Connecticut’s historic house hides a deadly Vice President’s origins

Aaron Burr’s Rise from Litchfield Law Student

Aaron Burr’s path from law student to Vice President began in a small house in Litchfield, Connecticut.

In 1774, the 18-year-old moved in with his brother-in-law Tapping Reeve, who had married Burr’s sister Sally three years earlier.

There, in Reeve’s downstairs parlor, Burr became America’s first formal law school student. War soon changed his plans.

After news of Lexington and Concord, Burr left to join the Continental Army, where he fought under Benedict Arnold and saved 5,000 men in a New York retreat.

Later, he rose to become a New York Senator and then Vice President in 1800. Yet his legacy was sealed in 1804 when he shot Alexander Hamilton in their famous duel.

The Tapping Reeve House still stands today, preserving the birthplace of American legal education.

Orphaned at Two, Young Aaron Lost His Father to Smallpox

Aaron Burr Sr. , who ran Princeton, caught smallpox and died in 1757 when Aaron Jr. was just two. His mom died a few months later, leaving Aaron and sister Sally as orphans.

They moved in with uncle Timothy Edwards, who hired a smart young tutor named Tapping Reeve to teach them.

Reeve worked at Princeton’s grammar school and spent hours helping both kids with their studies. During those long tutoring sessions, Reeve got to know Sally well and soon fell in love with her.

America’s First Law School Started in a Living Room

Eighteen-year-old Aaron showed up at his sister’s doorstep in Litchfield in 1774, ready to learn law from his brother-in-law.

He slept upstairs and came down to the parlor each day for lessons.

Reeve turned his living room into a classroom, holding mock court sessions where Aaron could practice legal arguments.

This simple setup grew into something much bigger. Aaron became the first student in what later grew into America’s first formal law school.

War Drums Called Aaron Away From His Books

News about the fights at Lexington and Concord reached Litchfield in 1775, changing Aaron’s plans. He put away his law books and joined the Continental Army as a volunteer.

Aaron signed up for Benedict Arnold’s mission to take Quebec, facing a tough 350-mile march through the Maine wilderness.

The journey pushed the young man to his limits as troops cut through thick forests, walked through swamps, and faced bitter cold with little food.

The Quebec Attack Made Aaron’s Reputation

Aaron moved up to captain and served as helper to General Richard Montgomery during the Canadian campaign.

On December 31, 1775, he joined the attack on Quebec City’s walls in a blinding snowstorm. When Montgomery fell to British fire, Aaron tried to drag the general’s body back to American lines.

The attack failed, but Aaron’s bravery caught everyone’s attention. Fellow soldiers talked about the young officer who risked his life under enemy fire.

He Clashed With Washington But Saved 5,000 Men

Aaron joined George Washington’s staff in Manhattan during spring 1776 but quit after just a few weeks. His strong personality didn’t mix well with Washington’s leadership style.

Aaron moved to General Israel Putnam’s command in New York instead. There he mapped an escape route that helped 5,000 American troops slip away from British forces.

His quick thinking saved a huge part of the Continental Army from capture when the British took Manhattan.

The Young Colonel Led Men Twice His Age

The Continental Congress made Aaron a lieutenant colonel in 1777 when he was just 21 years old. He took charge of Malcolm’s Regiment with over 300 men under his orders.

Aaron led troops fighting British raids into New Jersey and helped defend Valley Forge during the harsh winter of 1777-1778.

The rough conditions hurt his health. Cold, hunger, and the stress of battle wore him down until he could barely stand.

From Battlefield to Courtroom, Aaron Found His Calling

Aaron quit the Continental Army on March 10, 1779, with his health in ruins. He went back to studying law and passed the New York bar in 1782.

After the British left New York City, Aaron opened a law office there and built a busy practice. His sharp legal mind and war hero status opened doors throughout New York society.

He married Theodosia Prevost, a widow ten years older than him, and had a daughter they also named Theodosia.

The Senate Seat Launched His Political Career

Aaron won a spot in the New York State Assembly in 1784 and became Attorney General in 1789.

His biggest win came when he beat Alexander Hamilton’s father-in-law Philip Schuyler for a U.S. Senate seat in 1791.

Aaron served as New York Senator from 1791 to 1797, helping build the Democratic-Republican party into a political force.

His work paid off in 1800 when voters picked him as the third Vice President alongside Thomas Jefferson.

A Single Shot at Weehawken Changed Everything

Hamilton attacked Aaron’s character repeatedly during the 1804 New York Governor’s race. When Hamilton refused, Aaron challenged him to a duel.

The final straw came when Charles Cooper published a letter mentioning Hamilton’s “despicable opinion” of Aaron.

They met at dawn on July 11, 1804, at Weehawken Heights across the Hudson from New York City. Aaron’s bullet struck Hamilton in the abdomen, inflicting a fatal wound.

The Vice President Became a Political Outcast

Hamilton suffered for 31 hours before dying on July 12, 1804. Authorities in New York and New Jersey charged Aaron with murder, forcing him to flee south.

He finished his term as Vice President but never held public office again.

The man who once stood a heartbeat away from the presidency faced treason charges in 1807 for an alleged plot to create a separate nation in the western territories.

Though acquitted, Aaron spent years in Europe before returning to America, where he died in poverty and obscurity in 1836.

Visiting Tapping Reeve House and Law School, Connecticut

The Tapping Reeve House and Law School at 82 South Street in Litchfield offers free admission Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You can follow real student routines through interactive exhibits, try on period clothes, and vote on historical issues that shaped early American lawyers like Aaron Burr.

Start with the “Coming to Litchfield” video about 19th-century student life, then explore each room while making decisions about supplies and daily schedules.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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