Thank you, author Richard N. Côté (1945-2015) for compiling a thoroughly documented resource, Theodosia Burr Alston: Portrait of a Prodigy, about the daughter of Aaron Burr (1756-1836).
Mr. Burr trained and guided his daughter to become a cosmopolitan, erudite young woman who could speak several languages and rise to any occasion, he, a feminist, unsmitten by gender roles in the 18th century and enough contained herein about him to warrant consideration of a sub-title, as in: Aaron Burr, Director of a Daughter's Life or Portrait of an 18th Century Umbrella Father.
Mr. Burr enjoyed an exceedingly close relationship with his daughter which may have led to the death of Alexander Hamilton when the two men fought a duel, perhaps caused, Mr. Côté postulates, by whispers Mr. Hamilton circulated about the close relationship of father and child (p. 181-86).
Several times Mr. Côté mentions the oddity Mr. Burr practiced of keeping his daughter informed about his many trysts with prostitutes, after, of course, the death of his wife for whom their daughter was named. When Mrs. Burr died, Theodosia was only 10, but it did not take long for her to assume hostessing duties at her father's estate, Richmond Hill in Manhattan.
In 1801 Theodosia wed a wealthy Southern planter, Joseph Alston (1779-1816), who was elected governor of South Carolina in 1812, the same year their only child, Aaron Burr Alston, age 10, died of malaria. This tragedy preceded Theodosia's disappearance at sea the next year off the coast of Georgetown, S.C., while on her way to visit her father.
Mr. Alston provided handsomely for his father-in-law when he needed money, including Mr. Burr's wild (or so it seems now) scheme to raise an army and separate the western United States and make a nation, Mexico, for which Mr. Burr would be emperor and his daughter, empress.
Although it is written that Theodosia did love her husband, had she been forced to choose between him and her father, there is little doubt she would have chosen the latter, or, at least, that was my impression. Her husband was often away, busy with political duties and earning money.
At times, the Theodosia writing is disjointed and repetitive. The first 30-or-so pages drag with too many dates and names which are hard to keep straight, but the book soon becomes a rapid page-turner.
Without warning or hint that their son was ill, a chapter begins with the announcement of his death.
Why was Aaron Burr considered "a dangerous man" (p. 179) and what were the reasons for his disharmony with President Thomas Jefferson for whom he served as vice-president of the United States? Neither is adequately defined.
The last three chapters describe the many fictional and non-fictional books, articles, and suppositions about Theodosia's death, including the final, "Nag's Head Portrait," now found at Yale University's Lewis Walpole Library, claiming, without proof, according to Mr. Côté, the portrait is of Theodosia Burr Alston. Mr. Côté presents a convincing case of why it is not.
Portraits, illustrations, maps, and photographs of family homes, places, and things enliven the text.
I wish the oceanographer, Robert Ballard, would take up the cause and find the Patriot, the ship which carried the first lady of South Carolina and others to their deaths.
Mr. Côté hints that Mr. Burr, a ladies man par excellence who relied upon sex for release of many burdens, could be the father of the eighth president, Martin van Buren (1782-1862). Is it time for an exhumation?
*Another nearby marker commemorates President George Washington's visit to Brookgreen Plantation on April 28, 1791.
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