More than the wife of a Founding Father, she made a home for orphans and preserved important parts of the birth story of America after her husband’s famous death. 

In 1857, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton was one of fourteen children born to Philip and Catherine Schuyler (though only seven children survived to adulthood). Her father was a general in the Continental Army, as well as a businessman and politician, and her mother was a socialite. Third generation Dutch descendents, the Schuyler family was one of the wealthiest of that time.

Not much is known about Eliza (also called Betsy) before her relationship with future husband, Alexander Hamilton. The pair met while Eliza stayed with her aunt in Morristown, New Jersey, in early 1780. Martha Washington and Eliza began a friendship during that time which would last their entire lives. Alexander served as General George Washington’s aide-de-camp, which led her father to approve of the pair and they were married on December 14 of the same year. Not many of her letters survive but she wrote in one that her marriage made her “the happiest of women. My dear Hamilton is fonder of me every day.”

Two years later, Eliza gave birth to Philip, the first of eight children she would have over the course of 20 years. In addition to raising their own children, the couple took in a friend’s orphan. Her religious upbringing was important to Eliza and she made sure to teach it to her children. She ran the home lovingly and efficiently. It is also believed that she helped her husband write some of his speeches. It seemed they had the perfect partnership. 

Yet we know it was not always the case. Anyone who has seen the musical Hamiliton or read about the Founding Father knows that he was notoriously unfaithful to her. A scandalous affair with Maria Reynolds, which resulted in extortion from Maria’s husband, became public when Alexander admitted to the improper behavior in order to save his political reputation. Eliza chose to stay with her husband, though her response to the affair is unknown.

More hardships piled on for Eliza. Her sister Peggy died after an extended illness, as did her mother. Her firstborn Philip became involved in a duel and was killed. Then, most famously, her beloved Alexander accepted a duel against political rival Aaron Burr and died as a result in 1804. She became a widow at age 47.

After her husband’s death, she discovered the financial problems he had left for her to sort out, having spread their credit too thin. Her home, “The Grange,” was repossessed. Then her father died. With the inheritance Philip Schuyler provided his daughter, Eliza repurchased the Hamilton family home where she would remain until 1833. Her resourcefulness brought them through these personal adversities. Her son James later described his mother as a skilled housewife who expertly made food and undergarments for her family, “a great economist and most excellent manager.” 

The best was yet to come from Eliza, though. She would end up surviving her husband by 50 years. She became involved in charity work, co-founding New York’s first private orphanage two years after her husband’s death. She continued to be involved with the home for 42 years. 

Another key contribution Eliza made to history was to preserve Alexander’s writings. Getting his biography written was a further way she preserved his contribution to the birth of America, personally interviewing those who served alongside him in the war. She defended his legacy against those who took credit for his part in key events, including Alexander’s writing of Washington’s farewell address.

Still active into her 90s, Eliza raised funds with Dolley Madison for the building of the Washington Monument. She also continued to be active in Washington society; in 1848, she was truly the last living link to the Revolutionary era. Many books have snippets of her story. I enjoyed My Dear Hamilton, a historical fiction novel. She is also included in the wonderful Founding Mothers and the massive Alexander Hamilton. These books and others may be purchased here. This is an affiliate link; thank you for supporting my work.