Can you imagine a Vice President killing a political rival!?!?

On July 11th, 1804, Thomas Jefferson’s Vice President, Aaron Burr, met Alexander Hamilton in Weehawken, New Jersey (where anything is legal! ) for a duel. Duels were common at this time between men of stature, but few actually ended in violence. However, this wasn’t the case with this infamous duel. Burr and Hamilton had many negative interactions throughout their political careers and Hamilton’s negative comments about Burr when he ran for Governor of New York were the last straw for Burr. Despite the efforts of their seconds, both will meet on the morning of July 11th for the fateful and fatal duel. Both men will fire in the duel, but only Alexander Hamilton will be hit, dying the next day.

Thomas Jefferson had not planned on having Burr for his running mate in 1804, but that is another story for another day! Burr will be charged with murder but the charges will be dropped. Burr will never hold an office again and will later be charged with treason over a plot about the Louisiana and western territories. Although he is not convicted, his career in politics was over when he shot and killed Hamilton in this infamous duel.

Pictured: Alexander Hamilton at the Founders Hall at the National Constitution Center where there are life-size recreations of the men at the Constitutional Convention!