Maria Reynolds
Encyclopedia
Maria Lewis Reynolds is best known as the mistress of Alexander Hamilton
and wife of James Reynolds, and she played a central role in one of the first sex scandal
s in American political history.
officer during the American Revolution
, and together they had a daughter, Susan. Throughout their marriage, James Reynolds was abusive to Maria and their children, but the two would nonetheless conspire in one of the first American scandals to use the media
against a public figure.
, where her family lived. Hamilton consented, and delivered the money in person to Maria later that night. As Hamilton himself later confessed, "I took the bill out of my pocket and gave it to her--Some conversation ensued from which it was quickly apparent that other than pecuniary consolation would be acceptable." The two began an illicit affair that would last at least three years.
Over the course of 1791 and 1792 while the affair took place, James Reynolds was well aware of his wife's unfaithfulness. He continually supported the affair to regularly gain blackmail money from Hamilton. The common practice in the day was for the wronged husband to seek retribution in a pistol duel
, but Reynolds, realizing how much Hamilton had to lose if his activity came into public view, again insisted on monetary compensation instead.
over several years to continue sleeping with Maria without his interference. But when Reynolds, being a professional con man, became entangled in a separate scheme involving speculation on unpaid back wages intended for Revolutionary War veterans, he used his knowledge about Hamilton’s sex affair to bargain his way out of his own troubles. Reynolds knew Hamilton would have to choose between revealing his affair with Maria, or admitting complicity to the speculation charges. James Monroe and Frederick Muhlenberg were the first men to hear of this incredible possible corruption within their new government system. Monroe and Muhlenberg had the option to go straight to President Washington with this news, but as gentlemen they felt compelled to bring it to Hamilton first. Hamilton chose the former, admitting his sexual indiscretion to Congressional inquirers James Monroe
and Frederick Muhlenberg
, and even turning over his love letters from Maria to them.
The letters proved Hamilton's innocence in the speculation scandal. In addition, because his confession was made in confidence, Hamilton's involvement with Maria Reynolds was not made public in the wake of the speculation investigation. Monroe and his colleagues assured Hamilton that the matter was settled. However, Monroe took the love letters and sent them to his close personal friend, Thomas Jefferson
, of Hamilton's admission. Jefferson and Hamilton were self-described nemeses, and five years after receiving the letters, Jefferson used the knowledge to start rampant rumors about Hamilton's private life. The final straw came in 1797, when pamphlet
publisher James Thomson Callender obtained the secret letters and printed them in his newspaper. Callender, who might be referred to today as a "muckraker
," also resurfaced corruption charges against Hamilton in his articles. He would later disclose information (through his newspaper) about Sally Hemmings
and Thomas Jefferson. Hamilton responded by printing his own 95 page pamphlet called Observations on Certain Documents in which he denied all charges of corruption. He did not, however, deny his relationship with Maria Reynolds; instead, he openly admitted it and apologized for it.
While his candor was admired, the affair severely damaged Hamilton's reputation. Prior to this, Maria Reynolds had divorced James Reynolds; her attorney in the proceedings was none other than Aaron Burr
, who would eventually kill Hamilton in their infamous 1804 duel
. Prior to the duel, Hamilton wrote his wife that he would not shoot at Burr but would “expose my own life to any extent rather than subject myself to the guilt of taking another.” Hamilton died shortly after the duel, but he received absolution and communion from the Episcopal bishop of New York just before his death.
Alexander Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton was a Founding Father, soldier, economist, political philosopher, one of America's first constitutional lawyers and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury...
and wife of James Reynolds, and she played a central role in one of the first sex scandal
Sex scandal
A sex scandal is a scandal involving allegations or information about possibly-immoral sexual activities being made public. Sex scandals are often associated with movie stars, politicians, famous athletes or others in the public eye, and become scandals largely because of the prominence of the...
s in American political history.
History
At age 16, Maria Lewis married James Reynolds, a former CommissaryCommissary
A commissary is someone delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office; in a formal, legal context, one who has received power from a legitimate superior authority to pass judgment in a certain cause or to take information concerning it.-Word history:...
officer during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
, and together they had a daughter, Susan. Throughout their marriage, James Reynolds was abusive to Maria and their children, but the two would nonetheless conspire in one of the first American scandals to use the media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
against a public figure.
Affair
In 1791, 23-year-old Maria Reynolds approached the married thirty-four-year-old Alexander Hamilton in Philadelphia, requesting his help. Claiming that James Reynolds had abandoned her and her daughter, Maria asked him for enough money to transport them back to New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where her family lived. Hamilton consented, and delivered the money in person to Maria later that night. As Hamilton himself later confessed, "I took the bill out of my pocket and gave it to her--Some conversation ensued from which it was quickly apparent that other than pecuniary consolation would be acceptable." The two began an illicit affair that would last at least three years.
