Aaron Burr, the first man ever to be accused of and tried for treason in the United States was plagued by misfortune throughout his life.

A precocious child, Burr graduated from the College of Jersey (Princeton) at the age of sixteen, and decided to become a soldier just when the rift between England and her colonies was rapidly widening. With the coming of war, Burr served bravely and courageously under Benedict Arnold. Four years before the end of the Revolution, Burr had to give up his military activities because of illness. He passed his bar examination and began practicing law in Albany, and it was not long before this intelligent, ambitious young man was elected to the New York state legislature and, in due time, to the Senate of the United States.

The height of his political career was attained when, after the tie between them was broken on the thirty-sixth ballot, he became Thomas Jefferson's Vice President. During this period, Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury and a brilliant, eloquent and influential statesman, exhibited great dislike of Burr. The vast differences in temperament, personality and political views between the two men were evident to all, and eventually resulted in the famous Hamilton-Burr duel. When this tragic event was over, Hamilton lay fatally wounded, and Burr was declared a "murderer".

With his political life finished, and his name disgraced, Burr ventured westward with the hope of founding a new colony for young, adventurous settlers. Again, misfortune awaited him. He had revealed his plans to James Wilkinson, a spy for the Spanish government for a decade and a man not to be trusted. Rumors soon spread throughout the Union stating that Burr was traveling west to amass militia and federal troops, divide the Union, conquer Mexico and combine the western states in a new empire. President Jefferson proceeded to issue a special message naming Burr as head of a conspiracy to disrupt the Union as well as to attack Spain. Aaron Burr was tried for treason at Richmond, Virginia, in 1807, with John Marshall presiding. At the conclusion of the historic three-month trial, despite his acquittal for lack of evidence, Burr was a broken, defeated man.

A sympathetic and well-rounded portrayal of one of the most enigmatic and controversial figures in our nation's history.

From the dust jacket