The Caribbean Americans: Founders

Don't forget your history; know your destiny

~Bob Marley

Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable
Founder of Chicago, Illinois

Alexander Hamilton
Founding Father of the United States of America

June 2015 was declared National Caribbean-American Heritage Month by proclamation of the President of the United States of America.

 Map of the Caribbean and North, Central, and South America

The Caribbean islands forming the Atlantic Rim extending from the Florida panhandle to the shores of the South American continent have been both a paradiso playground and gateway to the Americas. Referred to alternatively as the Antilles or West Indies by European settlers, the former colonies of the British, French, Danish, and Spanish are now mostly independent island nations. Migration between the American continent and the Caribbean islands remains diplomatic with over 2 million Caribbean-Americans currently residing in the United States. 

In recognizing outstanding Caribbean-Americans and their contributions to American life we cover a storied continuum from the founding of a great city and the rise of this great nation, to the guidance and shaping of it’s culture and continuing interests. We begin the series with two great men, born 10 years apart, who quite likely had knowledge of each other during the revolutionary period in which the republic of the United States was founded. Remarkably both of these men were orphaned early in life, and pluckily went on to their achievements through the support of benefactors who provided an education and trade. To simplify the presentation, a chronological birth order is utilized.

Statue of Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable
Chicago, Illinois

Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable, 1745-1818
Trader, First Settler/Founder of Chicago Illinois

Wikipedia, the free online encyclopaedia,  attempts to debunk the wildly varied accounts of Du Sable’s history, which based on insight of early Caribbean lore and mores doesn’t ring true. The skepticism is echoed in the du Sable’s biography on PBS’ American Experience, however, the critical commentary is good, so one might not simply accept one account over another because it satisfies the brain’s need for a neatly packed and tied together story. What matters is that from various sketchy histories, Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable emerged prominently as the first settler of Chicago, Illinois.

The DuSable Heritage Association acknowledges the dearth of chronicled accounts of this seeming ambitious and strategically enterprising man. They concluded that anecdotal references suffice to support the claim of du Sable’s Haitian birth and eventual migration to the North American French colony, New Orleans.

“Jean-Baptiste Pointe DuSable was born in St. Marc, Haiti (or St. Domingue as Haiti was known then) around 1745 of a French father and a Black African Slave mother. There is a paucity of information in the historical record as pertains to DuSable’s life in Haiti prior to his migration to New Orleans around 1765. Many scholars suggest that DuSable may have had French Canadian origins. However most biographers generally agree that the majority of evidence regarding his origins leads to the conclusion that he was a mulatto from present day Haiti.”[1]

Of the establishment of a trading post it is said, Jean-Baptiste du Sable had the ambition of establishing a livelihood of trade and formed alliance with a Native American who taught him how to trap and pelt fur. The du Sable estate is now recognized as the first settlement of the Midwestern territory that would develop into modern day Chicago, Illinois. Portraiture of du Sable and the early settlement does not exist; what is available are artist renderings to visualize the man and the terrain.

Eschecagou settlement. Insets (l) Du Sable, (r) Du Sable trading post

“Located on the north bank of the Chicago River at its junction with Lake Michigan, DuSable’s estate consisted of a modest sized home, a horse mill, a bake house, a dairy, a smokehouse, a poultry house, a workshop, a stable, and a barn. The location of this settlement was at a natural crossroad for both Native Americans and Europeans seeking access to the Mississippi River. Many explorers and pioneers had come in passing prior to this settlement however none had stayed. DuSable established the first permanent settlement in present day Chicago and lived at that site for at least twenty years. He set up a trading post which flourished supplying customers with flour, pork, and bread in exchange for cash and durable goods. DuSable had established a good reputation with trading relations as far as Detroit, Green Bay, Mackinac and St. Joseph.”[2]

At a cross-road for explorers, settlers, militia, and troops navigating Native American territory and Midwestern colonies, du Sable was inevitably scrutinized and arrested by the military in the developing American revolution. Varied accounts are given of his end of life events, all of which involved selling the Chicago property and relocating either to French Canada, or back to Indiana or Louisiana where he likely had favorable ties.  

There is a poignant trace of the revolutionary period in which Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable lived when his surname is written in alternative form DuSable. One finds the nation’s acronym d-uSa-ble, hinting at what was to come. 

Alexander Hamilton, 1755-1804

Founding Father of the United States of America

First Secretary of the United States Treasury

Founder of the United States Monetary System

Founder of the Federalist Party

Founder of the Bank of New York

If Alexander Hamilton had not submitted to the fateful duel that ended his life, he might have outlived his Caribbean compatriot, Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable well into the 1800s. Given all of his accomplishments by that time, it is left to wonder how much more he could have accomplished in his prodigious career. Hamilton’s life follows a similar pattern as du Sable’s from his birth on the British West Indies island of Nevis to his formative years in the Danish colonies on St. Croix (now US territory), then on to study in colonies in New Amsterdam (present day New York). 

Birthplace of Alexander Hamilton, Charlestown, Nevis, British West Indies

While du Sable's destiny charted by way of trade, Hamilton's course charted through the military and governance. It is said Hamilton was recognized for his intellectual abilities and oratory talent, he became chief staff aide to General George Washington having much autonomy in executing the duties of his office. 

