Attended Cambridge at age 14. Prime Minister at 24. Worked and drank himself to death (he would stay up all night dealing with national debt affairs). His last words (one version, at least):"I think I could eat one of Bellamy's veal pies." His all-nighters and drinking habits made him my patron saint during the last year of college.Portrayed in Blackadder III:
Portrayed in The Madness of King George - that wig, that self-restraint, ooh la la!
2. Oliver Hazard Perry
Midshipman on his father's vessel at age 13. Commodore at age 27. On September 10, 1813, he defeated a British fleet and became the Hero of Lake Erie. His famous quote: "We have met the enemy, and they are ours."
Perry's Monument, located on South Bass Island, just a ferry's ride away from the Ohio shore.
When I was there this summer, the US Brig Niagra, which he transferred onto from the damaged Lawrence during the battle, was in port. I got to go aboard; a very educational and fun experience. There are actually summer programs where you can become a member of the crew and learn how to sail square-rigged ships. Just click here.
3. Stephen Decatur
Youngest to become captain in the US Navy's history. Hero of the Barbary Wars. Dashing mutton chops. Unfortunately, he was killed in a duel. *sigh*
His house in DC, right near the White House. Supposedly his ghost was seen staring out of a window so often that they bricked the window up (it's on the side, not pictured below).
4. the Marquis de Lafayette
Smart, talented, and helped America during the Revolutionary War. He's also cute looking. There is a bust of him in the White House, and I immediately recognized it as him because of the cheekbones. On a historical note, according to my military history professor, when some American soldiers landed in France during WW1, they proclaimed, "Lafayette, we have arrived!" My eyes always get a bit misty over that.
5. John Hancock
The book's illustrations of Hancock have him looking delightfully cocky and arrogant, and because of this book, he became my favorite Founding Father. And I fashioned my signature to look like his. But other reasons why Hancock was pretty cool: He was very fashion conscious. He was also very philanthropic, a popular leader, and the people of Boston loved him.6. Alexander Hamilton
I think Alexander Hamilton's life was pretty inspirational. Even though he was born poor and illegitimate in a time where being born out of wedlock was a social stigma, he rose to greatness. Early signs of talent: he took charge of a business in the Caribbean when he was only fourteen. He was a brilliant financial thinker, and his work as Secretary of the Treasury enabled America to pay off the debt that it had incurred during the Revolutionary War. He had the ear and the loyalty of George Washington. Hamilton was also the father of the United States Coast Guard. But my favorite thing about him is his contributions to the Federalist Papers, the best guide ever to the understanding the Constitution. 
If I remember correctly, one of the books I read for my Early American Republic class used a quote (also displayed at St. Paul's Cathedral in honor of Christopher Wren) to describe Hamilton's legacy: "Si monumentum requiris, circumspice. ” In English, “If you seek his memorial, look around you."
His first language was Spanish, his second French. Though an American, his accent sounded more British because he learned English while living in the UK. Though considered the icon of old school WASP prepdom, he met with some prejudice from the Protestant establishment at Yale because they considered his Catholic faith uncouth (nativists often associated Catholicism with immigrants, whom they considered filthy and inferior beings), and definitely not 'top drawer.' He wrote well over 20 books, both non-fiction and fiction, and was known for his sesquipedalian writing style, his facial expressions (the eyes, tongue curl), and of course his effortlessly classy, prep way of life.