A Date With History: Hamilton and Taxation in the 1790’s

“Hamilton and Taxation in the 1790’s” with Ronald Lesher, Ed. D.
Tuesday, May 5 at 1:00pm at the Talbot County Free Library
Federalist Paper No. 12 suggested that the federal government should be funded through import duties. Yet by 1791 Congress at the urging of Alexander Hamilton had enacted a tax on domestically distilled spirits, which led to the Whiskey Rebellion in 1794. That is what we learned in high school history.
However, those tax rates were reduced in 1792. But did we learn about the annual license on retailers of foreign distilled spirits or the annual license for retailers of wine enacted in 1794? Or did learn about the annual tax on carriages for the conveyance of people? Or the taxes various kinds of financial transactions, such as promissory notes?
Let’s learn the truth about federal taxation in the 1790’s that were all abolished in 1802 under the Presidency of Thomas Jefferson.
Ron Lesher has been a lifelong collector and researcher of tax stamps, especially for distilled spirits beginning in the 1790’s and the receipts for the internal revenue tax on distilled spirits that brought on the Whiskey Rebellion.
This is presented by the Talbot Historical Society in partnership with the Talbot County Free Library and will take place at the library located at 100 W. Dover St., Easton, MD 21601.
The lecture will be presented on May 5, 2026 at 1:00pm at the Talbot County Free Library
The lecture is free to the public, please plan to arrive early, as seating is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Talbot Historical Society office/research/exhibit hours are: Wednesday through Saturday 10am-3pm