Burr

Burr, Aaron, a grandson of the famous Jonathan Edwards, was born at Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A., in 1756, and entering the army at the age of twenty-one served in the Quebec expedition and elsewhere until 1779, when he retired and took to the legal profession. In 1800, having previously filled many high offices and been chosen senator, he stood as a democrat with Jefferson for the presidency and vice-presidency. They got an equal number of votes, and Burr lost popularity in a vain effort to take precedence over his ally. In 1804, being candidate for the governorship of New York, he challenged one of his opponents, General Hamilton, and killed him in a duel. He was obliged to vacate his appointments, and in 1807 was charged with a treasonable conspiracy to establish an independent government in the south-west. He fled to Europe, where he spent some years in poverty and in intrigues. Returning in 1812 he practised as a lawyer in New York, but never recovered his prestige, dying in 1836.