← All stories
History

Burr confessed to Bentham he planned to kill Hamilton in duel

The Rest Is History · How America's Founders Turned On Each Other | Founding Fathers EP 3 · July 6, 2026
Burr confessed to Bentham he planned to kill Hamilton in duel
The Rest Is History
The Rest Is History
How America's Founders Turned On Each Other | Founding Fathers EP 3
"Bentham said of Burr, 'Burr gave me an account of his jewel with Hamilton, he was sure of being able to kill him, so I thought it little better than murder.' In other words, Burr planned the whole thing."
Years after the duel, while living in exile in London, Aaron Burr became friends with philosopher Jeremy Bentham and allegedly confessed that he had been confident of killing Hamilton and had planned the duel accordingly. Bentham's account suggests the duel was premeditated killing rather than an affair of honor, though Burr's defenders argue his image was poisoned by enemies.
From this episode
The Rest Is History
The Rest Is History

How America's Founders Turned On Each Other | Founding Fathers EP 3

August 3, 2026 · 1h 13m · 3 Egleze moments
Read episode summary and key points →

More moments from this episode

HistoryHamilton used same pistols and doctor in duel that killed his sonHistoryHamilton called Burr American Catiline and accused him of plotting usurpation
More stories More from The Rest Is History