boys. Their house was inherited by Rachel’s only legitimate son, Peter, and the boys went to live with their cousin, Peter Lytton, son of Rachel’s sister, Ann. In a life already fraught with drama, the small family’s life took another unfortunate turn for the worse when Rachel and Alexander were both struck with an unidentified illness, killing Rachel less than two years after they were abandoned by James. His mother taught him French which made him a comfortable bilingual and extremely useful to George Washington during the Revolutionary War. She supplemented her income by renting out slaves inherited at her mother’s death.Īlexander was an avid reader growing up and especially loved poetry. Rachel opened a small shop to support her family and kept a goat. James left his family when Alexander and James, Jr. James Hamilton was the son of Scottish Laird and status-conscious Alexander played up his noble relations whenever his illegitimacy was attacked. Rachel Faucette Lavien had Alexander and his brother James out of wedlock with James Hamilton.

Young Alexander Hamilton, public domain imageĪ nasty divorce between Alexander’s mother and her husband Johann Lavien left her unable to legally marry again. This is the world Alexander Hamilton grew up in. Ron Chernow, renowned historian writes, “Plantation society was a feudal order predicated on personal honor and dignity, making duels popular among those who fancied themselves noblemen.” Slavery was so prevalent, that everyone, even poor people, had numerous slaves that were either kept home for work or rented out to make a little money on the side. This class- and status-obsessed culture made an enormous impact on Alexander. There was a drastic difference between upper and lower class and emphasis on good reputation and honor. Its distance from the main countries made it the ideal dumping ground for those not bad enough to be hanged and yet not good enough to reside with civilized people which meant that the island where Alexander spent his childhood was populated by thieves, petty criminals, slave-owners and overseers, prostitutes, merchants with shady business morals, and the like. Together this small collection of islands generated more wealth for Britain than the North American colonies combined. The West Indies, owned by the British at this time, were best known for their prized sugar crops. Public domain painting from the Library of Congress.

| Selection of Island of Nevis, birthplace of Alexander Hamilton. Drama and scandal marked the circumstances of his birth and plagued him until long after his death. Alexander Hamilton was born on the island Nevis, part of the British West Indies, to Rachel Faucette Lavien and James Hamilton. To understand the complicated life of Alexander Hamilton, understanding the culture of his time is necessary. Weaver – US State Department, Public Domain

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