Characters / Hamilton

Main Characters (Entire play)

Alexander Hamilton

Alexander Hamilton

Lin-Manuel Miranda (center) as Hamilton

Originated by: Lin-Manuel Miranda (OBC)

Other productions: Austin Scott (CBO), Jamael Westman (West End), Julius Thomas III ( Puerto Rico/San Fran), Michael Luwoye (First U.S. Tour)

"There’s a million things I haven’t done but just you wait, just you wait…"

The ten-dollar Founding Father without a father, Alexander Hamilton starts out as a penniless immigrant bastard but rises up in the ranks and becomes an aide to George Washington himself. After the American Revolution, he becomes one of the most prominent politicians of the young United States, creating USA's financial system, writing in defense of the Constitution and founding the Federalist Party.

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• Ain't Too Proud to Beg: During his solo in "It's Quiet Uptown", after ruining his political reputation and relationship with his family, not to mention suffering the loss of his eldest son, Phillip, a devastated and depressed Alexander finally talks to Eliza, begging his wife not to leave him and let him stay with what remains of his family. Eliza finally forgives him.
• Ambiguously Bi: It's not clear whether he's not straight or just really close with his male friends. Much like in history.
• Ambition Is Evil: Played with. Hamilton is a heroic figure and beyond a doubt ambitious, but his ambition is a true double-edged sword. Without it, the United States might not have had the Constitution written and ratified nor a solid financial system, and he probably would have died penniless in the Caribbean, but it also ruins his family life and ultimately his career; his "non-stop" nature means he can't help but overreach himself.
• Anti-Hero: Argumentative, brash, overly ambitious, a Glory Hound, and rather self-destructive, but no one can argue with what he did for America.
• Arc Words: His ambition and drive are evident in his catchphrases of "just you wait" (which contrasts with Burr's "willing to wait for it" attitude) and "not throwing away my shot" (which doubles as a nice bit of ironic Foreshadowing of his death in a duel).
• Author Avatar: Has a lot in common with Lin-Manuel Miranda, who played him in the original cast (and wrote the musical).
• Bastard Angst: Hamilton's illegitimate birth did nothing to help his family's situation in the Caribbean and Burr's narration always makes sure to bring it up to emphasize the opposition Alexander faced on his rise to the top.
• Batman Gambit: When he finally stops talking and puts his mind to it, he's a rather shrewd political negotiator. Brute force doesn't get his debt plan through Congress, so he arranges a quid pro quo with Jefferson and Madison where they'll provide him his votes if he allows the Southerners to pick where the nation's capital will be. Hamilton was sharp enough to know that it doesn't matter where you put the nation's capital, and his new financial system meant that New York City (his home turf) became the financial capital of the United States and eventually the globe. In real life, Jefferson claimed Hamilton "tricked" him, but the truth is while Jefferson was brilliant in a lot of areas, finances wasn't one of them. Truth is, he played to Jefferson's ego and it worked.
  Burr: ...Or did you know even then it doesn't matter where you put the US Capitol??
  Hamilton: 'Cause we'll have the banks. We're in the same spot.
  Burr (stunned): You got more than you gave!
  Hamilton: And I wanted what I got.
• Be Careful What You Wish For: In "Right Hand Man", Hamilton claims that his younger self wished for a war. A war which ends up killing his closest friend, John Laurens.
• Berserk Button: And not just one, given his fiery temper. He doesn't take well to Washington calling him "son" at all, a bursar questioning his intellect got him punched in the face by Hamilton as well as just about any matter remotely concerned with honor. And Jefferson's snide remarks about his clothes.
• Better the Devil You Know: A variation of this trope is why he backs Thomas Jefferson for president; sure, Hamilton almost never agrees with Jefferson's ideals, but at least Jefferson has ideals and Hamilton knows what they are, while there's no telling what positions Burr will back to get into power.
• Break the Haughty: Philip's death finally breaks Hamilton's boundless ambition, with "It's Quiet Uptown" detailing how just living a quiet life with his family is at last enough for him.
  I spend hours in the garden. I walk alone to the store. And it's quiet uptown. I never liked the quiet before.
• Broken Ace: While the story downplays some of his own insecurities, it's still evident that Alexander feels like he'll slip at any moment, often thinking about how he'll meet his end and whether he's good enough to leave a legacy behind. Historically, especially during the war, he faced many trying periods in his life. Take this excerpt from a letter written to Laurens shortly after announcing his betrothal.
  Hamilton: The truth is I am an unlucky honest man that speaks my sentiments to all and with emphasis. I say this to you because you know it and will not charge me with vanity. I hate congress—I hate the army—I hate the world—I hate myself. The whole is a mass of fools and knaves. I could almost except you and Richard Kidder Meade. Adieu.
