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Weehawken
A Single Pistol Shot Changed American History
by John Coppola
As a general rule, I sail against the wind at the beginning of a sail so that I return
on a reach. Most of the time, this means that I head roughly South at the start of most
daysails. On occasion, the winds permit me to start up river. At those times, I almost
always pass, on port, a site in New Jersey where an event took place that probably altered
forever the course of American history.
Approximately across the river from the Chelsea Pier lies a small, wooded park on the
Jersey shore. It is Weehawken Park.There,at about 9am on a sunlit Spring day over 200
years ago, Alexander Hamilton fell mortally wounded by a single shot from the dueling
pistol of Aaron Burr. The rock where he was laid to die is marked by a plaque.
Hamilton was born in the Caribbean Island of Nevis. He emigrated to colonial America, saw
combat in the American Revolution, and was the first Secretary of the Treasury in
Washington's cabinet. He was a brilliant financier, and devised the system of government
bonds-still used today. He saved the young nation from bankruptcy. Had he lived, it is
believed that he would have created financial and banking innovations far ahead of his
time.
The duel was caused by political remarks that Hamilton made about Burr.Although he was a
distinguished combat veteran,he was not a duelist as accomplished as Aaron Burr.Hamilton
will always be remembered as a founding father of our nation. Burr went down in historical
ignominy as the first American tried for treason by the US Supreme Court because he tried
to overthrow the government by force of arms. He beat the rap on a constitutional
technicality.
So, if you ever sail be Weehawken, toast the memory of a great American.
- February 2000
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