Back in Time Today
He was a Founding Father, a war hero, and the man who killed Alexander Hamilton. But behind the fame and infamy, Aaron Burr’s life was steeped in heartbreak, betrayal, and devastating loss. These 17 lesser-known tragedies reveal a man who lived in the shadow of sorrow.
1. He Lost Both Parents by the Age of 2
Aaron Burr was orphaned before he could even form memories of his mother and father. His father died of illness when Burr was just 1, and his mother passed away the following year—leaving him and his sister to be raised by relatives.
2. His Grandfather Was the Famous Jonathan Edwards—Who Died After a Vaccine
Yes, that Jonathan Edwards—the fiery preacher behind the Great Awakening. He died after receiving a smallpox inoculation gone wrong, adding another strange and premature death to Burr’s family tree.
3. He Was Rejected by His Guardian
After being passed from relative to relative, young Burr sought affection and stability—but instead faced emotional coldness. His legal guardian, Timothy Edwards, was stern and unloving, shaping Burr’s deep distrust of others.
4. He Fought Bravely in the Revolutionary War—But Was Overlooked for Glory
Despite risking his life in brutal battles, including the disastrous Quebec campaign, Burr’s contributions were consistently overshadowed by higher-ranking officers. He was never properly recognized, leaving him bitter and alienated.
5. His Beloved Wife Died Young
Burr’s marriage to Theodosia Prevost was one of the few bright spots in his life. She was smart, independent, and his intellectual equal—but she died after just 12 years of marriage, from stomach cancer.
6. He May Have Had a Child with a Servant—Then Denied Her
Burr reportedly fathered a daughter with Mary Emmons, a Haitian servant in his household. The child, Louisa Charlotte, was never publicly acknowledged, and this part of his legacy was long hidden or dismissed.
7. His Daughter Vanished at Sea and Was Never Found
In 1813, Burr’s daughter Theodosia set sail to visit him—but her ship disappeared without a trace. Some believe it was lost in a storm. Others suspect pirates. Burr never recovered from her disappearance.
8. He Was Tried for Treason Against the United States
Burr allegedly plotted to carve out an independent empire in the West. Though acquitted, the high-profile trial ruined what remained of his political career. He was labeled a traitor for life.
9. He Was a Vice President—But Became a Political Outcast
Serving under Thomas Jefferson, Burr was effectively sidelined and excluded from the administration’s core decisions. Jefferson came to despise him, and Burr became a pariah in his own government.
10. The Hamilton Duel Haunted Him Until Death
Though he survived the infamous 1804 duel, Burr never escaped the fallout. He was charged with murder in two states and vilified by the public—even his political enemies distanced themselves from him.
11. He Fled the Country in Shame
After his treason trial, Burr spent years in self-imposed exile in Europe, wandering from country to country in poverty, desperately trying to sell his schemes to foreign leaders. No one took him seriously.
12. He Died Nearly Penniless
Despite once being one of the most powerful men in America, Burr died in obscurity and near-poverty, living in a boarding house in Staten Island with almost no one left who remembered him fondly.
13. His Second Marriage Ended in Scandal and Divorce
In his later years, Burr married a wealthy widow—but squandered her fortune on bad investments. She sued for divorce, and ironically, her lawyer was Alexander Hamilton Jr.—son of the man Burr killed.
14. He Outlived Almost Everyone He Loved
Burr lived to the age of 80, a rare feat for the time—but it meant he buried most of his friends, family, and political allies. His final years were marked by crushing loneliness.
15. His Political Ambition Was Constantly Thwarted
Though he had the charisma and brains to be president, Burr’s career was a series of missed opportunities, rivalries, and fatal miscalculations—culminating in the duel that destroyed him.
16. He Was Spied on and Followed for Years
Even after acquittal, federal agents kept close tabs on Burr. Rumors of new conspiracies followed him everywhere. He was never trusted again by those in power.
17. History Erased His Achievements—And Defined Him by a Single Shot
Aaron Burr helped shape the U.S. Constitution, fought for religious freedom, and championed women’s education. But today, he’s remembered only as “the man who shot Hamilton.”