1756 - 1836 |
1751 - 1829 |
1761 - 1849 |
1767 - 1822 |
1743 - 1826 |
1751 - 1836 |
1758 - 1831 |
1750 - 1828 |
Aaron BurrFebruary 6, 1756 - September 14, 1836 |
| 1756
Aaron Burr born in Newark in the colony of New Jersey. Both of Burr's parents die before he is 3 years old and he is raised by Timothy Edwards, a maternal uncle.He will enter the College of New Jersey, a university that his father had helped to establish and which later becomes Princeton University. 1772 Burr graduates with honors and begins a private study of Theology. 1774 Burr changes his career to law. 1775 Burr joins the Continental Army in Boston. 1776 Burr serves as a Captain on the staff of Benedict Arnold at Quebec. He is cited for valor, promoted to Major and assigned to George Washington's secretarial staff. By June 22 a conflict has developed between Burr and Washington and he is reassigned to the staff of Isreal Putnam, Washington's second in Command in New York City. Twice Burr is cited for directing the rescue of troops trapped in Brooklyn Heights and in the city. 1776 Burr meets James Wilkinson while serving with the army in its attempt to conquer Canada. He does not meet him again for many years, perhaps until a few months after the Louisiana purchase. 1777 In July the Continental Congress commissions Burr as a Lt. Col. He will spend the winter of 1777-1778 in Valley Forge. He did not actively support the Conway Cabal trying to replace Washington, but he may have been sympathetic. 1778 June 28; Burr participates in the Battle of Monmouth Courthouse in New Jersey. 106 Americans died, but 37 died of heat stroke in 96 degree heat. Burr suffers greatly 1779 10 March; Burr, still in bad health, informs Washington that he is resigning. 1780 Burr resumes his legal studies after a lengthy illness. 1782 Admitted to the New York bar and marries Theodosia Bartow Prevost who is ten years older than Burr. They will have one child before Theodosia dies in 1794. 1783 Burr moves to New York and is soon in competition with Alexander Hamilton as the city's most prominent lawyer but his generousity and bad choices in speculative investments will keep him in bad financial situation. 1784 April; selected to one of nine seats from the city on the state assembly. 1789 Governor George Clinton appoints Burr as New York's Attorney General. 1791 A Clinton dominated legislature selects Burr to the U. S. Senate over Alexander Hamilton's father-in-law Philip Schyuler creating a beginning of hostility toward Burr. He is chosen despite involvement in controversial land deals. In his one term Burr opposes John Jays treaty with England and defended Democratic Republican Societies from criticism by President Washington. 1796 Republicans select Burr to run with Jefferson on the national ticket. of course they lose. 1797 Fails to win re-election to Senate due to changing politics in New York. 1798 Wins a seat in the state Senate. He successfully supports bills that benefitted his investments, which will lead to his defeat in a 1799 re-election bid but helps him build a strong political organization. 1800 The Burrites win a majority of seats in the state lagislature which guarantees New York's electorial vote for Presidential election and his selection , again, as a vice presidential candidate. The result of the election is a tie for president between Jefferson and Burr. Burr is expected to step back, but doesn't sending the election to Congress. After 35 ballots, which Burr believe shows his strength, Jefferson finally wins. But the animosity that it increates in Jefferson helps define Burr's political future. 1801 In the controversy over the Federalists' Judiciary Act Burr is against the repeal but he is over-ruled by the Jeffersonians. Jeferson does not consult with Burr on any of the Federal appointments. 1802 Burr is invited to the Federalists' celebration of Washington's birthday and denounces attacks by Jeffersonians on John Adam's administration. 1804 Shortly before his duel with Hamilton Bur meets with General James Wilkinson, who knows of Burr's dissatisfaction with Jefferson. He no doubt has news of an opportunity to intrigue in the west, having just received Louisiana from the French the November before and knowing the dissatisfaction of his Spanish masters and the Louisiana Creoles. 1804 When Burr is replaced as the vice presidential candidate he runs for governor of New York. He receives backing from New England Federalists who were scheming to pull these northern states away from the Union, but Morgan Lewis wins with backing of Clinton-Livingston-Jefferson faction. In June Burr challenges Hamilton to a duel for derogatory comments during the gubernatorial campaign. 