On this day in 1807, former Vice President Aaron Burr was arrested on a muddy road outside of Wakefield Alabama for treason. He’d been planning to annex part of the newly acquired Louisiana territory as well as Mexican lands in order to establish his own independent republic.
Seven years earlier, Alexander Hamilton was instrumental in breaking the tie for the presidential race between Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson, questioning Burr’s ambitions and later calling him a dangerous man. As the runner-up, Burr won the Vice President position (which is how it worked back then). Jefferson did not support Burr’s reelection in 1804 and a bitter Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel for defaming him. When the duel commenced Hamilton raised his pistol in the air, but Burr aimed and fired, killing the former founder and U.S. Treasurer. This brought Burr’s political career to a halt. In the years following Hamilton’s death, Burr raised an army of disgruntled colonists and territory secessionists and plotted to march on New Orleans. He also reached out for military support from England and Spain but received no replies.
Burr was finally acquitted for treason, because he had not actually led the attack yet that he had planned before being arrested, but across the country he was burned in effigy in public squares. He then moved to Europe for several years to escape American scrutiny.
Music Du Jour: Hamilton Soundtrack
Films Du Jour:
- Hamilton (2017) on the Disney Channel
- Hamilton excerpt: Hamilton meets Burr
- American Experience: The Duel (2011)
- What Hamilton Doesn’t Tell You (2020) Burr’s Forgotten Story After the Duel
Miscellaneous:
- Timeline leading to The Duel
- Interesting tidbits about Aaron Burr
- American Emperor Biography of Aaron Burr
- DNA confirms that Burr had an affair with an East Indian servant and has living descendants of color
Snacks du Jour: Burr banned snacks on the senate floor when he was Vice President, so please…just abstain from snacking while important people are talking.
Cocktail Du Jour – The Aaron Burr Milk Punch
This recipe is from goodfoodstories.com and makes 2 servings:
- 4 oz half and half
- 3 oz apple brandy (Black Dirt Apple Jack if you have it)
- 1 oz cinnamon simple syrup*
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Shake all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into two coupe glasses. Dust top with powdered cinnamon.
*To make cinnamon simple syrup: dissolve ½ cup of sugar in ½ cup simmering water on the stove; add cinnamon stick and cover; let it sit for 1 hour then remove cinnamon stick.
Mocktail Du Jour – The Aaron Burr Milk Punch Mocktail
This recipe is from goodfoodstories.com and makes 2 servings:
- 4 oz half and half
- 3 oz nonalcoholic brandy
- 1 oz cinnamon simple syrup*
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Shake all ingredients with ice in a cocktail shaker. Strain into two coupe glasses. Dust top with powdered cinnamon.
*To make cinnamon simple syrup: dissolve ½ cup of sugar in ½ cup simmering water on the stove; add cinnamon stick and cover; let it sit for 1 hour then remove cinnamon stick.
Beer Du Jour
Aaron Burr Cider if you can find it, or any cider will do.
Wine Du Jour
Any organic wine, which simulates founder winemaking
Use freshly squeezed citrus in your cocktails and mocktails when called for – It makes such a difference! Here’s a reliable and inexpensive juicer.
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“Aaron Burr’s Gravesite at the Princeton Cemetery” by slgckgc is licensed under CC PDM 1.0
