Alexander Hamilton: The First Horatio Alger

Biographical profile of Alexander Hamilton, one of the most interesting, paradoxical, and brilliant members of our Founding Fathers. Professor Carl Rubine of Columbia University called him "the first Horatio Alger . . . the original underdog who made it." It is hard to imagine anyone starting life with more disadvantages than he did or achieving such extraordinary success. Self-educated and possessing a superior intellect, Hamilton had a profound understanding of commerce, law, politics and...