Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens, 1779-1782, by Jonathan Ned Katz

An exhibit on eighteenth century U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton and his relationship with John Laurens. Multiple historians consider how to interpret the intimacy between Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens during the American Revolution. In 1976, Jonathan Ned Katz, in a first book documenting what he then called "Gay American History," presented letters between Hamilton and Laurens. Those letters are presented on OutHistory as Katz presented them in 1976. Since then Katz has studied what other historians have said about Hamilton's and Laurens' relationship and he presents excerpts from those historians here on OutHistory, along with his own later essay "Alexander Hamilton's Nose."

Alexander Hamilton

Born in the British West Indies in 1757, Alexander Hamilton was forced to go to work at the age of twelve because of his father's business failures. In 1772, generous relatives sent young Hamilton to college in New York, but he soon dropped his studies to join the growing American colonial liberation movement as a talented pamphleteer.

In 1776 Hamilton commanded an artillery company and fought with George Washington in several battles; the next year Hamilton became one of the general's valued aides, was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and worked hard to systematize the American war effort.

After a quarrel with Washington in 1781, Hamilton headed an infantry regiment in Lafayette's corps. From 1782 to 1783, Hamilton served a term in the Continental Congress, then began a law practice in New York.