Today in History: The Duel

On this day (July 11) in 1804, U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel. Hamilton and Burr had long hated each other and Burr blamed his loss in the New York Governor’s electoral race on Hamilton. Both men had been in duels before. Hamilton apparently shot first (possibly over Burr’s head) and hit a tree. Burr shot Hamilton in the lower abdomen. He died the next day. The scandal of the duel (which was illegal) destroyed Burr’s career.