Burr, Aaron (1756-1836)

US politician, Republican vice-president 1801-05. In 1804 he killed his political rival Alexander Hamilton in a duel. In 1807 Burr was tried and acquitted of treason charges, which implicated him variously in a scheme to conquer Mexico, or part of Florida, or to rule over a seceded Louisiana.

Burr was on George Washington's staff during the American Revolution but was critical of the general and was distrusted in turn. He tied with Thomas Jefferson in the presidential election of 1800, but Alexander Hamilton, Burr's longtime adversary, influenced the House of Representatives to vote Jefferson in, Burr becoming vice-president. In 1804 Burr's political ambitions were again thwarted by Hamilton's opposition and he failed to secure the governorship of New York State.

Burr was born in Newark, New Jersey, of an eminent Puritan family. He graduated from the College of New Jersey (now Princeton) and joined the patriot army 1775 but resigned on grounds of ill health 1779. He became a barrister 1782 and was state attorney general 1789-90 and a US senator 1791-97.

After killing Hamilton, Burr fled to South Carolina, but returned briefly to Washington, DC, to complete his term of office. He spent some years in Europe, seeking British and French aid in overthrowing Jefferson, but re-entered the USA 1812 under an assumed name. He died in poverty at the age of 80.