Retire Early Lifestyle
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In 1991 Billy and Akaisha Kaderli retired at the age of 38. Now, into their 4th decade of this financially independent lifestyle, they invite you to take advantage of their wisdom and experience.

The Alexander Hamilton Museum

Nevis, West Indies

Billy and Akaisha Kaderli

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You might know that Alexander Hamilton was the first US Secretary of Treasury, and that he was one of the Founding Fathers of the new nation called The United States.

If you are anything like us... we realized how little we knew of this brilliant man who was born illegitimately on the island of Nevis, a British colony at the time.

He showed his mental acuity at an early age and his passage to New York was crowd-funded to give him the best chance to become educated and therefore be able to display his talents.

Admission to this local Museum is around $10USD which also gives you access to other museums and island exhibits on the same property.

Let's take a look.

Bronze statue of Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton was born around January 11, 1755 (or 1757, as records are unclear) in Charlestown, Nevis. At this time, the island was a British colony in the West Indies.

His childhood here, which lasted until his mid-teens, was marked by hardship. His father, James Hamilton, left the family when Alexander was 11 and his mother, Rachel Fawcett Lavien died of  a fever, leaving him an orphan at age 13. While he did stay with a relative for a short while, that relative committed suicide, leaving Alexander to fend for himself at a very young age.

Because he was an illegitimate child, he faced heavy social stigma and was not allowed to attend any formal school on the island. But his mother ensured that Alexander received some education through private tutors and a Jewish school in Charlestown.

By age 11, he was working as a clerk for Beekman and Cruger, a trading firm, where his knack for numbers and writing shone. He managed accounts, corresponded with merchants, and - when he was a teenager - briefly ran the firm when the owner was away.  

The Museum is in Trott House

Trott House was originally constructed around1680 and marks the approximate site of Alexander's birthplace. This Georgian-style building was destroyed by an earthquake in 1840 and rebuilt in 1983.

Charlestown was a bustling port town at the time of Alexander's childhood. His father, James Hamilton, worked as a merchant but struggled financially. When James abandoned his family, Rachel supported them by running a small store, where young Alexander likely gained early exposure to trade, bookkeeping, and the multicultural world of Caribbean commerce.

Rachel was descended from French Huguenots who were known for their work ethic, literacy, and commercial acumen, which Hamilton inherited.

Billy and Akaisha in front of the museum and House of Assembly

Nevis was a sugar colony heavily reliant on enslaved African labor. The Hamilton household likely included enslaved people, and Alexander witnessed the brutal realities of plantation life. This environment probably fostered his later abolitionist leanings.  

Since Alexander was orphaned as a young teenager, he found himself needing to navigate life with support from local merchants like Thomas Stevens. His intellect caught the attention of Nevis elites, including Rev. Hugh Knox, who mentored him and helped fund his education in America.

 His early clerkship gave him economic insights, his outsider status fueled ambition, and his Huguenot heritage instilled a drive for liberty. These traits carried into his American education, his later bond with George Washington, and his relentless work to build a nation resilient to the instability he witnessed in the Caribbean. 

Displayed works of Alexander Hamilton

Alexander left Nevis around the age of 17 in 1772, funded by local merchants. He never returned.

Hamilton arrived in New York and his mentors, including Rev. Hugh Knox, arranged for his education to prepare him for a professional career.

He first attended a preparatory school, Elizabethtown Academy in New Jersey, to bolster his self-taught education from Nevis. There, he studied Latin, Greek, mathematics, and writing, showing remarkable aptitude despite his late start compared to peers. Hamilton enrolled at King’s College (now Columbia University) in New York City in 1773. He studied law, history, and political philosophy, immersing himself in Enlightenment thinkers like John Locke, whose ideas on governance later shaped his political writings.

His formal education was interrupted by the escalating Revolutionary War. By 1775, he joined a militia, prioritizing revolutionary activities over completing his degree.

One of the posters in Hamilton's Museum

Hamilton’s education shifted to the battlefield as he joined the New York Provincial Artillery Company in 1775.

His leadership and intellect, honed in Nevis’s mercantile world and refined at King’s College, caught the attention of higher-ups. In 1776, as a captain of artillery, he distinguished himself in battles around New York, demonstrating strategic acumen and bravery.

George Washington was the commander of the Continental Army and he recognized Hamilton’s talents through his writings and military performance.

In March 1777, Washington invited the 22-year-old Hamilton to join his staff as an aide-de-camp with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Alexander's multilingual skills from Nevis’s diverse port and through his schooling, plus his writing prowess made him invaluable.

