Who was killed in a duel challenged by Aaron Burr in 1804?

The individual killed in a duel challenged by Aaron Burr in 1804 was Alexander Hamilton. The duel was the culmination of long-standing political and personal animosities between Hamilton, a leading Federalist and former Secretary of the Treasury, and Burr, who was serving as Vice President under Thomas Jefferson at the time. The conflict was sparked by Hamilton's criticisms of Burr's character and political ambitions, particularly during the election of 1800 and Burr's bid for governor of New York in 1804.

In the duel, which took place on July 11, 1804, in Weehawken, New Jersey, Hamilton sustained a fatal gunshot wound and died the following day. This event had significant implications for American politics, contributing to the decline of Aaron Burr's political career and marking a dramatic moment in the early years of the republic. Hamilton’s death also underscored the dangerous nature of political rivalries at that time, as well as the social and cultural acceptance of dueling among the elite.