On July 11 1804, founding wunderkind Alexander Hamilton committed history’s most misguided act of chivalry by deliberately firing over Aaron Burr’s head during America’s most famous duel.
Burr, who was only the first U.S. vice president to shoot someone will in office, didn’t share Hamilton’s understanding of the Duel Commandments, and shot him in the breadbasket. Hamilton died the next day.
As a result we have a helluva story, and a Tony-award winning musical. What we missed out on was the probable presidency of one of our country’s most extraordinary geniuses. Crappy bargain, all things considered.