1804 July 11; Hamilton suffers a fatal wound as a ball from Burr's gun lodges in his spine. Warrants go out for Burr's arrest in New York and New Jersey. Burr travels to Philadelphia and than to the South. Burr travels to Philadelphia and than to the South, staying in Georgia. He plans to travel through east and West Florida to guage its conquerability, but a hurricane prevents him from traveling west. 1805 Burr travels west in April and then down the Mississippi to New Orleans. He later returns to Washington to seek British aid for his western plans with no luch. He did manage to get $10,000 from the Spanish. 1806 Summer; Burr leads 60 followers and half a dozen flatboats down the Mississippi, but Wilkinson had decided that the plan was not in his best interest. Burr is captured and held briefly on Wilkinson's orders. He attempts to flee to Spanish territory, is recaptured and taken to Virginia. 1807 Indicted for treason with the trial in the U. S. Circuit Court in Richmond, Virginia, Chief Justice John Marshall presiding. Marshall, who had political differences with president Jefferson, used a very narrow interpretstion of the constitution's definition of treason and Burr was acquitted. 1808-1812 Burr lives in Europe and continues plans for a new nationin the Southwest. 1812 May; Burr returns to the U. S. to re-establish his law practice. In July his only grandchild Aaron Burr Alston dies and in December his beloved daughter Teodosia is lost at sea. 1833 Burr remarries to Elizabeth Brown Jumel and within a year squanders her fortune and she sues for divorce. 1836 14 September; Divorce granted on the day he dies. |
Henry DearbornFebruary 23, 1751 - June 6, 1829 |
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1751
Henry Dearborn is born February 23 in North Hampton, N.H. the son of Simon and Sarah (Martson) Dearborn. 1771 Marries Mary Bartlett. 1772 After studying medicine under Dr. Hall Jackson Dearborn begins a medical practice in Nottinham Square. 1775 Joins militia, captain at Bunker Hill, marched to Quebec under Benedict Arnold. 1777 March 19; Dearborn is a major in the 3rd New Hampshire Reg. 1777-78 Serves through the winter at Valley Forge. 1780 Marries Dorcas (Osgood) Marble. One child: Henry Alexander Scammell Dearborn, politician and author. 1783 After his discharge from the army Dearborne pursues agriculture in Kennebec County, Maine (still part of Mass). He is chosen a Brig., then Major General of the militia. 1790 Appointed U. S. Marshall, District of Maine. 1793-97 Elected as a member of the 3rd and 4th Congress. 1801 From March 5, 1801 to February 16 1809 Dearborn serves as the Secretary of War under Thomas Jefferson. 1809 Appointed Collector, Port of Boston. 1812-13 Serves as a senior Major General in the U. S. Army. 1813 Marries Sarah Bowdain. 1813 Appointed Commander of New York City, marries Sarah Bowdain. 1815 June 1 ; discharged from the army. 1822-24 Serves as Minister to Portugal. 1829 June 6; dies in Roxbury Mass. |
Albert GallatinJanuary 29, 1761 - August 12, 1849 |
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1761
Albert Galatin is born January 29 in Geneva Switzerland, the member of an aristocratic family of the duchy of Savoy. He is orphaned at age 9 and raised by close family friends. 1773-75 Boarding school. 1775-79 Attends academy at Geneva, refuses a commission in Hessian regiment that is going to the British American colonies. 1780 Leaves Geneva for France. 1780 May 27; leaves for America. 1780 July 14; arrives in Mass. colony. 1781 Settles in Boston, teaches French at Harvard. 1784 July Settles in Fayette County Pa. between Monongahela and Kanawha rivers. 1786 Receives inheritance. 1788 Attends conference in Harrisburg, the state capital, to revise its constitution. 1789 May; marries Sophie Allegre. 1790 October; serves in the state legislature, re-elected 1791 and 1792. 1793 February 28; elected to the U. S. Senate. 1793 Election to the U. S. Senate challenged due to not being a citizen for nine years. Helps save Pennsylvania from a civil war in the Whiskey Rebellion 1793 November 11; marries Hannah Nicholson 1795-1801 Elected and serves in the U. S. House of Representatives where he creates the Ways and Means Committee. 1801-1814 May 14; Appointed Secretary of Treasury under Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, serving until February 9, 1814. Reduced the public debt by 40 million, revived internal taxes and got loans from Pa and N.Y. during the War of 1812. 1811 Failed to get Bank of U. S. rechartered. 1813 May 9; becomes diplomat in St. Petersburg to work mediation with Great Britain. 1814 U. S. representative at Treaty of Ghent which ends the War of 1812. 1814-23 U. S. Minister to France. 1831-39 President of the National Bank of New York. 1842 Starts the American Ethnological Society. 1843 President of teh New York Historical Society. 1849 August 12; dies in Astoria, N.Y. |
