Aaron Burr

After fighting in the war for American independence, Aaron Burr took up law and politics in New York. He stood for the presidency in 1800, but lost to Thomas Jefferson when the election was decided by the House of Representatives. The way things worked in those days, Burr served as Jefferson's vice president. In 1804 Burr challenged longtime political rival Alexander Hamilton to a duel and fatally shot him. After his term he ventured west and tried to establish a new republic, and was indicted for treason in 1807. He was acquitted, roamed around Europe for a few years, then returned to New York to practice law.

Extra credit: Burr's maternal grandfather was New England theologian Jonathan Edwards.