Alexander Hamilton Jr. (1816-1889)

He was born at 64 Varick Street, New York City, and was named for his famous grandfather, Alexander Hamilton. He was also a great-grandson of Richard Morris, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New York. He was educated at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and was second in his class in his fourth year (1835) when his father withdrew him, spending the next few years in Europe with his family. In 1842, he went to Spain as Secretary of the U.S. Legation (and later Chargé d'Affaires) under the new minister, Washington Irving. He left Spain in May, 1844, and following brief sojourns in England and France, he returned to New York City to study law. He became a respected attorney specializing in marine insurance in which he was considered an authority, and in which his eminent grandfather had also excelled. His clients included the General Mutual Insurance Co., the New Haven Railroad Co., the Havre Steamship Co., the London, Liverpool & Globe Insurance Co., and the Orient Mutual Insurance Co.

Upon the outbreak of Civil War, he enlisted and served on the staff of Major-General John E. Wool. Ill-health forced him to retire just three months later, however he remained active in enlisting troops and forwarding supplies until the close of the war. In 1871, he co-founded and served as the first President of the Knickerbocker Club in New York City. He was also President of the Board of Trustees of the Astor Library, Vice-President of the Society of the Cincinnati, and a member of the Association of the Bar of New York. In 1845, he married Angelica, daughter of Judge Maturin Livingston and granddaughter of Morgan Lewis, Governor of New York. Their only child, a son, died in infancy. They lived between New York City and "Nevis" (see images) at Ardsley-on-Hudson, where he died.