Vice President Aaron Burr

Date Posted: Friday, November 6th, 2015

Tom Summers, Outreach Services Manager

Sometimes the signature on a letter is more important than the message contained within. Written on November 6, 1804, this correspondence to Delaware Governor David Hall documents the resignation of Delaware’s Senator William Hill Wells. However, the most interesting section is the signature. Located in the lower right corner is written “A. Burr, Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate.” Aaron Burr signed the letter four months after he had shot and killed Alexander Hamilton in the famous duel. While dueling was controversial at the time, it was not illegal and Burr remained the Vice President until his term expired in 1805.

 

 

 

This document can be found in the Executive Papers at the Delaware Public Archives. This collection contains the papers of Delaware Governors from the eighteenth through the late-nineteenth centuries.

Related Topics:  Aaron Burr, document, letter