Hamilton Facts

Facts about Hamilton, both the musical and the historical figure, as well as related historic people and events.

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Pensylvania

The U. S. Constitution contains a number of minor misspellings that have survived even to this day. The most obvious of these, however was the spelling of Pennsylvania with only one n, penned by Alexander Hamilton. Although this was an accepted spelling at the time, and even appeared on the Liberty Bell, it conflicted with the two previous mentions of the state in the document, both of which were spelled ‘correctly’ by today’s standards.

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Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier and Marie Adrienne Françoise de Noailles de La Fayette's Children

Henriette du Motier de La Fayette (1776-1778)

Anastasie Louise Pauline du Motier de La Fayette (1777-1863)

Georges Washington Louise Gilbert du Montier de La Fayette (1779-1849)

Marie Antoinette Virginie du Motier de La Fayette (1782–1849)

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Burrn

"I did go to bed at 10, promising myself a rich sleep. Lay two hours vigil; that cursed one single dish of tea! Note: My bed had undergone a thorough ablution and there were no bugs or insects. Got up and attempted to light candle, but in vain; had flint and matches but only some shreds of punk which would not catch. Recollected a gun which I had had on my late journey; filled the pan with powder and was just going to flash it when it occurred that though I had not loaded it someone else might; tried and found in it a very heavy charge! What a fine alarm it would have made if I had fired! Then poured out some powder on a piece of paper, put the shreds of punk with it and after fifty essays succeeded in firing the powder; but it being dark, had put more powder than intended; my shirt caught fire, the papers on my table caught fire, burnt my fingers to a blister (the left hand, fortunately); it seemed like a general conflagration. Succeeded, however, in lighting my candle and passed the night till 5 this morning in smoking, reading, and writing this." -Private Journal of Aaron Burr Vol. 1, p. 219

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Laurens, I like you a lot.

"Cold in my professions, warm in my friendships, I wish, my Dear Laurens, it might be in my power, by action 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 on 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 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." - Excerpt of a letter from Alexander Hamilton to Lieutenant Colonel John Laurens [April, 1779]

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Tell the King "Casse toi!"

The French phrase "casse-toi" means "get broken" or "go away," however it is more agressive, with a  use akin to that of "piss off" or even "f*** off," although it is not inherently vulgar.

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John Quincy Adams' Alligator

It has long been circulated that President John Quincy Adams was regifted an alligator by Marquis de Lafayette. It has also been said that he kept it in a bathtub in the East Room of the White House and sometimes used it to terrify his guests as a joke. History enthusiast Howard Dorre (among a few others) recently dug deep to try to find the source of these tales. Despite the ‘facts’ appearing in numerous history books, articles, websites, and picture books, and there even being 'John Quincy Adams’ “Alligator”’ plushies available for sale online, this fact, sadly, does not appear to be true. This is due to the fact that the seemingly earliest known mention of any alligators being kept in the White House at all was not until 1888, a full 63 years after it was supposed to have happened. Furthermore, it seems unlikely that Adams, an avid diariest, would have neglected to mention the gifting of an alligator from Lafayette. So while it can’t be entirely disproven that such an event occured, it does seems highly improbable.

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Alexander and Elizabeth Hamilton's Children

Philip Hamilton (January 22, 1782 - November 24, 1801)

Angelica Hamilton (September 25, 1784 - February 6, 1857)

Alexander Hamilton Jr. (May 16, 1786 - August 2, 1875)

James Alexander Hamilton (April 14, 1788 - September 24, 1878)

John Church Hamilton (August 22, 1792 - July 25, 1882)

William Stephen Hamilton (August 4, 1797 - October 9, 1850)

Eliza Hamilton Holly (November 20, 1799 - October 17, 1859)

Phillip Hamilton II (June 1 or 2, 1802 - July 9, 1884)

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LAFAYETTE!

Marquis de Lafayette's full name was Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. He seemed to find humour in this, and even joked about it in his auto biography, saying, “It’s not my fault, I was baptized like a Spaniard, with the name of every conceivable saint who might offer me more protection in battle.”

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Bed Bugs

"Couche at 1. Attacked by [bed bugs]. Fought hard till 4, slaying thousands, but the number of the enemy increasing, resolved on a retreat. The sun had risen; began by taking the sheets, coverlid, and pillows out doors, beating and shaking them well; then stripped and changed my clothes, and laid me on the floor. Got a sound nap of five hours." -Private Journal of Aaron Burr Vol. 1, p. 188

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Alexander's Eyes

His friend and fellow Federalist, Fisher Ames, once described Alexander Hamilton's eyes, stating, "They were of a deep azure, eminently beautiful, without the slightest trace of hardness or severity, and beamed with higher expression of intelligence and discernment than any others I saw oscillate in the 'human face divine.'"

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"Lafayette, we are here."

In 1778 America and France signed the Treaty of Alliance, which promised mutual military support should fighting break out between France and Britain. This was annulled in 1793, however, when George Washington gave his Proclamation of Neutrality. Alexander Hamilton supported this, despite the fact that their mutual friend, French revolutionarie Marquis de Lafayette, had aided them in the American Revolution.

139 years later during World War I, allied American troops arrived in France. On the 4th of July 1917, Paris celebrated American Independence Day and as part of this, a U.S. Battalion made it's way to Picpus Cemetery where Lafayette was buried and several speeches were given. One of these included the historic words, "Lafayette, nous violá." or "Lafayette, we are here." which were spoken by Colonel Charles E. Stanton (Although this quote is often misattributed to General John J. Pershing.)

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Wait For It

During the song Hurricane in the Hamilton musical, Hamilton sings a couple of times that he, "couldn't seem to die." Just after the second time he does this, Burr, in the background, sings, "Wait for it." Perhaps as a form of foreshadowing...

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Hamilton's Date of Birth

Alexander Hamilton was either a year younger or a year older than his friend, and later adversary, Aaron Burr. No-one is quite sure which, and, being orphaned at a young age, even Hamilton himself seemed unsure as to the date of his birth. He was likely born on the 11th of January, however the year is still disputed. Upon arriving in the colonies, he listed his birth year as being 1757, but earlier records indicate that it may have been 1755. Which of these is correct, and if the error was intentional or simply an accident, may remain a mystery forever.

It may also be noted that the date used by Lin-Manuel Miranda in his musical about the founding father is 1757.