These days it seems everyone is singing the praises of Alexander Hamilton, but what's the all the fuss about? After all, Hamilton was never a president, nor was he a beloved figure in his time. After rising from humble origins, he won powerful friends and made powerful enemies during his life, which ended in his infamous duel with Aaron Burr. Still, the United States is indebted to Hamilton for his actions as the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury, when his leadership set the new nation on a course toward prosperity and economic power.