Book Review- "Alexander Hamilton The Outsider" by Jean Fritz

With the success of the Broadway musical "Hamilton" Alexander Hamilton is getting some much deserved modern recognition. For those interested in Alexander Hamilton's actual life story try the book "Alexander Hamilton The Outsider" by Jean Fritz.

Alexander Hamilton was born in 1755 or perhaps 1757 in the West Indies. After his mother passed away, Alexander moved to New York to pursue his education.  In 1755, Hamilton joined a militia and eventually became an General Washington's aide.

Like most of The Founding Fathers, Hamilton was a true Renaissance man and  author Jean Fritz does a good job of detailing his many

 accomplishments which include: writing a majority of The Federalist Papers , the founding of America's financial system, The U.S. Coast Guard, The New York Post,The New York Bank, The Federalist Political Party, and was America's first Secretary of the Treasury.

It is probable that Alexander Hamilton would have eventually become president, but he was sadly killed in a duel with Aaron Burr in 1804.

Book Review- "George Washington" by Marian Leighton

George Washington is probably the most mythic of America's Founding Fathers. Over the years, President Washington has been turned into a near perfect man, but Mr. Washington was a real person with strengths and faults that most of us have.

The children's biography "George Washington" by Marian Leighton gives a good background on Washington's early years which explains how he was able to accomplish the spectacular victor against the British forces during the Revolutionary War.

Losing first his Father and later his older brother Lawrence put George into a position of responsibility very early in life. One of the most entertaining aspects of Washington's early years is his contentious relationship with his mother. After the death of her husband, Mary Washington tried to keep maintain a strict control of George's activities. In turn, young George did his very best to resist his mother's control.

Another lesson George learned early in life was to never give up. This ideal no doubt helped him greatly during the many ups and downs of the Revolutionary War.

As an American, reading "George Washington" gave me a greater appreciation of the sacrifices and character of  our first president.