Gideon GrangerSeptember 19, 1767 - December 31, 1822 |
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1767
September 19; Born in Suffield, Conn. 1787 Graduates from Yale, admitted to the bar and begins practice in Suffield. 1790 Marries Mindwell Pease. 1792 Elected to the Connecticut legislature until 1801 except for a few years. 1796 Supports Jefferson for president. 1798 Joins the Democratic-Republican Party, runs for Congress but loses. 1801 November 28; appointed Postmaster General and serves until March 17, 1814. 1816 Resumes law practice in Whitesboro, N. Y. 1820-21 Serves in the New York state Senate. 1822 December 31; dies in Canandaiqua, New York. |
Thomas JeffersonApril 13, 1743 - July 4, 1826 |
| 1743
Thomas Jefferson is born April 13 on his father's plantation Shadwell in Goochland (now Albemarle) County on the western fringe of settlement in colonial Virginia. 1762 Graduates from William and Mary. 1767 Admitted to bar after studying law under George Wythe. 1769 Enters the House of Burgesses after serving in county offices. 1774 Writes "Summary View of the Rights of British America" which is officially rejected but widely circulated and very influential. 1775 The House of Burgesses is dissolved. Jefferson is a member of the Virginia Committee of Correspondence formed by colonies to unite on a common government.He is sent as a delegate to the first Continental Congress. He is not a great orator, but his his ability and literary gifts are acknowledged when he becomes a member of the committee to draft the Declaration of Independence. 1776 July 4;Jefferson's text, with a few changes is adopted. 1776 He returns to the Virginia legislature, now nown as the House of Delegates. 1779 Jefferson elected governor of Virginia. 1783 Returns to Congress to advocate decimal system and organization of Western Territories including Ordinance of 1783. 1784 Sent to France to negotiate commercial treaties. 1785 Succeeds Benjamin Franklin as minister to France. Publishes his Notes on the State of Virginia Travels widely in Europe. Favors adoption of constitution but wants a Bill of Rights. 1789 Returns to Montecello. 1790 Becomeds the first Secretary of State and battles Federalists and Alexander Hamilton. 1791 Expresses loose interpretation of Constitution over formation of National Bank. 1793 Resigns from his cabinet post. 1796 Runs for president on ticket with Aaron Burr, comes in second to become vice president under John Adams. 1798 Drafts Kentucy Resolves which attack the Federalist Alien and Sedition Acts. 1800 Ties Burr in the presidential race, winning after 35 ballots in Congress. Jefferson becomes the first president to be inaugurated in Washington D. C. 1803 Louisiana Purchase, sends Navy against Barbary pirates. 1804 Re-elected president with George Clinton as Vice President. Sends Lewis and Clark West. 1807 Embargo of 1807, a disaster for American Commerce. 1809 Retires to Montecello. 1813 Reconciles with John Adams. 1815 From 1797 to 1815 Jefferson is the president of the American Philosophical Society. 1819 The University of Virginia is chartered. 1826 Dies at Montecello. |
James Madison16 March 1751 - 28 June 1836 |
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1751
March 16; Born in Port Conway, Virginia to a moderately wealthy family of planters. 1771 Graduates from the College of New Jersey, now Princeton. 1772 Chosen a member of the county Commission of New Jersey. 1776 Elected to Virginias Constitutional Convention. 1777 Ex-Officio member of the Virginia state legislature where he advocates establishment of freedom of religion. 1778 Member ofVirginia's Governor's Council. 1779-1783 Elected to Congress under Articles of Confederation for a single term. He is an advocate of a revision of the Articles to strengthen the central government. 1784-1786 Serves in the Virginia House of Delegates. 1785 Proposes interstate Conferences leading to the Annapolis convention. 1786 Annapolis Convention. 1787 Federal Constitutional Convention. Madison outlines the Virginia Plan in a letter to George Washington. It is introduced at the convention by Edmund Jennings Randolph. Madison manages the convention. Called the "Father of the Constitution" he also wrote 29 of the Federalist Papers as "Publius" the rest authored by Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. Elected a representative in the first Congress he took a lead in organizing the new government and the Bill of Rights with nationilst view but slowly moved Congressional leadership as a Jeffersonian Republican. He remains in Congress until 1797. 