Over the course of 1791 and 1792 while the affair took place, James Reynolds was well aware of his wife's unfaithfulness. He continually supported the affair to regularly gain blackmail money from Hamilton. The common practice in the day was for the wronged husband to seek retribution in a pistol duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
, but Reynolds, realizing how much Hamilton had to lose if his activity came into public view, again insisted on monetary compensation instead.
Scandal
Hamilton eventually paid Reynolds more than $1,000 in blackmailBlackmail
In common usage, blackmail is a crime involving threats to reveal substantially true or false information about a person to the public, a family member, or associates unless a demand is met. It may be defined as coercion involving threats of physical harm, threat of criminal prosecution, or threats...
over several years to continue sleeping with Maria without his interference. But when Reynolds, being a professional con man, became entangled in a separate scheme involving speculation on unpaid back wages intended for Revolutionary War veterans, he used his knowledge about Hamilton’s sex affair to bargain his way out of his own troubles. Reynolds knew Hamilton would have to choose between revealing his affair with Maria, or admitting complicity to the speculation charges. James Monroe and Frederick Muhlenberg were the first men to hear of this incredible possible corruption within their new government system. Monroe and Muhlenberg had the option to go straight to President Washington with this news, but as gentlemen they felt compelled to bring it to Hamilton first. Hamilton chose the former, admitting his sexual indiscretion to Congressional inquirers James Monroe
James Monroe
James Monroe was the fifth President of the United States . Monroe was the last president who was a Founding Father of the United States, and the last president from the Virginia dynasty and the Republican Generation...
and Frederick Muhlenberg
Frederick Muhlenberg
Frederick Augustus Conrad Muhlenberg was an American minister and politician who was the first Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. A delegate and a member of the U.S...
, and even turning over his love letters from Maria to them.
The letters proved Hamilton's innocence in the speculation scandal. In addition, because his confession was made in confidence, Hamilton's involvement with Maria Reynolds was not made public in the wake of the speculation investigation. Monroe and his colleagues assured Hamilton that the matter was settled. However, Monroe took the love letters and sent them to his close personal friend, Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, of Hamilton's admission. Jefferson and Hamilton were self-described nemeses, and five years after receiving the letters, Jefferson used the knowledge to start rampant rumors about Hamilton's private life. The final straw came in 1797, when pamphlet
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
publisher James Thomson Callender obtained the secret letters and printed them in his newspaper. Callender, who might be referred to today as a "muckraker
Muckraker
The term muckraker is closely associated with reform-oriented journalists who wrote largely for popular magazines, continued a tradition of investigative journalism reporting, and emerged in the United States after 1900 and continued to be influential until World War I, when through a combination...
," also resurfaced corruption charges against Hamilton in his articles. He would later disclose information (through his newspaper) about Sally Hemmings
Sally Hemings
Sarah "Sally" Hemings was a mixed-race slave owned by President Thomas Jefferson through inheritance from his wife. She was the half-sister of Jefferson's wife, Martha Wayles Skelton Jefferson by their father John Wayles...
and Thomas Jefferson. Hamilton responded by printing his own 95 page pamphlet called Observations on Certain Documents in which he denied all charges of corruption. He did not, however, deny his relationship with Maria Reynolds; instead, he openly admitted it and apologized for it.
While his candor was admired, the affair severely damaged Hamilton's reputation. Prior to this, Maria Reynolds had divorced James Reynolds; her attorney in the proceedings was none other than Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr
Aaron Burr, Jr. was an important political figure in the early history of the United States of America. After serving as a Continental Army officer in the Revolutionary War, Burr became a successful lawyer and politician...
, who would eventually kill Hamilton in their infamous 1804 duel
Hamilton-Burr duel
The Burr–Hamilton duel was a duel between two prominent American politicians, the former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton and sitting Vice President Aaron Burr, on July 11, 1804. At Weehawken in New Jersey, Burr shot and fatally wounded Hamilton. Hamilton was carried to the home of...
. Prior to the duel, Hamilton wrote his wife that he would not shoot at Burr but would “expose my own life to any extent rather than subject myself to the guilt of taking another.” Hamilton died shortly after the duel, but he received absolution and communion from the Episcopal bishop of New York just before his death.
Further reading
- Cerniglia, Keith A. "An Indelicate Amor: Alexander Hamilton and the First American Political Sex Scandal," Master's Thesis, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 2002.
- Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow Penguin Press (April 26, 2004) ISBN 1594200092.
- Relevant excerpt from Chernow's Alexander Hamilton pp. 364–7 http://www.delanceyplace.com/readarchives.php?letter_id=608&pageaction=browse
- Scandalmonger ISBN 0-684-86719-2 by William SafireWilliam SafireWilliam Lewis Safire was an American author, columnist, journalist and presidential speechwriter....
. A well documented fictionalized account of the affair as well as background information about the enmity between Jefferson and Hamilton.