Herzog, who annually helps host the wreath laying remembrance of Hamilton in New York City, toured Nevis as well as St. Kitts with his wife, Diana and President of the New England Chapter of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society, Mrs. Mariana Oller and her husband Tom
“We came because of Alexander Hamilton and then we have discovered this very beautiful and lovely island and we may be back,” said Herzog. “I certainly hope we shall be.”
Premier of Nevis, Vance Amory, welcomed a four-member group to Nevis. Amory noted that Nevis should capitalize on the linkage of Hamilton and the island with the U.S. because it was an important one which could only redound to the benefit of Nevisians through visitors and investment.
“We believe that the Hamilton Record justifies a closer examination and a better and more interesting relationship between the Alexander Hamilton Museum here and the Museum of American Finance in New York and the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society. We think that Hamilton is a very saleable product and we think that his background and his accomplishments will bring other people to Nevis and we hope to be helpful in that process,” Herzog added.
Mrs. Oller also explained she was on Nevis to carry out the mandate of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society in the United States.
“I am here as a representative of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society. Our Society has a mission to raise awareness of Hamilton’s accomplishments and his incredible role in the founding of the United States of America. We believe that awareness should be raised not only in the United States, St. Kitts and Nevis as well and everywhere around the world,” she said.
Hamilton was born on January 11, 1757, on the island of Nevis, British West Indies. In 1777, Hamilton became General George Washington’s assistant. In 1788, he convinced New Yorkers to agree to ratify the U.S Constitution. He then served as the nation’s First Secretary of the Treasury.
At the time, the nation was facing great foreign and domestic debt due to expenses incurred during the American Revolution. Ever a proponent for a strong central government, during his tenure as treasury secretary, Hamilton butted heads with fellow cabinet members who were fearful of a central government holding so much power. Lacking their state loyalties, Hamilton went so far as to turn down New York’s opportunity to house the nation’s capitol in favor of securing backing for his economic program, dubbed the “dinner table bargain.”
It was Hamilton’s belief that the Constitution gave him the authority to create economic policies that strengthened the central government. His proposed fiscal policies initiated the payment of federal war bonds, had the federal government assume states’ debts, instituted a federal system for tax collection and would help the United States establish credit with other nations.
Hamilton stepped down from his position as secretary of the treasury in 1795, leaving behind a far more secure U.S. economy to back a strengthened federal government.
On July 12, 1804, in New York City, Hamilton died of a gunshot wound that he sustained during a duel with Aaron Burr.
