First treasury secretary of the United States. A New Yorker, Hamilton emerged as the leader of the Federalist faction in the 1790s, advocating a strong federal government, federalisation of Revolutionary War debts and the creation of a national bank.
Hamilton wanted a strong central state that paid its debts. His big-government philosophy put him at odds with Thomas Jefferson, who feared centralisation. The two clashed repeatedly during George Washington's presidency. Hamilton's Federalists backed Britain in the war between Britain and France that broke out in 1793; Jefferson's Republicans favoured France.
When confusing electoral rules produced a tie between Jefferson and Aaron Burr in the 1800 presidential election, the lame-duck Federalist Congress had to choose between the two. Hamilton tipped the election to Jefferson by impugning Burr.
Hamilton died in 1804. The Federalist Party faded as a national force within little more than a decade of his death. Some Federalist ideas reappeared in later parties, including the Whigs (emerging in the 1830s) and the modern Republican Party (taking shape in the 1850s). The Broadway musical "Hamilton" told the story of his rivalry with Jefferson through epic rap battles. (The actual debates were not conducted in verse.)
Every absurdity has a champion who will defend it.