Many believe that Hamilton had wanted Burr to kill him. It is said that Hamilton hated himself and often had insecurities about his personality, background (given his illegitimate birth and poverty stricken childhood). It is said 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 by throwing his first shot.
However, after reading 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 and he intended to meet with someone that same day much later.Hamilton perhaps did not intend to die. Usually in these duels of honor they resolved the conflict before it ever came to shooting.
In any case by killing Hamilton, Burr completely ruined whatever possibility he had for a comeback in his political career. Burr already had been alienated by the Jeffersonian party and the Federalist had also distrusted him.
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