1798 Writes Virginia Resolves which along with Jefferson's Kentucky Resolves protest the Alien and Sedition Acts passed by the Federalists. 1800 Is appointed Secretary of State as new president Jefferson's first appointment. 1808 Elected the nation's fourth president. 1812 June; War formally declared against the British. Madison is re-elected to the presidency in November. 1814 The Treaty of Ghent, signed in December is too late to stop the Battle of New Orleans the only decisive battle won by the Americans. 1817 Madison retires to Montpelier. 1826 When Thomas Jefferson dies Madison becomes Rector of the University of Virginia. 1829 Virginia holds a constitutional convention. 1836 June 28 Madison dies at Montpelier. |
James MonroeApril 28, 1758 - July 4, 1831 |
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1758
April 28; Born Westmoreland County, Va. , son of Spence and Elizabeth (Jones) Monroe. 1776 June; Monroe leaves William and Mary College to join the Continental Army. He is severly wounded at the battle of Harlem Heights as a Lt. of the 3rd Virginia Regiment on June 24 1780 Monroe is appointed Military commisioner of Virginai with the rank of Lt. Col. 1782 Elected to the Virginia state assembly. 1783-86 Member of the Continental Congress, studies law. 1785 Marries Elizabeth Kortright. 1786 Monroe is admitted to the Virginia bar and begins a legal practice in Fredricksburg, Va. Re-elected to the assembly. 1788 Delegate to the federal constitutional convention. 1790 November 9; elected to the U. S. Senate. 1794 May 27; esigns from the U. S. Senate when appointed Minister Plenipotentiary to France by George Washington. 1799 Elected governor of Virginia. 1803 January 12; re-appointed Minster to France by Thomas Jefferson. 1803-07 Appointed Minister to Great Britain. 1808 Returns to the United States. 1810-11 Serves again on the Virginia state assembly. 1811 Re-elected as Virginia governor. 1811 Appointed Secretary of State by James Madison, serving until March 3, 1817. 1813 January 1; appointed Secretary of War, ad interim until October 1, 1814. 1817 Elected as as the 5th president of the United States, serving until March 3, 1825. 1826 Appointed a regent of the University of Virginia. 1829 President of the Virginia constitutional convention. 1831 Moves to New York City where he dies on July 4. |
Thomas PinckneyOctober 23, 1750 - November 2, 1828 |
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1750
Thomas Pinckney is born in Charleston, S. C. He is educated in England at he Westminster School, Oxford and the Middle Temle. He also spend one year at the Royal Military Academy at Caen in France. 1774 Admitted to the bar in England, later in the year he returns to South Carolina. 1780 Escapes capture at the fall of Charleston, which he commanded during the seige. He joins Washington briefly, up north, than returns south to serve under General Horatio Gates. 1780 August; badly wounded at Camden and captured and taken to Philadelphia until exchanged. 1783 After the war he returns to Charleston to practice law. 1787-89 Serves as governor of South Carolina. 1788 President of the state convention to ratify the new federal constitution. 1789 Declines an appointment for a federal judgeship. 1791 Accepts an appointment as Minister to Great Britain, but unsettled conditions make it difficult to begin his duties. 1795 Named envoy extraordinary to Spain to negotiate the treaty of San Lorenzo el Real, better known as Pinckney's Treaty. It is signed October 27 The treaty, signed Octoner 27, settled amicably the southern and western boundaries of the United States with Florida and Louisiana. It also gives the U. S. the right of free navigation of the Mississippi River with the right of deposit of goods. In addition each nation pledges to restrain Indiand in their territory and structures arbitration of future disputes.. 1796 Pickney is the federalist candidate for vice president but loses to Thomas Jefferson who gets the second highest vote count to John Adams. 1797 Elected to the U. S. House of Representatives, serving through 1801. He opposes the military build up under Adams and votes against he Sedition Act of 1798. 1812 Commissioned a Major General at the beginning of the war. 1813 August; negotiates the treaty of Ft. Jackson ending the Creek War. 1828 November 2; dies in Charleston. |