1804

Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr had a famous duel in Weehawken. Hamilton and Burr had a bitter rivalry, politically and personally, and on July 11, they decided to duel it out. They decided to meet in Weehawken, New Jersey because New Jersey was known for being a "lawless" state, where many duels took place. In other northern states, dueling was being outlawed. New Jersey used to be a place where people who wanted to have a duel would challenge each other in secret, most of the duelists were people from New York.  

In the early morning of July 11, Hamilton and Burr left Manhattan by separate boats. They arrived on opposing sides of the Heights of Weehawken. Hamilton fired his shot at a tree above and behind Burr’s head, Burr fired back at Hamilton and fatally wounded him. Hamilton died a day later after being rowed back the Hudson River. While Burr’s intention was to shoot to kill. Hamilton did not condone the concept of dueling. Therefore, he missed purposely.