Which Founding Father wrote the largest share of The Federalist Papers?

Alexander Hamilton wrote the largest share of The Federalist Papers, contributing 51 of the 85 essays.

The series appeared in New York newspapers from 1787 to 1788 under the shared pseudonym “Publius.” Hamilton organized the project with James Madison and John Jay to persuade New York voters to support ratification of the proposed Constitution.

Hamilton wrote 51 essays, Madison wrote 29, and Jay wrote 5. Hamilton’s essays covered a wide range of subjects, including the danger of faction, the need for energetic executive power, federal taxation, and national defense. Madison’s contributions included the influential Federalist No. 10, which examined factions in a large republic.

The essays were initially published anonymously, so the authorship of some was debated for years. A compilation published in 1818 revealed the writers’ identities, although later scholarship has examined disputed attributions. The Federalist Papers did not have legal force, but courts, scholars, and public officials often consult them when interpreting the Constitution’s historical meaning.