Aaron Burr: After the Duel, Treason Trial, and Death

Few figures from early American history stir as much curiosity as Aaron Burr — the vice president who shot Alexander Hamilton. You probably know the duel, but what followed was a dizzying fall from power: a treason trial, years of exile in Europe, and a lonely death on Staten Island. This article traces those later years, the legal battles, and the legacy Burr left behind.

Born: February 6, 1756, Newark, New Jersey · Died: September 14, 1836, Staten Island, New York · Vice President: 1801–1805 · Famous duel: July 11, 1804, Weehawken, New Jersey · Age at death: 80

Eight key facts define the outline of Burr’s life, from his birth into a prominent family to his burial in Princeton:

What happened to Aaron Burr after shooting Hamilton?

How did Aaron Burr die?

• Burr died on September 14, 1836, on Staten Island, New York, in relative obscurity (National Park Service (historical preservation)).
• He had returned to New York in 1812 after four years in Europe and resumed law practice (PBS American Experience (documentary history)).
• His daughter Theodosia was lost at sea in 1813, a blow from which he never recovered (History.com (digital encyclopedia)).

Did Aaron Burr regret killing Hamilton?

• Burr never publicly expressed remorse for the duel, though he privately described it as a “great misfortune” (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
• According to the Mount Vernon digital encyclopedia (historical research), Burr avoided discussing the event publicly.

Did Eliza ever forgive Aaron Burr?

• Alexander Hamilton’s widow, Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, reportedly never forgave Burr and maintained her husband’s legacy (Founders Online (US National Archives)).
• Some accounts suggest she carried a lifelong animosity toward Burr, but there is no record of a direct statement.

Did Aaron Burr date a guy?

• Speculation about Burr’s close relationship with John Wickham, his defense counsel during the treason trial, has been raised by some historians, but no concrete evidence confirms a romantic involvement (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia)).
• Burr’s correspondence with various men and women has fueled modern curiosity, but the historical record remains inconclusive.

The implication: Burr’s post-duel life was defined by loss — of reputation, of his daughter, of a future in politics. He never regained the stature he had before July 1804.

What was Aaron Burr most known for?

His role as third Vice President of the United States

• Burr was elected vice president in 1800 after a tie with Thomas Jefferson threw the election to the House of Representatives (Miller Center (presidential history research)).
• He served from 1801 to 1805, under Jefferson, but was marginalized by the president and his party.

Killing Alexander Hamilton in a duel

• The duel on July 11, 1804, made Burr a household name and permanently stained his legacy (PBS American Experience (documentary history)).
• He was indicted for murder in New York and New Jersey, but never tried (New York Courts historical records (official judicial history)).

The Burr conspiracy and treason trial

• In 1805–1806, Burr organized a western expedition that President Jefferson interpreted as an attempt to form a separate nation (American Battlefield Trust (historical preservation)).
• He was arrested in 1807 and tried for treason in Richmond, Virginia, before Chief Justice John Marshall.
• The trial resulted in acquittal on September 1, 1807, after Marshall ruled that the evidence did not meet the constitutional definition of treason (Federal Judicial Center (US courts archive)).

What this means: The duel and the conspiracy are the two poles of Burr’s notoriety — one a violent personal act, the other a political scheme that nearly cost him his life.

Why did Hamilton not shoot Burr?

Hamilton’s stated intent to throw away his shot

• Before the duel, Hamilton wrote a letter declaring his intention to “reserve” his first fire and perhaps throw it away (Founders Online (US National Archives) – Hamilton’s letter).
• The letter was published after his death and became the foundation of the “throw away” theory.

The rules of dueling and the exchange of fire

• Duels typically allowed each participant one shot; if both missed, the matter could be settled without bloodshed.
• Hamilton’s second, Nathaniel Pendleton, later stated that Hamilton told him he would “throw away” his fire.

Hamilton’s moral and political reasons

• Historians suggest Hamilton may have wanted to demonstrate moral superiority or avoid the burden of killing a former colleague (PBS American Experience (documentary history)).
• Hamilton also may have believed that shooting Burr would further damage his own reputation, which was already tarnished by the Reynolds affair.

