### April 22 On April 22, 1789, I was sworn in as the first Secretary of the U.S. Treasury. It was quite a momentous occasion and set the standard for many of the great things I accomplished through that position. But before I could take on this incredible responsibility, I faced some unique challenges. For starters, I wasn't even a citizen yet! As part of my require to take a citizenship oath, I had to travel from New York to Philadelphia and present a certificate of character signed by none other than George Washington himself. Although I had to trek over 200 miles, George was willing to help me out and I was able to get sworn in much earlier than expected. The day was also filled with plenty of humor and fun. My future wife, Eliza, had made a mistake in packing my luggage which meant I only had one good suit of clothes to wear. This was especially awkward since my fellow colleagues were dressed in the finest attire. To add to the hilarity, I ended up having to borrow a pair of George Washington’s shoes (which were too small and pinched my toes!). That day marked the beginning of a great legacy and I am still remembered today as the father of American finance.