Alexander Hamilton's Oath of Allegiance

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Description

Alexander Hamilton, born in the British West Indies, chose to join the Revolutionary War while studying in New Jersey. He would later become the first Secretary of the Treasury and the founder of the Federalist Party in the United States of America. Notes on this document written by history scholars are available on Founders Online, a searchable archive of the correspondence and other writings of several of the Founders of the United States government.

Transcript

I Alexander Hamilton Lieutenant Colonel and Aide De Camp to His Excellency The commander in Chief do acknowledge the UNITED STATES of AMERICA, to be Free, Independent and Sovereign States, and declare that the people thereof owe no allegiance or obedience to George the Third, King of Great-Britain; and I renounce, refuse and objure any allegiance or obedience to him; and I do swear that I will to the utmost of my power, support, maintain and defend the said United States, against the said King George the Third, his heirs and successors and his or their abettors, assistants and adherents, and will serve the said United States in the office of Aide De Camp which I now hold, with fidelity, according to the best of my skill and understanding.

Alex Hamilton

Sworn, before me, Camp Valley
Forge May 12th 1778

Stirling Major Genl.

Citation

This primary source comes from the War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records.

National Archives Identifier: 2524343

Full Citation: Alexander Hamilton’s Oath of Allegiance; 5/12/1778; Oaths of Allegiance and Fidelity and Oaths of Office; Numbered Record Books, 1894 – 1913; War Department Collection of Revolutionary War Records, Record Group 93; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/hamiltons-oath-allegiance/, January 22, 2026]

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