“Hamilton played a major role in the American Revolutionary War. At the start of the war in 1775, he organized an artillery company. He soon became the senior aide to General Washington, the American forces' commander-in-chief. Washington sent him on numerous important missions to tell generals what Washington wanted. After the war, Hamilton was elected to the Congress of the Confederation from New York. He resigned, to practice law, and founded the Bank of New York. Hamilton was among those dissatisfied with the weak national government. He led the Annapolis Convention, which successfully influenced Congress to issue a call for the Philadelphia Convention, in order to create a new constitution. He was an active participant at Philadelphia; and he helped achieve ratification by writing 51 of the 85 installments of the The Federalist Papers. To this day, it is the single most important reference for Constitutional interpretation.”[3]

After an excursion into law practice back in New York, Alexander Hamilton continued participation in shaping the political and economic foundation of the American republic. Christian Parenti writes, 

Statue of Alexander Hamilton at the U.S. Treasury, Washington, DC

“Hamilton was alone among the “founding fathers” in understanding that the world was witnessing two revolutions simultaneously. One was the political transformation, embodied in the rise of republican government. The other was the economic rise of modern capitalism, with its globalizing networks of production, trade, and finance…In the face of these changes, Hamilton created (and largely executed) a plan for government-led economic development…his political mission was to create a state that could facilitate, encourage, and guide the process of economic change — a policy also known as dirigisme…”[4]

Alexander Hamilton succeeded in his mission through a Cabinet appointment as the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States by President George Washington. As Secretary of the Treasury, Hamilton structured the nation’s monetary system and public debt, initiated economic policy for developing public utilities, infrastructure, and industrial development. Hamilton issued 3 key reports on the performance of the developing national economy, (1) a report on public credit, (2) report on the operations of import duty system, and (3) a report on the national bank. Hamilton also established a naval police force called Revenue Cutters to patrol the coastal marine trade routes for smuggling and piracy, and to assist in collecting tariffs. Hamilton’s philosophy was that economic recovery after the war was the key to peace. He imposed a tax on whiskey to fund a private industrial commission and manufacturing development which he deemed as critical to gaining economic independence.

Political life is not without dichotomy and scandal, and Hamilton’s verve was marked by forming consensus among bankers and business constituents which then founded the Federalist Party. He was apparently scammed into an adulterous blackmail scheme by a husband and wife team. Then there was the staunch opposition to gubernatorial candidate Aaron Burr who demanded an apology, or be challenged to a duel, for Hamilton’s repeated blocking of his political aspirations through public defamation. Alexander Hamilton declined the apology and in accepting the challenge to duel Burr on July 11, 1804, Hamilton was fatally shot and died from severe internal injuries on July 12, 1804. 

In 1928, President Calvin Coolidge honored Alexander Hamilton with portraiture on the $10 bill for his extraordinary contributions to establishing the nation's enconomy and founding the U. S. Mint (monetary system). Hamilton is one of two non-Presidents to face U.S. currency.

Two extraordinary Caribbean sons, Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable and Alexander Hamilton, one a French mulatto, the latter a French-Scottish white. Both rose out of orphanhood, through benevolent sponsorship and education, to a destiny of remarkable contributions in the founding of the New World. The very different endings of their histories are no less significant of the revolutionary time in which they lived. 

Thank you for joining us in recognizing these great men. And tell us, what are your impressions (thoughts, feelings) when reading about Alexander Hamilton in context of his Caribbean origins? What defines Caribbean identity; is it race, ethnicity, culture? Which Caribbean American in history or present day has inspired or influenced you personally or vocationally?

Read more about du Sable and Hamilton in the links provided below. 

Next: The Community Activists (Parts 1 and 2), The Statesmen 

References:

[3]Alexander Hamilton. (n.d.). Retrieved June 16, 2015, from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Hamilton

American Experience: People & Events: Jean Baptiste Point du Sable (1745?-1818. (n.d.). Retrieved June 16, 2015, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/chicago/peopleevents/p_dusable.html

Butler, D. (n.d.). Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable: The Founder of Chicago. Retrieved June 16, 2015, from http://www.lib.niu.edu/1995/ihy951204.html

[2]Jean Baptiste Point du Sable. (n.d.). Retrieved June 16, 2015, from https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Baptiste_Point_du_Sable

[4] Parenti, C. (n.d.). Reading Hamilton From The Left. Retrieved June 16, 2015, from https://www.jacobinmag.com/2014/08/reading-hamilton-from-the-left/

[1]The History of DuSable. (n.d.). Retrieved June 16, 2015, from http://dusableheritage.com/history/

Image Source (from top, left to right):

Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable portrait https://31.media.tumblr.com/8d2db3835d08c834ce173b990f5ab79f/tumblr_inline_n7xmgeO4qv1ssufzt.gifAlexander Hamilton portrait

Map of the Caribbean galleryhip.com

Jean-Baptiste Pointe du Sable bust unionsuite.com

Artist Rendering du Sable settlement/Eschecagou (collage) http://www.lib.niu.edu/

Alexander Hamilton (standing) - post446.com

Alexander Hamilton, place of birth, Nevis - panaromia.com

Statue of Alexander Hamilton, U.S. Treasury - wikipedia.org

U.S. $10 dollar bill - pixshark.com