Many believe that Hamilton had wanted Burr to kill him. It is sagte that Hamilton hated himself and often had insecurities about his personality, background (given his illegitimate birth and poverty stricken childhood). It is sagte that he superimposed himself onto Burr, seeing himself and all his flaws in him. Hence, in some psychobabble way...he got Burr to kill him Von throwing his first shot.

However, after Lesen Chernow's work on Hamilton, it seems that Hamilton did not intend to die on that fateful summer day. In fact Hamilton did continue to make appointments with clients for legal work...