In July 1804 Aaron Burr killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel brought on by the political feud the two men had been carrying on for years.

Two and a half years earlier, however, another Hamilton had been involved in a political duel. That conflict was fought by Alexander’s oldest son, Philip, in November 1801.

The younger Hamilton took offense at a disparaging remark one of his father’s political enemies – a young man named George Eacker – made while delivering an Independence Day speech in July 1801.

At 19 years of age, Philip was destined – his parents believed – to accomplish great things. Ph...