Jeremiah Hamilton facts for kids

Jeremiah G. Hamilton was a very successful broker (someone who buys and sells things for others) on Wall Street in New York City. People sometimes called him Jerry Hamilton. About ten years before the American Civil War, he was known as "the only black millionaire in New York."

Hamilton was a smart businessman. By the time he died in 1875, he had built a huge fortune of about $2 million. This would be like having $250 million today! Even though newspapers wrote a lot about him, and his life shows us a lot about race in the 1800s, he isn't often mentioned in history books today.

Early Life and Business Adventures

Jeremiah Hamilton first became known in 1828. He was in Haiti and had to hide in a fishing boat for several days in the Port-au-Prince harbor. He was trying to escape Haitian officials. They had found out he was involved in some tricky money dealings, reportedly for a group of New York merchants. He was sentenced to be shot while he was not there. His ship, the Ann Eliza Jane, was taken by port officials. Hamilton later said he escaped with $5000 of the money.

Almost ten years later, in 1835, a huge fire destroyed many buildings in New York City. Hamilton used this time to make a lot of money. He gained about $5 million (in 2013 dollars) by making deals with people who had lost a lot in the fire. His business methods were sometimes seen as very tough. While most black business owners sold goods to other black people, Hamilton worked in the mostly white business world of New York. His strong business moves soon earned him the nickname "The Prince of Darkness."

Soon after, he used about $7 million to buy a lot of land and property. This land was in areas that are now Astoria and Poughkeepsie. Hamilton later had disagreements with Cornelius Vanderbilt, a very famous American businessman, over control of a company called the Accessory Transit Company.

Facing Challenges and Family Life

Even though Jeremiah Hamilton was very rich and spent time with the wealthiest people, he still faced racism. This was a big problem for African-American people during his time.

During the New York City draft riots in 1863, a group of white men looking to harm Hamilton broke into his house. But his wife, Eliza, was very brave. She told them her husband was not home and gave them liquor, cigars, and an old suit. This made them leave. Eliza Hamilton was white, and her marriage to Jeremiah was unusual for the time.

Later Life and Legacy

Jeremiah Hamilton died in May 1875. At the time of his death, newspapers said he was the richest black man in the United States. He is buried in his family plot at the Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn.

Sadly, there are no known pictures of Jeremiah Hamilton that still exist today. A writer named Shane White, who wrote a book about Hamilton, believes he probably had photos or even a painting made. But if they still exist, they might be mislabeled or simply unknown.

Remembering Jeremiah Hamilton

• A book called "Prince of Darkness" by Shane White was published in 2015. It tells the story of Jeremiah G. Hamilton's life.
• Hamilton is also featured in a TV show called Profiles of African-American Success.
• On February 28, 2019, U.S. Representative Jerrold Nadler officially added the story of Jeremiah G. Hamilton's life to the Congressional Record. This means his story is now part of the official government history.