Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton (January 11, 1755 or 1757 – July 12, 1804) is considered one of the Founding Fathers of America, establishing many systems while serving as the first United States Secretary of Treasury. Hamilton was born illegitimately to parents of French and Scottish descent in the West Indies, and his father left when he was still young; afterwards, his mother supported the family (he and his older brother), but later died of a fever when Hamilton was around 13.
Hamilton became a clerk to support himself, and started to develop interests in literary studies. An essay that he wrote impressed many others in his community, who sent him to the American colonies for his education. After attending King's College (now Colombia University), he became involved in the militia, and later joined Congress, becoming involved in many matters. He resigned from Congress in 1783, but was still involved in the nation's affairs; in 1787 he convinced John Jay and James Madison to write the Federalist Papers, which were a series of essays that defended a proposed constitution. Afterwards, he established many systems in the U.S. as Secretary of Treasury, before being challenged to a duel by Aaron Burr and dying of a fatal wound.
Hamilton's widow, Eliza, lived for fifty years longer than he did, as well as some of their eight children.
John Jay
John Jay (December 12, 1745 – May 17, 1829), another Founding Father, was the first Chief of Justice of the United States. Jay was born into a wealthy family consisting of merchants and government officials in New York. He himself became a lawyer and later organized opposition to British rule. Jay later married Sarah, and their children lived with Benjamin Franklin.
Jay then served as the President of the Continental Congress (1778–79). During and after the American Revolution, Jay was an ambassador to Spain, France and Secretary of Foreign Affairs, helping to establish United States foreign policy.
Jay strongly supported the idea of a strong, centralized government and worked to ratify the new Constitution in New York in 1788 by pseudonymously writing a few of the Federalist Papers with Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. As a leader of the Federalist Party, Jay served as the Governor of New York State from 1795–1801, and he strongly disputed slavery, though his first two attempts to end it failed. His third attempt, however, succeeded. The 1799 Act, a gradual emancipation he signed into law, gave slaves in New York freedom. Decades later, Jay was stricken by palsy and died in Bedford, New York at the age of 83.
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. (March 16, 1751 – June 28, 1836) was the fourth President of the United States and is also known as the Father of the Constitution for his role in drafting and helping to ratify the Constitution, with his wife Dolley Madison. Madison was born in Virginia into a family of tobacco plantation owners, and was diligent about his studies despite his frail physicality. After graduating from Princeton in 1771, Madison became interested in the declining relationship between Great Britain and the colonies, and joined a pro-revolutionary group despite not being able to serve in combat because of his physical condition.
During the Revolutionary War, Madison became a prominent figure in political matters while serving in the Virginia legislature. Later, he drafted the Constitution, and in order to ratify it, he wrote some of the Federalist Papers. His role regarding the Constitution is considered very important to the actual ratification. After the establishment of the new government, Madison strove to be elected into Congress, and was barely able to make it. However, once he entered, he became an important figure and established many amendments to the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.
Later, Madison returned with Dolley to the Montpelier estate that was inherited from his father to retire and died at the age of 85.an important figure and established many amendments to the Constitution, including the Bill of Rights.