AUTHOR’S NOTE

As those familiar with Alexander and Elizabeth Hamilton’s story know, while Philip was indeed their first son, he was born in 1782, not 1785. Aside from that, the story is very much rooted in history, as Alex was a young lawyer building his reputation in New York at the time while Eliza devoted herself to their domestic affairs and social engagements.

Maria Reynolds is all too real, of course; however, the affair, which Alex famously admitted to in “The Reynolds Pamphlet,” took place in 1791–92 in Philadelphia and did not come to light until 1792. Also, it appears highly likely that Maria entered into the affair with her husband’s knowledge, with the express purpose of blackmailing Alex.

Eliza was pregnant with one of their children while Alex was having the affair; their son John Church Hamilton was born in 1792.

John Schuyler and Elizabeth (Betty) Van Rensselaer did indeed marry. John did attend Columbia College. Whether he was a dashing playboy and Betty an irrepressible flirt and unapologetic snob is up for debate, but I like to imagine they were fun and amusing to know.

The Trinity case is based on factual events.

Eliza’s orphanage was (and still is) real.

To the best of anyone’s knowledge, Hamilton and Burr did not almost fight a duel in 1785. However, Hamilton admitted that he and Burr had faced off in one previous duel before the fatal one of 1804, while Burr said they faced off in two. The dates of the previous contest or contests are unknown.

Emma and Drayton are both completely made up. However, Emma was inspired by Fanny Antill, a motherless child the Hamiltons took in at the age of two and raised until she was twelve.

Astounding as it is, Eliza Hamilton forgave her husband his indiscretion. She devoted her life to his legacy and died wearing a locket with a sonnet he’d written her during their early courtship that is quoted in the epigraph in the beginning of this book.

It is her forgiveness and her love that inspired me to write a story celebrating their union after my daughter wanted to know more about them.

Thank you for reading it.

—Melissa de la Cruz
New York, New York
June 25, 2018