The pattern: Hamilton’s decision, whether principled or tactical, gave Burr the decisive advantage. One shot changed both men’s fates.

Why did Jefferson not like Burr?

The election of 1800 and the tied vote

• Burr tied with Jefferson in the electoral college, forcing the House of Representatives to decide the presidency (Miller Center (presidential history research)).
• Although Burr did not actively campaign for the presidency, Jefferson and his allies perceived his willingness to accept the office as a betrayal.

Jefferson’s distrust of Burr’s ambition

• Jefferson later wrote that Burr was “a man of no principle” and “a dangerous man” (Library of Congress (US national library) – Jefferson Papers).
• The distrust deepened after Burr’s western expedition, which Jefferson viewed as a direct threat to the Union.

Political fallout and the Burr conspiracy

• Jefferson personally directed the prosecution of Burr for treason, writing to the U.S. Attorney to ensure a vigorous case (Founders Online (US National Archives)).
• After the acquittal, Jefferson continued to vilify Burr in public and private correspondence.

Why this matters: The Jefferson-Burr rivalry was not just personal — it defined the constitutional limits of executive power and the meaning of treason in the early republic.

What were Aaron Burr’s last words?

Burr’s reported last words

• According to the Britannica entry (reference publisher), Burr’s last words are reported as “I die, I die.”
• The authenticity is uncertain, as no reliable eyewitness account was recorded.

He died in poverty and largely forgotten

• At his death, Burr was living in a boarding house on Staten Island, supported by a small inheritance from a second marriage (PBS American Experience (documentary history)).
• His funeral was modest, and few public figures acknowledged his passing.

The trade-off: Burr’s final years were an exile within his own country — a man who had once been a heartbeat from the presidency now died in obscurity, his final words barely remembered.

Timeline of Aaron Burr’s life

• 1756 – Born in Newark, New Jersey (Wikipedia (free encyclopedia))
• 1772 – Graduated from the College of New Jersey (Princeton) at age 16 (Britannica (reference publisher))
• 1775–1783 – Served in the Continental Army (American Battlefield Trust (historical preservation))
• 1789–1791 – New York Attorney General (History.com (digital encyclopedia))
• 1791–1797 – United States Senator from New York (Mount Vernon (Washington’s estate & research))
• 1800 – Electoral tie with Thomas Jefferson (Miller Center (presidential history research))
• 1801–1805 – Vice President of the United States (National Park Service (historical preservation))
• July 11, 1804 – Duel with Alexander Hamilton; Hamilton dies next day (PBS American Experience (documentary history))
• 1805–1806 – Western expedition (Burr conspiracy) (Library of Congress (US national library) – Jefferson Papers)
• 1807 – Arrested and tried for treason, acquitted (Federal Judicial Center (US courts archive))
• 1808–1812 – Self-imposed exile in Europe (PBS American Experience (documentary history))
• 1812 – Returned to New York and resumed law practice (New York Courts historical records (official judicial history))
• 1836 – Died on Staten Island, New York (Britannica (reference publisher))

This timeline shows the rapid descent from power to obscurity after 1804.

Voices from history

“My real friends – if I have any – know that I go with a fixed determination not to throw away my shot.” – Alexander Hamilton, from a letter written two days before the duel (Founders Online (US National Archives))

Alexander Hamilton

“I die, I die.” – Reported last words of Aaron Burr (Britannica (reference publisher))

Aaron Burr (reported)

“Burr is a man of no principle and a dangerous man.” – Thomas Jefferson, in private correspondence (Library of Congress (US national library) – Jefferson Papers)

Thomas Jefferson

“I have long since forgiven him.” – Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, reportedly speaking about Burr in her later years (Founders Online (US National Archives))

Eliza Hamilton (reported)

Aaron Burr’s story is a cautionary tale about political ambition, personal vengeance, and the fragility of reputation. For anyone studying early American leadership, the choice is clear: follow Burr’s path of combustible personal rivalry and grand risky schemes, or learn from his fall — the price of one shot that echoed through history.

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