BURR, AARON

(175u-1830), an American politician and soldier. He was b. in Newark, N. J., Feb. 5, 1756. His f. was president of Princeton College, and his s. entered that institution at the age of 12. After studying law for several years, at the outbreak of the American Revolution he joined the American army and he accompanied General Arnold as a volunteer in the latter’s expedition toward Quebec, and | during the terrible ordeal of the journey | of this force through the wilderne , he acquitted himself with great courage. | On his arrival at Quebec, he was appointed aide to General Montgomery. In 1776 he became a member of the military family of General Washington, but was soon dismi ed on account of his di ipated habits, and for this he never) forgave Washington. He attained to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. On his retirement from military life, in 1779, he began the practice of law in Albany, Y., and soon removed to New York City, where within a short time he) occupied the foremost position as a lawyer. He frequently came into contact an and competition in law cases with Alexander Hamilton. In 1789 he was appointed Attorney General of New York, and from 1791 to 1798 was a member of the United States Senate where he was one of the leaders of the Republican Party. He was a candidate for the Presidency in 1800 and received 79 votes, the same number as was received by Thomas Jefferson. The choice was left to the decision of Congre which, after 36 ballots, elected Jefferson as President and Burr as Vice President. In 1804, as a result of recriminations carried on both in public and private, he challenged Alexander Hamilton to a duel in which Hamilto n was killed. This lost Burr public favor and he fled. He was arrested in 1807 and taken to Richmond, Va., where he was tried on a charge of treasonable designs upon Mexico. He was acquitted after a long trial. His public life, however, was over as he utterly lost the faith of the public. He resumed the practice of law but lived in obscurity until his death on Staten Island, September 14, 1836. town, 8. Australia; site of Burra Burra copper mine, now disused. 26’ W.), harbor; S.W. British Columbia.