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Interesting US History
A Website Devoted to Interesting Events in U.S. History

 

 
 

 

ON THIS DAY IN UNITED STATES HISTORY

September 1, 1807

Vice President Aaron Burr is Acquitted of Treason

On this day in 1807, United States President Aaron Burr was acquitted of treason by the United States Court at Richmond, Virginia.

The court tried to prove that he was trying to steal land in the Louisiana Purchase. The only evidence was a letter from Burr to General James Wilkinson, Governor of the Louisiana Territory but the letter was in Wilkinson's hand writing... "a copy", he said because he had lost the original. This made Wilkinson a laughing stock and the jury threw the letter out.

Years later, it would be discovered that Wilkinson was a paid spy for the Spanish Crown.