Aaron Burr

Aaron Burr – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Explore the complex life of Aaron Burr (1756–1836): from orphaned youth and Revolutionary War officer to Vice President, the infamous duel with Alexander Hamilton, his trial for treason, and enduring legacy. Discover his most memorable quotes, lessons, and lasting influence.

Introduction

Aaron Burr remains one of the more controversial and enigmatic figures among the founding generation of the United States. Born in 1756 and dying in 1836, he rose to become the third Vice President of the United States (1801–1805) under Thomas Jefferson.

Even today, Burr is best known for his fatal duel with Alexander Hamilton in 1804 — an event that cast a long shadow over his reputation. Yet beyond that tragic moment, his life was marked by ambition, political acumen, legal battles, and a drive to shape early America. In this article, we dig into his early life, career, personality, quotes, and the lessons we might draw from his story.

Early Life and Family

Aaron Burr Jr. was born on February 6, 1756, in Newark in the Province of New Jersey, then part of British America.

Tragedy struck early: Burr’s father died in 1757, and within a year, his grandfather Jonathan Edwards and his mother also passed away, leaving young Aaron and his sister orphaned at a very young age.

From his youth, Burr was exposed to an environment of intellectual rigor and religious instruction, owing to his family’s strong ties to higher education and theology.

Youth and Education

Despite—or perhaps because of—his early losses, Burr proved intellectually precocious. He entered the College of New Jersey (Princeton) and studied theology, though he did not complete a long clerical career.

At age 19, he moved to Litchfield, Connecticut to study law under his brother-in-law, Tapping Reeve, founder of the Litchfield Law School.

However, the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War interrupted those studies. When news reached him in 1775 of the conflicts at Lexington and Concord, Burr joined the Continental Army.

Career and Achievements

Military Service in the Revolution

Burr’s wartime career was active and fraught with challenges. During Benedict Arnold’s expedition to Quebec, he traversed harsh terrain and attempted to recover the body of General Richard Montgomery after the latter’s death. lieutenant colonel by the end of his service.

He saw action in skirmishes, including participation in a battle in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1779.

After resigning from military service in 1779, he returned to civilian life and pursued law.

Law, Politics, and Early Offices

Burr began his legal practice in Albany, New York, then moved to New York City. He entered politics, aligning with the evolution of the Democratic-Republican faction.

In 1784–1785, he served in the New York State Assembly.

Then in 1791, he was elected as U.S. Senator from New York, defeating incumbent Philip Schuyler (father-in-law of Hamilton).

In 1799, Burr founded the Manhattan Company, initially framed as a water supply company but also functioning as a bank and extending credit to smaller merchants—part of a strategy to broaden his political base.

Vice Presidency and the Election of 1800

In the highly contentious presidential election of 1800, Burr and Thomas Jefferson tied in electoral votes. The House of Representatives ultimately selected Jefferson as president, making Burr the Vice President.

As Vice President (March 1801 – March 1805), Burr presided over the Senate and oversaw the impeachment trial of Justice Samuel Chase, where his fair conduct helped strengthen the principle of judicial independence.

But his relationship with Jefferson was uneasy; Burr was politically marginalized within the administration and was not chosen as Jefferson’s running mate in 1804.

The Duel with Hamilton

Tensions with Alexander Hamilton escalated over years of political rivalry. In 1804, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel. The duel was fateful: Burr mortally wounded Hamilton, who died the following day.

Though Burr was indicted for murder in New York and New Jersey jurisdictions, no trial ultimately succeeded (the New Jersey indictment was dismissed; New York prosecutors declined).

The event permanently tarnished his political standing and cast him into disgrace in many circles.

Treason Trial and Later Life

In the years following his vice presidency, Burr moved west and engaged in secretive schemes. He was accused of plotting to form an independent territory in parts of the American Southwest (sometimes called the Burr Conspiracy).

In 1807, Burr was arrested and tried for treason. Chief Justice John Marshall presided over the trial and ultimately acquitted Burr, citing a high bar for proving treason under the Constitution.

His political prospects were irreparably damaged. He spent some years in self-imposed exile in Europe (circa 1808–1812), during which he traveled widely and associated with thinkers like Jeremy Bentham.

Returning to New York under a pseudonym for a time, Burr resumed his law practice and lived modestly in later years.

In 1833, he briefly married Eliza Jumel, a wealthy widow, but the marriage dissolved within months.

