Alexander Hamilton was among the most intellectually gifted of the Founding Fathers and a brilliant political theorist, but he lacked practical political experience, and his major political contributions occurred only when his specific policies were adopted and carried forward by others with broader vision. This booklet on Hamilton is one in a series on Revolutionary War soldiers who signed the U.S. Constitution. It covers his early years in the West Indies, his military service as aide to George Washington, and his public service as a New York delegate to the Constitutional Convention and as the first Secretary of the Treasury. Personal data on Hamilton and suggestions for further readings are also included. (DJC)