Eliza Hamilton Holly was the second daughter and seventh child of American statesman Alexander Hamilton, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. She was only four years old when her father was killed in a duel with Vice President Aaron Burr. Eliza later married Sidney Augustus Holly, a New York City merchant, though the couple never had any children. She shared a particularly close relationship with her mother, who reportedly saw many similarities between Eliza and Alexander Hamilton. Eliza and her husband lived with her mother at The Grange, now known as the Hamilton Grange National Memorial in Manhattan, and later at a Manhattan townhouse now called the Hamilton-Holly House. After Sidney’s death, Eliza continued living with her mother and hosted notable visitors, including President Millard Fillmore and New York Senator William H. Seward. She and her mother were also guests of President Fillmore and his wife at the White House. After her mother’s death, Eliza is believed to have helped encourage the completion of her father’s biography, written by her brother, John Church Hamilton. Eliza Hamilton Holly died at the age of 59.
Childhood & Early Life
Eliza Hamilton was born on November 20, 1799, in New York City, to Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton. She was the seventh of their eight children and their second daughter. Her mother played an important role in charitable work as a co-founder and deputy director of New York City’s first private orphanage. Eliza grew up with seven siblings, including her older brothers Philip, Alexander Jr., James Alexander, John Church, and William Stephen; her older sister Angelica; and her younger brother Philip, who was known as “Little Phil.”
Official baptism and marriage documents recorded her name as “Eliza,” the same name by which her mother, Elizabeth, was also commonly known.
As a baby, Eliza was often unwell, which concerned her father. On one occasion, while caring for his children during Elizabeth’s absence, Hamilton wrote about young Eliza’s behavior, describing her as playful, pouty, and somewhat unpredictable.
Her childhood was deeply affected by tragedy in 1804. On July 11, her father fought a duel with former U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr. Burr shot Hamilton, fatally wounding him and bringing their long-standing rivalry to a tragic end. Hamilton was taken to the home of William Bayard Jr., where he later died. His wife and children, including four-year-old Eliza, were by his side during his final moments. However, Eliza did not take part in her father’s funeral procession and remained with her mother, sister Angelica, and brother Philip.
Marriage & Later Life
On July 19, 1825, Eliza married Sidney Augustus Holly, a merchant from New York City. The couple did not have any children. Sidney was one of eight children born to David Holly, a wealthy landowner from Stamford, Connecticut. The Holly family traced its roots back to some of Stamford’s earliest settlers in the 17th century and was well known in local business and government circles.
Eliza maintained a particularly close relationship with her mother throughout her life. In a letter written in December 1832, Elizabeth noted that Eliza reminded her greatly of Alexander Hamilton. She described her daughter as kind-hearted and suggested that, the more time she spent with Eliza, the more she recognized similarities between her and her late father.
Before 1833, Eliza, her husband, and her mother lived together at The Grange, also known as the Hamilton Grange Mansion, in Manhattan. It was the only house Alexander Hamilton ever owned. Today, the property is known as the Hamilton Grange National Memorial and is recognized as an important historic site.
From 1833 to 1842, Eliza and Sidney lived with Elizabeth at a townhouse located at 4 St. Mark’s Place in Manhattan’s East Village. The building, now known as the Hamilton-Holly House, was purchased by Eliza’s brother, Alexander Hamilton Jr. The house also became home to Alexander Jr., his wife, and other members of the Hamilton family. In 2004, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission officially designated the building as a landmark.
Sidney died on June 26, 1842. Later that year, Eliza and her mother moved to a house at 63 Prince Street in Lower Manhattan, which had previously been occupied by notable figures, including President James Monroe. Eliza continued caring for her mother, who began experiencing short-term memory loss by 1846.
In 1848, Eliza and her mother moved to Washington, DC, where they lived in a house near the White House. During this period, they welcomed several prominent visitors, including President Millard Fillmore, Senator William H. Seward, and General Winfield Scott. Eliza and her mother were also invited to dine at the White House with President Fillmore and his wife, Abigail Powers.
Elizabeth Hamilton died in Washington, DC, on November 9, 1854, at the age of 97. After her mother’s death, Eliza is believed to have played a role in encouraging and accelerating the publication of her father’s biography, written by her older brother, John Church Hamilton. Reports suggest that Eliza criticized her brother for taking so long to complete the work, as their mother had eagerly hoped to see Alexander Hamilton’s legacy properly documented.
Eliza Hamilton Holly died in Washington, DC, on October 17, 1859, at the age of 59. She was buried at Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in Sleepy Hollow, New York, where several other members of her family were also laid to rest.