Burr

Burr, AARON, an American statesman, born at Newark, New Jersey, 6th February 1756, graduated at Princeton, where his father and grandfather (Jonathan Edwards) had been president of the college, and in 1775 joined the patriot army, in which he gained a high reputation, and in 1777 the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Retiring in 1779, he was in 1782 called to the bar, where he soon became a leader. He was attorney-general in 1788-90, United States senator in 1791-96, and vice-president of the United States in 1800-4. His defeat in a contest for the governorship of New York led him to force a duel (11th July 1804) on the most active of his opponents, Alexander Hamilton, who had been his personal rival for many years, and who now fell mortally wounded at the first fire. Burr fled to South Carolina, and though indicted for murder, returned after the excitement had subsided, and completed his term as vice-president. He now prepared to raise a force to conquer Texas, and establish there a republic, which might detach the western states from the Union. This enterprise was proclaimed by the president, and Burr tried for treason (1807). Acquitted, but bankrupt in reputation, he spent some wretched years in Europe, and in 1812 returned to his law practice in New York. Here, shunned by society, the unhappy man, who had long survived all the members of his own family, died on Staten Island, 14th September 1836, in a home for which he was indebted to the charity of an old friend. Burr was a man of the world, of polished manners and fascinating address. He early adopted pronouncedly infidel views.