Everyone has at least heard of the award-winning musicalHamiltonby now. If you are a fan like I, you have listened to the soundtrack numerous times, have favorite songs, and would do anything to see it live. But if you’re really big on history, you may have researched these historical figures. Here’s my top 5 facts you may not know about 'A. Ham' and friends:
1) Aaron Burr, sir, you really messed up.
If you’ve seen Hamilton you know that’s not a secret. Although Aaron Burr lived for thirty-two more years, his life was over when he shot Hamilton in 1804. Although requited on charges of murdering Hamilton, he later suffered in other ways. In 1807, Burr stood trial for political treason after attempting to steal control of Spanish territories in the West for himself and Great Britain. He ended up living in Europe for a few years afterward and returned to the United States penniless. His daughter Theodosia tragically lost her life in a shipwreck in 1812. He would later marry Eliza Jumel have the marriage ultimately end in divorce. Oddly enough, Jumel’s lawyer would be Alexander Hamilton Jr. The divorce was finalized the day Burr died on September 14th, 1836.
2) Angelica was never satisfied.
Angelica, better known in history as Angelica Schuyer Church, eloped with British man John Barker Church in 1777. Conflicting sources state that she was happy with him, others say she never was. But her unhappiness is canon in the song called ‘Congratulations’. If you’ve never heard of the song, don’t feel bad: it was cut to avoid repetitiveness with the other song ‘The Reynolds Pamphlet’. While the song is very similar in lyrics, the dynamic is much different and more emotional.
But seriously, if you’ve not heard 'Congratulations', please listen to it. You will not be disappointed. The scene Angelica shares with Hamilton in his office is a heartbreaking one. Although it makes sense for 'The Reynolds Pamphlet' to be in Hamilton, Congratulations is better for two reasons: 1) More Angelica and 2) Raw emotion.
3) Hamilton’s Goodbye to Eliza.
Although heavily implied in the musical, we never knew the true contents of Hamilton’s farewell to Eliza Schuyler Hamilton. The following letter can be read here in a digital manuscript formatting. But to sum it up, one of the last things he addressed her as was “Best of wives and best of women." Does that sound familiar? If you needed to grab tissues, I am terribly sorry.
4) Descendants of Burr and Hamilton are best friends!
This may be a news story that you’ve already heard about, but Burr and Hamilton’s descendants over two-hundred years later go canoeing. Together. Alexandra Hamilton Woods and Antonio Burr are both aware of their histories and are actually on a executive board for their canoeing club. They may their differences at times, but they actually get on quite well!
5) Hamilton and Laurens is canon!
Yup, you heard me. Alexander Hamilton and John Laurens reportedly, had several exchanges by letters that were known to be a little…raunchy. Hamilton always wrote like he was running out of time, but this gives us an entirely different perspective. Here is an excerpt of a letter Hamilton sent Laurens: “Cold in my professions – warm in my friendships – I wish, my Dear Laurens, it were in my power, by actions rather than words, to convince you that I love you. I shall only tell you that 'till you bade us Adieu, I hardly knew the value you had taught my heart to set upon you. Indeed, my friend, it was not well done.
You know the opinion I entertain of mankind, and how much it is my desire to preserve myself free from particular attachments, and to keep my happiness independent of the caprice of others. You should not have taken advantage of my sensibility, to steal into my affections without my consent.
But as you have done it, and as we are generally indulgent to those we love, I shall not scruple to pardon the fraud you have committed, on one condition; that for my sake, if not for your own, you will always continue to merit the partiality, which you have so artfully instilled into me. . . . “
There’s more to it than that. There are reports saying that some of their exchanges were burnt by their families after their deaths due to homosexuality being considered a cultural taboo two-hundred years ago.
What is your favorite fact that we wouldn't know about Alexander Hamilton and his friends and enemies by not watching/listening to the musical? If there aren't any that are listed here, please let me know!
