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Alexander Hamilton in St. Croix

250th Anniversary Celebration - June 14, 2015

Alexander Hamiltonin St. Croix250th Anniversary Celebration - June 14, 2015
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250th Anniversary of Alexander Hamilton's Move to St. Croix

Note: This event has already occurred. See the full event recap with pictures, articles, and more.


Before Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father of the United States, he was a young boy growing up in the Caribbean. He was born on the island of Nevis, where he and his family lived while he was a young boy. In the spring of 1765, 250 years ago, the family made the move to the island of St. Croix.


In the seven years that Alexander Hamilton lived on the island of St. Croix, he acquired valuable insights into commerce and international trade. Hamilton began clerking for a mercantile company at a young age, and when he was a teenager, he was put in charge of the entire business for five months while his boss was in New York. Later in his life, Hamilton commented to his son that this experience was "the most useful part of his education."


Young Hamilton also experienced great hardship on St. Croix. His father left the island within a year or two of their arrival and Hamilton never saw him again. In 1768, his mother died, which was soon followed by the deaths of most of Hamilton's remaining family on the island. Hamilton also survived a devastating hurricane on August 31, 1772, shortly before he left the island to go to the North American mainland to receive a college education - a change that would land him in New York just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.


Members of the AHA Society will visit St. Croix in June 2015 to explore Alexander Hamilton's ties to the island in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Hamilton family's arrival.

Event Information

Official Commemoration Events

Many different entities are coming together on June 14th to mark this special anniversary. Christiansted National Historic Site hosts events throughout the day, with the participation of the Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society; the governments of the U.S. Virgin Islands and St. Kitts & Nevis; the United States Coast Guard Sector San Juan; the Alexander Hamilton Society of St. Croix; and many other groups.


Round-table Discussion


In the morning, historians and officials will be gathering for a round-table discussion at the Guinea Company Warehouse/Slave Market Building to collaborate on elevating Alexander Hamilton's profile on St. Croix.


Christiansted Port Arrival Reenactment and Ceremony


At 1 pm, officials from the island of Nevis, Alexander Hamilton's birthplace, will arrive in the same port in Christiansted where Hamilton's family arrived 250 years ago.


The United States Coast Guard – Sector San Juan of District #7 will also be participating in this symbolic event by carrying the representatives from Nevis into the Christiansted port. The Coast Guard's involvement has special significance since Alexander Hamilton is considered the Father of the Coast Guard. With this event, Sector San Juan is officially kicking off celebrations for the US Coast Guard's 225th anniversary this year.


Following the officials' arrival into the Christiansted port, there will then be a ceremony in the bandstand of the Fort Christianvaern park with an exchange of official proclamations honoring the Hamilton connection between the two islands.


Speakers at the 1 pm ceremony include:


  • Evelyn Henville, Director of the Nevis Historical and Conservation Society
  • The Hon. Minister Alexis Jeffers, Ministry of Communications, Agriculture, Lands, et al, Senior Minister of the Nevis Island Administration, St. Kitts & Nevis
  • Dr. Simon Jones-Hendrickson, USVI Chief Economist, Representing the Office of the Governor, Hon. Kenneth Mapp, U.S. Virgin Islands
  • Lieutenant Joshua Love, Officer of the United States Coast Guard, Sector San Juan, District #7


Visiting Hamilton's Christiansted


Members of the AHA Society and dignitaries will then tour locations in Christiansted associated with Alexander Hamilton, including where he lived, worked, and worshiped.

When?

Sunday, Jun 14, 2015, 10:30 AM

Where?

Christiansted National Historic Site, Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands

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Learn more about Hamilton in St. Croix

All Places Hamilton is a special database within AllThingsHamilton.com that provides historical information as well as visiting information to various locations associated with Alexander Hamilton, including buildings in which he lived and worked, battlefields on which he fought, and places he visited.


Visit the All Places Hamilton page for Christiansted, St. Croix.
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The Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society

The Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society, also known as The AHA Society, strives to enrich the public's knowledge and understanding of Alexander Hamilton and the Founding period of the United States.


Visit our official website at The-AHA-Society.com to learn more about events, presentations, and other initiatives.


Explore Alexander Hamilton's life and times further on AllThingsHamilton.com

Email: contact@the-aha-society.com
Website: the-aha-society.com
Location: PO Box 15704, Clearwater, Florida 33766
Facebook: facebook.com/theahasociety
Twitter: @theahasociety

Additional AHA Society Events

July 10-13, 2015: CelebrateHAMILTON


Join the AHA Society for its annual summer program in New York City and New York, honoring Alexander Hamilton. This year's fifteen events include walking tours, historical home visits, author talks, presentations, and the traditional Hamilton graveside remembrance ceremony. Get future updates from our official events page.


August 4, 2015: 225th Anniversary of the US Coast Guard


The forerunner to the Coast Guard was officially signed into law on August 4, 1790 at Federal Hall in New York City. Join the AHA Society, the US Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary, and the National Park Service at Federal Hall for a special event honoring this special anniversary. Get future updates from our official events page.


September 12, 2015: Treaty of Paris Festival


The Center for the Treaty of Paris Period in Annapolis, Maryland is hosting its annual Treaty of Paris Festival this year with a special theme on Alexander Hamilton. Come attend the day-long festival to learn more about Alexander Hamilton's connections to Annapolis, particularly his role at the Annapolis Convention that was the forerunner to the Constitutional Convention. Get future updates from our official events page.