• Brutal Honesty: He never holds back from stating his opinions and disagreeing with others.
• Bunny-Ears Lawyer: He's an overenthusiastic Glory Hound who just cannot shut up and makes a lot of enemies, but he's also a certifiable economic genius and laid the groundwork for the United States' financial system.
• Character Development: He becomes more wary of his actions' consequences, and more humble. Not by much, but still.
• The Charmer: He's very reliable with the LADIES!^note  There are so many to deflower!
• Chick Magnet: Over the story, he gets the attention of Eliza whom he marries, and Angelica whom he has a flirtatious relationship with. It's also possible that Maria Reynolds had a thing for him during their affair.
• Color-Coded for Your Convenience: Hamilton goes through a few color changes throughout the show; he is first seen as one of the ensemble members wearing white, then switches to tan as a student, then joins Washington's army wearing blue, green as an older statesman, and he wears black until the duel.
• The Confidant: To his sister-in-law Peggy Schuyler, who starts to confide in him even before he marries Eliza.
• Create Your Own Villain: Repeatedly prods Aaron Burr over his indecisiveness, encouraging him to make a stand and do something with his life. Burr responds by running for Senate, defeating Hamilton's father-in-law for his seat, and setting off the rivalry that eventually ends in a Duel to the Death.
• Dark and Troubled Past: His childhood was the stuff of nightmares. Growing up poor with a financially ruined mother with a horrible ex-husband hounding her, Alexander was denounced as a bastard whore's child who saw all of his relatives die in front of him save his brother. Growing up in Nevis that historically had one of the most brutal death tolls in slavery, constant attacks and fights with pirates, and greedy noblemen, not to mention surviving a hurricane, surviving the war was almost easy by comparison. For what the musical doesn't cover, you'll need a strong stomach.
• Determinator: Hamilton's most defining feature. He writes thousands of pages of work, becomes head of treasury at a very young age, and is one of the most influential people in American history - all thanks to his brains and sheer force of will.
• Disease Bleach: After Philip dies, the company notes that his hair has turned gray.
• Do Wrong, Right: He might have had an affair and paid his mistress's blackmailing husband to stay quiet about it, but he kept his personal books balanced and didn't filch the Treasury to do so.
• Doting Parent: He's a very caring father, especially to his first-born, Philip. As one would expect, Alexander sinks into a deep depression over Philip's death.
• Dramatically Missing the Point: In "Meet Me Inside", Washington tells Hamilton that picking a fight with Lee wasn't worth it and says that his name has been through plenty and he can take it. Hamilton, being a Glory Hound, starts ranting about how he doesn't have Washington's name and glory, completely missing Washington's intended lesson on humility.
• Duel to the Death: In a case of Foregone Conclusion, he ends up dying in a duel of honor with Aaron Burr, a former friend of his.
• Dying Declaration of Love: Played With. During his big monologue in "The World Was Wide Enough", Hamilton's frantic soliloquy is calmed down when he thinks of Eliza and tells her that he'll "see [her] on the other side" before he is fatally shot by Burr.
• Enemy Mine: Reluctantly backs Jefferson's presidential campaign to keep Aaron Burr from becoming president.
• Exhaustion-Induced Idiocy: The first time he slept with Mariah Reynolds could be attributed to this considering he had been getting minimal sleep during the week. The other times... not so much.
• Face Death with Dignity: In his final moments in "The World Was Wide Enough", at first he's frantic and starts thinking of his loved ones all while monologuing desperately. However, when he thinks of Eliza, he calms down and simply tells her to take her time and that he'll "see her on the other side". Accepting his fate, he gives one final and tranquil "Raise a glass to freedom..." right before he aims his pistol at the sky.^note "WAIT!" *BOOM*
• Fatal Flaw: Pride. His low origins make him extremely touchy where matters of honor and public opinion are concerned, which combined with his Hair-Trigger Temper ultimately leads to his public fall from grace and, later, death. He also has a bad case of It's All About Me and really doesn't know when (or how) to shut up.
• Friendless Background: He calls Burr his first friend and mentions that he's never had a group of friends before meeting Laurens, Mulligan, and Lafayette.
• Glorious Death: Alexander early in the play aspires to rise above his station in battle and die a martyr, which is why, when the Revolutionary War comes, he turns down multiple desk positions before Washington approaches him. Washington disabuses him of this notion:
  Washington: [spoken] It's alright, you wanna fight, you've got a hunger
  I was just like you when I was younger
  Head full of fantasies of dying like a martyr?
  Alexander: Yes!