He suffered strokes and died on September 14, 1836, in Staten Island, New York. He was buried in Princeton Cemetery, New Jersey.

Historical Milestones & Context

• Burr’s election tie in 1800 with Jefferson exposed flaws in the original Electoral College system. The crisis helped spur passage of the 12th Amendment to prevent future electoral confusion.

• His duel with Hamilton is among the most dramatic and infamous episodes in American politics; it turned Hamilton into a martyr in the public eye and made Burr a notorious figure.

• The Burr conspiracy and treason trial tested constitutional definitions of treason and executive power. The acquittal reinforced that mere conspiratorial talk, without an “overt act,” was insufficient for conviction.

• Burr’s involvement in early banking and infrastructure, particularly via the Manhattan Company, demonstrates the intertwining of business and politics in the early republic.

• The ambitious scope of the new nation, westward expansion, and shifting political norms all formed the backdrop to Burr’s ventures and failures.

Legacy and Influence

Aaron Burr’s legacy is deeply conflicted. On one hand, he is often cast as a cautionary tale: the ambitious politician whose personal enmities and miscalculations destroyed his career. On the other hand, some historians have revisited his life and argued for a more balanced (or even sympathetic) view.

He is memorialized in popular culture, most notably in the Broadway musical Hamilton, where Burr is both narrator and foil to Hamilton.

Some of his contributions survive in procedural norms. His conduct of the Senate and role in the impeachment trial of Justice Samuel Chase are credited with helping establish the decorum and protocols of that chamber.

Still, his name is overshadowed by the Hamilton duel and the treason chapter of his life. Many of his personal papers were lost (some in the shipwreck that claimed his daughter Theodosia’s yacht), which has hampered full historical redemption.

In recent decades, scholars such as Nancy Isenberg have argued that some of the vilification of Burr was the product of political propaganda by his adversaries.

Personality and Talents

Aaron Burr was a man of striking contrasts. To supporters, he was charming, intelligent, resourceful, and ambitious. To critics, he was inscrutable, opportunistic, and unscrupulous.

• He was politically nimble, able to forge alliances and navigate the fractious early-party system.

• He showed flair for speculation and finance (e.g. through the Manhattan Company) and an ability to exploit legal and institutional loopholes.

• He was deeply affectionate toward his daughter Theodosia, whom he educated rigorously, instructing her in multiple languages and considering her a confidante.

• He could be generous: anecdotal accounts suggest he loaned or sacrificed for friends in need, even pawning personal belongings to help others.

• His emotional life was complex — he seemed calm in public, but underlying ambition, resentment, and tragedy shaped his inner world. Writers have often speculated his personal isolation contributed to his later missteps.

Famous Quotes of Aaron Burr

While Burr is not known for a large body of published oratory, a few quotations and aphorisms are often attributed to him:

• “The rule of my life is to make business a pleasure, and pleasure my business.”

• “I live my life as I deem appropriate…”

• “Never do today what you can do tomorrow. Something may occur to make you regret your premature action.”

• “Things written remain.”

These lines reflect a mix of pragmatism, caution, and a consciousness of legacy.

Lessons from Aaron Burr

1. Ambition must be balanced by caution. Burr’s drive brought him high office, but his daring sometimes overstepped prudence (e.g. the duel, the Western schemes).

2. Reputation matters deeply. One fatal encounter with Hamilton overshadowed many of his prior accomplishments.

3. Legal institutions protect the vulnerable. His acquittal in the treason trial highlighted the strength of constitutional protections.

4. Legacy is fragile. The loss of Burr’s personal papers hindered posterity’s ability to see him clearly.

5. Complexity in public figures. History often frames individuals as heroes or villains, but Burr’s life showcases shades of gray — strengths, flaws, and contradictions.

Conclusion

Aaron Burr’s life is a dramatic tapestry of promise, brilliance, rivalries, tragedy, and reinvention. He embodies both the soaring hopes and perilous ambitions of the early American republic. While often remembered for his duel with Hamilton or his treason trial, a closer look reveals a man shaped by early losses, forging his own path amid turbulent political currents.

Through his story, we learn that greatness is fragile, that context can change reputations, and that institutions often guard the line between radical ambition and ruin. For those intrigued by early American history, Burr’s life remains a powerful reminder of how one’s choices — personal, political, or moral — echo across time.