Aaron Burr

The New Netherland Ancestors of

AARON BURR



Senator, State Assembly, State Attorney General, Vice President




       __Rev. Aaron Burr3
      |
AARON BURR3
      |
      |     __JONATHAN EDWARDS3
      |    |
      |__Esther Edwards3
	   |
	   |     __James Pierpont1,3
	   |    |
	   |__Sarah Pierrepont3
		|
		|     __Samuel Hooker1
		|    |
		|__Mary Hooker1,3
		     |
		     |     __Thomas Willet2
		     |    |
		     |__Mary Willett1
			  |
			  |__Mary Brown2


Look at the code for this diagram.
(warning: this opens a new window)


Biography of AARON BURR

 
Aaron Burr, was born in 1756, and was the grandson of Jonathan Edwards, philosopher and theologian, who became president of the College of New Jersey in 1758. Aaron graduated with distinction from the same college in 1772 and began to study theology, but turned in 1774 to law. His studies were interrupted by service in the American army from which he resigned in March 1779 with the rank of colonel, because of ill health. After further study Burr was licensed to practice law in New York where his brilliance and attractive personality brought him important cases. Yet, his extravagant habits and speculation exceeded his income. In his political career in New York, Burr found his ambitions thwarted by one faction, led by Alexander Hamilton, and he was not sought after by George Clinton, leader of the second faction. Burr proved himself valuable enough to Governor Clinton to be named attorney general in 1789, and he went on in 1791-1797 to the United States Senate. In 1798 Burr returned for two years to the New York Assembly; through his organizational work, the Democratic-Republicans won control in 1800 of the New York legislature and Burr received endorsement for the vice-presidency. While in the office, Burr lost favor with leaders of his party, ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York, and in 1804 killed his implacable enemy, Alexander Hamilton, in a duel. Unsuccessful in his efforts to advance in state and national governments, Burr turned to a scheme to free Spanish possessions in North America and to possibly create a country in the Mississippi Valley separate from the United States. Burr's dream was smashed by his co-conspirator, General James Wilkinson, and the adventurer was tried for treason in the summer of 1807. After acquittal Burr went to Europe where he spent four years trying to enlist support for his foolhardy plan. When he did return in 1812 to New York, Burr enjoyed a prosperous law practice and resumed his carefree ways until his death in 1836 at the age of eighty

Dunlap, Leslie W. Our Vice-Presidents and Second Ladies. Metuchen, NJ: The Scarecrow Press, Inc., 1988. 18-23
 


 


Notes and Sources


   1.  Willett, Albert James, Jr., The Willett Families of North America,
       Volume I.  Easley:  Southern Historical Press, Inc., 1985.  15.
   2.  Ibid., p. 1-15.
   3.  Smith, Elizur Yale, "The Descendants of William Edwards Colonist of
       Connecticut Colony, 1639," The New York Genealogical and Biographical
       Record, 71 (1940):  216-224, 323-333; 72 (1941):  56-61, 124-132,
       213-220, 320-331; 73 (1942):  173-189, 251-254; 90 (1959):  193-197; 91
       (1960):  6-16, 110-118, 153-166, 233-235; 92 (1961):  23-34, 80-88,
       141-152, 221-226; 93 (1962):  13-21, 106-113, 143-148, 221-225; 94
       (1963):  15-26, 75-83, 148-154.


 

First uploaded 11 October 2001

Last Modified  Saturday, 08-Sep-2018 18:03:15 MDT

Home Page

Person Index

List of Notables

Updates

Contact me
(John Camp)