  Washington: Dying is easy, young man. Living is harder.
• Gold Digger: Downplayed. Angelica realizes that Hamilton is eager to marry a Schuyler sister in order to secure status and funds. Nevertheless, she knows their attraction to each other (as well as Hamilton's later courtship of Angelica's sister Eliza) is sincere.
• Good is Not Nice: Hamilton deeply cares about his loved ones and rebuilding America, however he's a huge Insufferable Genius with a major case of It's All About Me.
• Happily Married: With Eliza during the first act. The second act is when things start to sour as Alexander's unquenchable ambition puts a strain on their relationship, only for things to get even worse following the Reynold's pamphlet. It isn't until the death of their first son Phillip that he and Eliza are finally able to reconcile and restart their marriage. Then you have Hamilton's Duel to the Death...
• The Hero Dies: He's the main protagonist of the play, which ends with his historical death at Aaron Burr's hands.
• Hero with Bad Publicity: His public reputation is pretty much in shambles after he publishes his criticism of John Adams and the Reynolds Pamphlet.
• Heroic Bastard: As Burr never fails to remind us.
  Burr: How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman [...] grow up to be a hero and a scholar?
• His Own Worst Enemy: Hamilton's a brilliant man, no doubt about it. But the combination of his pride, suicidal overconfidence and putting his legacy before everything makes him very self-destructive. Angelica is 100% correct in calling him this in the cut song "Congratulations".
• Historical Hero Upgrade:
  • Hamilton did in fact own at least three personal slaves by 1796 - two adults and one child - according to his own cash books, and never set them free either in life or in his will. He also willingly married into the Schuyler family, who were the largest and wealthiest slaveholders in New York at the time, and frequently brokered slave deals for them. Although Hamilton was also a member of the anti-slavery Manumission Society and voiced support for a proposed trade agreement with the new Haitian government, both were token gestures that were never formulated into real action during his lifetime; Hamilton was hostile to The French Revolution which in 1794 actually did abolish slavery for the first time in European history and without compensation for slaveowners. He opposed the Haitian Revolution when it broke out and sympathized with the concern of white slaveowning refugees that landed in America. It was only when Napoléon Bonaparte came to power and reversed the abolition, and fearing that he could grab Haiti for a potential New World expansion of his campaign, that Hamilton felt that America could have a trading agreement with Free Haiti, but this didn't include diplomatic recognition, nor any kind of official backing for the government or any real meaningful help.
  • While it is true that Hamilton did originate as a white immigrant from the Caribbean, as a statesman, Hamilton virulently campaigned against open immigration to the new republic and generally made life for immigrants far harder than before by helping to pass legislation such as the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798.
  • By writing the Reynolds Pamphlet, Hamilton knowingly ruined Maria's life to save face, which the play never addresses as Maria is written out completely after "The Reynolds Pamphlet". The fact that he knowingly took advantage of a desperate, barely literate young mother eleven years his junior in a time in which she had no legitimate ways to get help is also never really touched on. However, the disgusted look on Maria's after he publishes the pamphlet implies that he still did willingly ruin Maria's life.
  • Hamilton also was known to publish completely made-up rumors about Burr (a common tactic of politicians during this time period) out of spite and with the explicit intention to ruin him. This version of him, however, is a well-meaning Byronic Hero woobie who only did anything wrong by being tricked or seduced into it and only directly moves against Burr as a matter of principle after Burr has already done considerable damage to Alexander's career.
  • Also the duel between him and Burr, and his own death, had an element of vindictiveness that's not as thoroughly explored in the play. With his political career in tatters, he mounted smear campaigns towards Burr as a culmination of a long-held animosity.