Danyce Smith

Aaron Burr

On February 6,1756 in Newark, New Jersey Esther Edwards Burr and Aaron Burr, Sr.

gave birth to Aaron Burr, Jr., who has played a huge role in American history. His father was the

president of the College of New Jersey, known today as Princeton University. Once the college

relocated, Burr and his family relocated as well. It was not until soon after their relocation where

his father had died from illness, then followed by his mothers death. At the age of two Aaron

Burr and his older sister Sally had become orphans due to the death of both of their parents. After

having to live with family friends, their Timothy Edwards had become their legal guardian.

Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, Burr went onto pursue an

educational career at the College of New Jersey. At the age of thirteen Burr entered the

sophomore class in 1769. Soon after in 1772 at the age of sixteen Burr graduated from the

College of New Jersey, a year after James Madison. After realizing that the ministry was not for

him, he went go study law under his brother in law.

Years have passed and Burr and in the year of 1779 Burred found himself retired from the

military and had fallen in love. Her name was Theodosia Prevost, she was ten years older than

Burr but that did not stop him from being intrigued by her. In 1782 the couple had married, and

Burr was not an attorney in New York. Soon his rise in the political world had begun. He

managed to be appointed to the states attorney general following taking a seat in the senate. In

the year of 1794 Burrs wife had passed away leaving him with his only daughter, Theodosia.

She than became the most important person in his life.

 In 1800 Burr was chosen to be Thomas Jeffersons running mate. After counting the

votes, they had tied resulting in Jefferson becoming president and Burr vice president . Being

Jeffersons vice president left Burr with very little power, causing him to close to the federalists.

With him doing this, Alexander Hamilton feared that Burr would jeopardize the power he had

within the federalists party. Hamilton began to bad mouth Burr, leaving Burr to be upset. After

acting upon impulse and anger Burr challenged Hamilton in a duel resulting in the death of

Hamilton.

Soon after Burrs life began to fall down hill. From becoming a wanted man in the United

States to the death of his daughter Theodosia. He began to feel severed from the human race.

He remarried in 1833 to Eliza Jumel, but died three years later in 1836.
 Works Cited Page

The Duel, Aaron Burr, PBS, All Rights Preserved., http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/duel/

peopleevents/pande01.html
Aaron Burr, 3rd Vice President, All Rights Preserved., https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/
history/common/generic/VP_Aaron_Burr.htm
 The two songs that I have chosen based upon my character are Dear Theodosia , and

Wait For It. These two songs play a huge role in figuring out who and why Burr is a big aspect

to the musical Hamilton. As we all know, Burr is the one who ended Hamiltons life and was one

of his greatest enemies. As majority of the world, and the viewers of this musical may think of

Burr as some sort of villain because all we really know is that he killed one of our founding

fathers. But of course there is more to him than that, and I believe these two songs have the

power of showing a side of him that many of us are aware of.

In Dear Theodosia there was confusion at first, I did believe it was about his wife being

that her name was Theodosia. After listening to the song, you began to realize that it is about his

daughter whom was named after his late wife. She was the only child of him that had survived,

so she held a special place in his heart. After his wife has passed, Theodosia became the most

important person and woman in his life. Being that Burr was an orphan because his father had

passed, he wanted to give his daughter the world and be the father he had never had. This song

touches on the most sensitive subject to him. It portrays his soft side, which is something we

don't see often.

Wait For It, is a difficult song to pick apart. I believe that the ultimate goal of song is to

show that no matter what has come his way he is still fighting. He has been around death,

sorrow, and failure but he is determined to wait for it to happen to him. He never saw the

purpose behind all of the events in his life but he knows his outcome will be worth it, and he will

be great. I believe this song shows the fight in him, and the determination he has to make his

name forever known.