Burr, Aaron

US politician, Republican vice-president 1801–05. In 1804 he killed his political rival Alexander Hamilton in a duel. In 1807 Burr was tried and acquitted of treason charges, which implicated him variously in a scheme to conquer Mexico, or part of Florida, or to rule over a seceded Louisiana.

Burr was on George Washington's staff during the American Revolution but was critical of the general and was distrusted in turn. He tied with Thomas Jefferson in the presidential election of 1800, but Alexander Hamilton, Burr's longtime adversary, influenced the House of Representatives to vote Jefferson in, Burr becoming vice-president. In 1804 Burr's political ambitions were again thwarted by Hamilton's opposition and he failed to secure the governorship of New York State.