Federal Hall: Hamilton Becomes Treasury Secretary (1789)
Federal Hall · Wall & Nassau Streets
In Hamilton's day
New York was the first capital. Washington took the oath of office on the balcony of Federal Hall on 30 April 1789, and the Senate confirmed Hamilton as Secretary of the Treasury on 11 September.
In January 1790 he sent Congress his Report on Public Credit, the plan to fund the national debt and have the federal government assume the states' war debts.
“Energy in the executive is a leading character in the definition of good government.”
The Federalist No. 70, 1788
Visiting today
Federal Hall National Memorial. The current building is the 1842 Custom House; the original was demolished in 1812. The Washington statue on the steps marks roughly where he was sworn in.
Nearby in Hamilton's day
- Livingston Sugar House prison1776
A sugar warehouse on Liberty Street where the British held captured American soldiers.
- New-York Evening Post1801
Hamilton raised the money to found the Evening Post in 1801 as a Federalist newspaper. It still publishes today as the New York Post.
- Sons of Liberty, City Arms Tavern1765
Tavern on Broadway where merchants organized the boycott of British goods during the Stamp Act crisis.
- Buttonwood Agreement1792
Twenty-four brokers signed the pact that began the New York Stock Exchange, months after a financial panic Hamilton worked to calm.
- Madison's boardinghouse1787
James Madison lodged here on Maiden Lane while writing The Federalist with Hamilton and John Jay.
- Second Presidential Mansion1790
Washington moved to the Macomb house at 39 Broadway in February 1790.