Facts : 1 The Reynolds affair In 1791, Hamilton became involved in an affair with Maria Reynolds over a nine-month period that would be revealed to the public several years afterward
Facts : 2 Reynolds appeared to Hamilton as a woman who had been abandoned by her husband, James, at New York and wished to return to there
Facts : 3 Hamilton did not have any money on his person, so he retrieved her address in order to deliver the funds in person
Facts : 4 After the brief dialogue in Reynolds bedroom, he had frequent meetings with her
Facts : 5 The first letter was Maria warning of her husband s knowledge and of James attempting to blackmail Hamilton
Facts : 6 By this point Hamilton contemplated ending the tryst, and briefly ceased to visit, but both apparently were involved in the blackmailing scheme as both sent letters, and at one point James Reynolds requested to befriend her
Facts : 7 By May of 1792, James Reynolds had requested for Hamilton to no longer see his wife, but not before receiving fifty and two hundred dollars out of over $ 1300 in blackmail
Facts : 8 Hamilton possibly was aware of both Reynolds being involved before the blackmailing incident
Facts : 9 When under suspicion of illegal actions while Secretary of Treasury by associating with William Duer from John J
Facts : 10 Beckley and Jacob Clingman, the latter also had alleged evidence of James Reynolds being an agent of Hamilton s, with accompanying letters gathered from Maria Reynolds that were from Hamilton
Facts : 11 This information was relayed to James Monroe, who consulted with Congressmen Muhlenberg and Venable on what actions to take
Facts : 12 When it was suggested by Clingman that James Reynolds had evidence that would incriminate Hamilton, after both were arrested for counterfeiting and Clingman was released, Monroe and the Congressmen soon confronted Hamilton on 15 December 1792
Facts : 13 After Hamilton discussed the affair, the trio were to keep the documents privately with the utmost confidence
Facts : 14 Callender published A History of the United States for the Year 1796, it contained accusations of James Reynolds being an agent of Hamilton using documents from the confrontation on December 15, 1792
Facts : 15 On July 5, 1797, Hamilton wrote to all three men to confirm that there was nothing that would damage the perception of his integrity while Secretary of Treasury
Facts : 16 All complied but Monroe, and after several rounds of argument, the two almost resorted to a duel
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