He drafted letters, negotiated with allies, and handled intelligence, becoming one of Washington’s most trusted aides. Their relationship, forged in the crucible of war, was professional but sometimes strained due to Hamilton’s ambition and temper.

The view of the Caribbean Sea from the House Assembly

As Washington’s aide, Hamilton shaped military strategy and diplomacy, including correspondence with French allies after 1778. Frustrated by desk work, he sought field command and, in 1781, led a daring assault at the Battle of Yorktown, a decisive victory that showcased his courage and tactical skill.

After Yorktown, Hamilton resigned from Washington’s staff and studied law independently, passing the bar in 1782. Due to his experience and war background, he held a belief in a strong central government. He wrote essays like The Continentalist, advocating for a unified nation with robust federal powers.

He was appointed by Washington as the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, and in this capacity, he shaped the nation’s economic foundation. His Reports on Manufactures in 1791 and plans for a national bank, federal assumption of state debts, and tariffs established a modern financial system. These policies stabilized the economy but sparked debates with Jefferson and Madison over federal power, laying the groundwork for the Federalist Party.

His role in the 1784 founding of the Bank of New York showcased his economic vision, and he was elected to the New York legislature in 1787.

Hamilton was fiercely ambitious but due to an extramarital affair which became a huge scandal, and his abrasive style, his electoral prospects were limited.

Portrait of Alexander Hamilton

You've probably heard about the duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton in 1804.

This is one of the most infamous events in American history.

Burr and Hamilton were political adversaries in the early United States.

Their rivalry intensified during the 1800 presidential election, when Hamilton’s influence helped Thomas Jefferson defeat Burr for the presidency. Hamilton never trusted Burr whom he viewed as opportunistic.

Hamilton, known for his sharp tongue, had criticized Burr publicly for years, accusing him of lacking character. But their social circles overlapped, and Burr was very sensitive to slights.

It got to a point where Burr felt his honor was repeatedly attacked. And when Hamilton published a letter calling Burr “a dangerous man” unfit for office, Burr had had enough, and challenged Hamilton to a duel.

It was on the morning of July 11, 1804, when Hamilton and Burr met at a dueling ground in New Jersey, across the Hudson River from Manhattan.

The duel followed formal rules, with each man armed with a .54-caliber pistol.

It is said that Hamilton intended to “throw away his shot” by firing into the air to avoid bloodshed. Burr, however, fired directly, hitting Hamilton in the abdomen. Hamilton’s shot went high, striking a tree, suggesting he may have deliberately missed, and Burr was unharmed.

A poster from inside the museum

Hamilton, mortally wounded, was rowed back to New York City, where he died the next day, July 12, 1804, at age 47 (or 49, given his uncertain birth year). He was surrounded by family, including his wife, Eliza, and expressed regret for the duel’s impact.

Burr fled to avoid prosecution, as dueling was illegal both in New Jersey and in New York.

The duel destroyed Burr’s political career, and he was branded a villain. Later, he drifted into obscurity, attempting various ventures like a failed Western expedition. His reputation never recovered, contrasting with Hamilton’s martyred legacy.

Hamilton’s death elevated his status as a Founding Father. He made notable contributions to the Constitution, co-authored the Federalist Papers, and influenced the U.S. financial system.

The duel underscored his fiery personality, a trait traceable to his scrappy Nevis childhood, where he overcame illegitimacy and orphanhood.

Famous painting depicting the signing of the United States Constitution

This painting was created by Howard Chandler Christy in 1940.

It portrays the Constitutional Convention of 1787 in Philadelphia, where delegates gathered to draft the U.S. Constitution. On the left, in the first row you will find Governor Morris, Benjamin Franklin, the man in blue might be Rufus King who is touching Alexander Hamilton's shoulder. James Madison is next to Hamilton.

As a New York delegate to the Constitutional Convention, Hamilton played a key role in crafting the U.S. Constitution.

He was a businessman, rose to a statesman, military commander, and spoke several languages.

Though Alexander showed his vulnerability in his personal relationships, his professional life was stellar.

These men who put this New Nation together -The United States of America - were brilliant, dedicated, and many of them were young and unafraid. They had a vision of a country where each person could live in freedom and bring about the best life he was able to live while being protected by the rule of law equally applied to all.

If you are in Nevis, be sure to make a visit to the Alexander Hamilton Museum.

Retire Early Lifestyle appeals to a different kind of person – the person who prizes their independence, values their time, and who doesn’t want to mindlessly follow the crowd.

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