Many people have heard of the musical Hamilton, and many people think that the most important character is Alexander Hamilton. However, his wife, Eliza, plays a large part in the musical, as well as his own life. In the Leaving a Legacy unit, many people and their legacies, as well as historical and social movements, have been explored. Eliza Hamilton was a mother, a wife, and a person who left a legacy that not a lot of people can emulate. Elizabeth Schuyler was born on August 9, 1757 in Albany, New York (History Things). Eliza, as she was usually called, was raised by wealthy parents in a large Dutch family. Major General Philip Schuyler was a Revolutionary War hero and an important …show more content…
She helped her husband, Alexander, write different pieces, including George Washington’s farewell speech (Long) and the 51 essays Hamilton contributed to the Federalist Papers (History Things). Eliza and Alexander’s family lived in a house called the Grange. When Alexander died, Eliza was left impoverished, but she still managed to save her beloved home (Weiss). Eliza helped establish New York’s first orphanage (History Things). She was there when they started constructing the building. Fourteen years later, she became the director of the orphanage, and she stayed involved until she was in her 90s …show more content…
She helped found New York’s first orphanage, the New York Orphan Asylum Society (“How the Hero of Hamilton the Musical Is a Woman”). Her love for orphans was caused partly due to the fact that her husband was left parentless at age twelve, so it was somewhat personal. Eliza also began the Hamilton Free School, which was the first school in Washington Heights (“How the Hero of Hamilton the Musical Is a Woman”). This showed her love for the uneducated. Even though Elizabeth Hamilton was born into a wealthy family, she didn’t lord it over the people around her. She used her wealth to help others instead of spending it on temporary objects, like clothes, houses, or shoes. People will remember Eliza for being a compassionate, selfless person (“How the Hero of Hamilton the Musical Is a Woman”). That’s her legacy, which is what everyone should strive to have.
Eliza Hamilton was a mother, a wife, and a person who left a legacy that not a lot of people can surpass. Even though she was born into a wealthy family, Eliza contributed a lot of her money and wealth into helping the uneducated and the orphans. Her help with New York’s first orphanage and Washington Heights’ school deserves a lot of praise and awe. So even though Hamilton focuses a lot on Alexander, Eliza had a significant effect on the life of Alexander and those around