The Philolexian Society of Columbia University
James Alexander Hamilton
U.S.
From Notable Alumni · Foundation editorial
U.S. Secretary of State under Andrew Jackson; formal founder of the Philolexian Society. Acting U.S. Secretary of State under Andrew Jackson in March 1829, until Van Buren's confirmation. Before that he served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. He was Alexander Hamilton's third son, and signed his name at the top of Philolexian's original 1802 parchment scroll: the formal founder of the Society.
Vital
- Full name
- James Alexander Hamilton
Columbia & the Society
- Columbia
- Class of 1805 (Columbia College)
- Society role
- Among the earliest members of the Philolexian Society (founded 1802).
Works (6)
- 1813 Testimonies in Favour of Vaccination · The Belfast Monthly Magazine
- 1838 A Reply to Dr. Collins’s last Communication in the Dublin Journal of Medical Science · The Dublin Journal of Medical Science
- 1840 Meteorological observations, at the vernal equinox of 1840, made in conformity, with the instruction's of the South African Literary and Philosophical Institution, at,the University of Nashville, Tennessee, in North Latitude, 36° 09′ 33″, W. Long. 86° 49′ 03′ · Journal of the Franklin Institute
- 1869 Reminiscences of James A. Hamilton · Memoir
- 1805 Sacred harmony
- 1805 Second edition of Hamilton's Catechism on the art of writing for an orchestra and on playing from score
Primary sources
Columbia College Today & other articles
Columbia College Today — vol. 56 (~2015)
I stumbled upon a story about Clement Clarke Moore (Class of 1798), author of the yuletide poem A Visit from St. Nicholas, which later became famous as 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. I learned that Moore's father, Benjamin Moore (Class of 1768), was president of the College from 1775 to 1776, before classes were canceled for the Revolutionary War, and again from 1801 to 1811. During his second presidency, the Philolexian Society, Columbia's first student-run literary society and our oldest student organization, was founded. Among Philolexian's earliest members were Benjamin Moore's nephew and future Columbia president Nathaniel F. Moore (Class of 1802) and Alexander Hamilton's son James (Class of 1805).
CCT vol. 56 historical note identifies James Alexander Hamilton CC 1805 (son of Alexander Hamilton) as 'among Philolexian's earliest members' — founded 1802 during Benjamin Moore's Columbia presidency (1801-1811). Independent-source confirmation of his founding-era Society membership.
The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912)
The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912) Leaf / page 37
Named in The Annals of the Philolexian Society (1912) at the referenced leaf.
Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916)
Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) Leaf / page 135
Named in Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) at the referenced leaf.
Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) Leaf / page 135
Named in Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) at the referenced leaf.
Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) Leaf / page 563
Named in Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) at the referenced leaf.
Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) Leaf / page 875
Named in Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) at the referenced leaf.
Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) Leaf / page 959
Named in Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) at the referenced leaf.
Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) Leaf / page 1000
Named in Maxwell, Catalogue of Columbia Graduates (1916) at the referenced leaf.
The Foundation's research archive
Philolexian Annals 1912, Roll of Members
James Alexander Hamilton · Confidence: CERTAIN
External references
Community-maintained record
Spot an error or a missing citation?
This page lists only facts the Foundation can source. If you find an error, a missing work, or a citation we should carry, please email corrections@philolexianfoundation.org or use our contact form.