Bethany Hamilton and Alexander Hamilton are both famous figures in American history, but are they related by blood? The answer might surprise you. In this article, we will explore the possible connections between the professional surfer who survived a shark attack and the founding father who died in a duel.
Who is Bethany Hamilton?
Bethany Hamilton is a Hawaii native who began her surfing career at age 11. By age 13, she was an accomplished surfer and well-respected in the surfing world. She came to national attention after her left arm was bitten off by a tiger shark on October 31, 2003. She has since made a full recovery and has returned to professional surfing. She wrote about her experience in the 2004 autobiography, Soul Surfer: A True Story of Faith, Family, and Fighting to Get Back on the Board, which was adapted into the 2011 feature film, Soul Surfer, in which she attributes her strength to her Christian faith. Hamilton was also the subject of a 2018 documentary, Bethany Hamilton: Unstoppable, which discusses her marriage to Adam Dirks and how marriage and motherhood have affected her professional surfing career.
Who is Alexander Hamilton?
Alexander Hamilton was born into obscurity in the West Indies, made his reputation during the Revolutionary War and became one of America’s most influential Founding Fathers. He was an impassioned champion of a strong federal government, and played a key role in ratifying the U.S. Constitution. He served as the first Secretary of Treasury from 1789 to 1795 during George Washington’s presidency. He was also a prolific writer and co-author of The Federalist Papers, a collection of essays that explained and defended the new system of government. He was killed in a duel with Aaron Burr, his political rival, on July 12, 1804.
Are They Related?
The short answer is no. Bethany Hamilton and Alexander Hamilton are not related by blood or by marriage. They share a common surname, but that does not mean they have a common ancestor. Hamilton is a fairly common Scottish name that originated from the town of Hamilton in Lanarkshire. There are many people with the surname Hamilton who are not related to each other.
However, there is a possible connection between Bethany Hamilton and Alexander Hamilton through their places of birth. Bethany Hamilton was born on February 8, 1990, in Lihue, Hawaii. Alexander Hamilton was born on January 11, 1755 or 1757 (the exact date is disputed), in Charlestown, Nevis, British West Indies. Nevis is a small island in the Caribbean Sea that was colonized by the British in the 17th century. It was part of the Leeward Islands colony, which also included St. Kitts, Antigua, Barbuda, Montserrat, Anguilla, and the Virgin Islands.
According to some sources, Nevis and Hawaii have a historical link through Captain James Cook, the British explorer who is credited with discovering Hawaii in 1778. Cook had visited Nevis in 1766 as part of his first voyage around the world. He had been sent by the Royal Society to observe the transit of Venus across the sun from Tahiti. On his way back to England, he stopped at Nevis for two weeks to repair his ship and replenish his supplies. He also met with some local planters and merchants, including Alexander Hamilton’s father, James Hamilton. Cook reportedly gave James Hamilton some Tahitian pearls as a gift.
It is possible that Cook’s visit to Nevis influenced Alexander Hamilton’s interest in exploration and trade. Hamilton later wrote about Cook’s voyages in his newspaper articles and praised him as a hero. Hamilton also advocated for expanding American commerce with foreign countries, especially with China and India. He may have been inspired by Cook’s discoveries of new lands and peoples.
Therefore, while Bethany Hamilton and Alexander Hamilton are not related by blood or by marriage, they may have a distant connection through their places of birth and through Captain James Cook’s travels.
Conclusion
Bethany Hamilton and Alexander Hamilton are both remarkable individuals who overcame adversity and achieved greatness in their respective fields. They share a common surname, but they are not related by blood or by marriage. However, they may have a historical link through their places of birth and through Captain James Cook’s voyages. They are both examples of how one can make a difference in the world regardless of their origins.
