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Here follows an interlude in which Burr was 1) a prominent lawyer, 2) a U. S. Senator from New York, 3) Vice President of the U. S. and nearly President, 4) the slayer of Alexander Hamilton in a duel, 5) promoter of a visionary scheme for the conquest of the Southwest, 6) on trial for treason at the instigation of a U. S. General who it is now known was in the pay of Spain, 7) acquitted of treason in a fair court, but convicted in the public mind by newspapers.
1801-12: At 52, to escape persecution and prosecution he fled to England, from there to Sweden, Denmark, Germany, France. In the course of four years, discomfited in every way by the U. S. Government, leaving a string of debts behind him everywhere, he intrigued with women in Germany and France and spent a winter in Paris without money to buy fuel. When he borrowed money, he bought presents for his daughter and grandson; when he was poor he sold the presents to feed himself. Finally he sailed home from Holland, was captured by the British and taken again to England, fell sick there, had only two farthings and could not buy medicine. He borrowed enough money, cajoled a passport out of the Government and at last sailed for Boston in disguise. He pawned his books with the President of Harvard College and got money to take passage to Manhattan on a sloop. He arrived at night, had no place to sleep, found a garret where five men were sleeping and paid twelve cents for his lodgings.
1812: At 56, he managed to find a few old friends although many refused to recognize him. Emerging after a few weeks in hiding, he opened a little law office with $10 in cash. In twelve days he made $2,000. As a lawyer Manhattan did not despise him. A few days later his beloved grandson died. Within six months his daughter was lost at sea—coming up from South Carolina to see him. He was alone in the world. His creditors dunned him for large sums. His debts from the southwestern "expedition" alone amounted to $23,000. But his legal fees were large. He won celebrated cases. He paid off many debts. Others he never paid. He paid for the upbringing of several orphans. He gave away money freely to anyone who asked. Once he gave away $1,500 in three days. Socially he was ignored, but he was still very attractive to the ladies. He privately began to support Andrew Jackson for the presidency. Twenty-one years passed.
1833: At 77, he married Eliza Jumel, 64, a widow, with a shady past, who was wealthy by reason of her treatment of her first husband. In four months he spent $13,000 of her money. Then they separated. He had a stroke of apoplexy.
1834: At 78, he was made defendant in her suit for divorce. She charged him with infidelity and he countered with the same charge, but later withdrew his opposition. His will made in this year divided his estate between two illegitimate daughters, one two years, the other six years old. Another stroke of apoplexy.
1836 (Sept. 14) : Having been cared for by various kindly women during his last months, he finally died, aged 80. On the same day the second Mrs. Burr was granted a divorce. He was buried at Princeton with his parents. Twenty years later a stone was erected to mark his grave.