^note The real Burr had antagonized Alexander by deceitfully breaking up the Federalist's monopoly on New York's banking system by tricking him into approving the establishment of a bogus water company. What really set Burr off was the publication of a letter Charles D. Cooper had sent to Philip Schuyler, which claimed that Alexander had said a particularly "despicable opinion", a nasty insult about him (what that insult is, is a Riddle for the Ages^note Gore Vidal would have you believe that it involved Hamilton accusing Burr, to fellow peers, that he had sexual relations with his own daughter Theodosia). This, combined with Hamilton having screwed him out of both the presidency in 1800 and New York's gubernatorial election in 1804, provoked Burr to challenge him to a duel. Unwilling to lose face after the Reynolds scandal and his failed attempt at discrediting John Adams, Alexander denied any recollection of the insult and refused to make an apology. And likewise on the day of the duel, Hamilton brought the pistols (owned by his brother-in-law John Church), and the pistols he used had a secret hair trigger that gave him a secret advantage (however, accounts show that the hair trigger was not engaged during the duel). We don't know who shot first, but we know that both men shot, and he didn't shoot so far away from Burr (the bullet apparently struck a branch above Burr). ^note Though Hamilton did mention that he would throw away his shot against Burr in his "Statement on Impending Duel with Aaron Burr", it's possible he only wrote that to make himself look better than Burr in the event of his death.
  • Hamilton's fractious relationship with John Adams is reduced to a brief expository song ("The Adams Administration"). Presumably because it's very difficult to paint his actions towards Adams in a positive light, undermining Adams' efforts to negotiate a peace treaty with France, using cabinet members Timothy Pickering, Oliver Wolcott and James McHenry to manipulate and undercut the President, then writing a pamphlet attacking Adams just before the 1800 election. In a panel interview, Miranda and Ron Chernow discussed this at some length and admitted that depicting Hamilton and Adams' feud in any detail would probably cause the audience to lose sympathy towards Hamilton.
• Historical Villain Upgrade: The real Alexander Hamilton didn't punch a bursar in his quest for an accelerated course of study, Lin-Manuel Miranda just couldn’t resist the rhyme “Burr, sir/bursar.”
• Hot-Blooded: He's hotheaded, passionate, brilliant, and itching to prove himself.
• Hypocrite: He doesn't agree with Burr's strategy of "Talk less, smile more" and gives him a lot of crap for waiting and refusing to take a stand. Come "Schuyler Defeated" where Burr stops waiting by running for Senate and winning, and Hamilton's not happy about it. Granted, it was because Burr defeated his father-in-law but still.
  • Another thing in the exact same song! "Schuyler Defeated" comes directly after "The Room Where It Happens", where Hamilton finally decides to take Burr's advice and be cunning to pull a Batman Gambit on Jefferson and Madison, so it's quite rich of him to accuse Burr of seizing opportunities now.
• "I Want" Song: "Aaron Burr, Sir" and "My Shot," the former is about how he wants to succeed in life and be a part of something, while the latter is about what he envisions for America.
• Immigrant Patriotism: He was originally from the island of Nevis but is fiercely devoted to protecting and developing America. Despite his immigrant background being frequently brought up, he shows no loyalty or even fondness toward his homeland. Of course, his homeland never gave him much reason to remember it fondly.
• Insecure Love Interest: It's first alluded to in "Helpless" when he opens up to Eliza about his past, then he admits his insecurity in "That Would Be Enough" when he wonders if Eliza likes being married to a poor man. This vulnerability wouldn't be seen again until after Philip's death where Hamilton outright says that he knows he doesn't deserve her after everything that's happened.
• Insufferable Genius: Not to the same extent as his real life counterpart, but he still very much is. He's incredibly intelligent, but also inclined to demonstrate it at length, prompting the line "Why do you assume you're the smartest in the room?" Hamilton even admits that it makes him a less effective lawyer than Burr, because he always goes on and on to show off his smarts and Burr just gets to the point.
• It's All About Me:
  • As a result of constantly trying to prove himself and win affirmation in the eyes of others, Hamilton is rather self-centered. Case in point; after he publishes the Reynolds Pamphlet and ruins his reputation, he automatically assumes Angelica has come from England to comfort him. Rather than, you know, her younger sister whom Hamilton has betrayed, cheated on and humiliated by the candid admission of his affair.
  • It is played with in that Hamilton prizes his intelligence so much he doesn't recognize his other qualities. He mentions that he wrote Eliza until she fell in love with him, but Eliza fell in love with him on sight, regardless of his intellect or wit. Ironically, Eliza's sister Angelica comes to fall in love with his wit and banter, and immediately regrets their strictly platonic relationship.
  • In a bit of meta-brilliance, whenever Alexander sings his name in the musical, he does so in his own melody, usually clashing with whatever song is being performed at the moment - showing that he's headstrong, confident and a bit out of tune with everyone else.
• It's Personal: When Burr removes Phillip Schuyler from his Senate seat, Alexander takes it very personally and it kills any friendship the two men still had.
• Jerkass Has a Point: He's quick to brutally cite Burr's lack of principles as the reason why he shouldn't be president, and though Burr doesn't take it well, you can't really blame Alexander for what he said.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Hamilton is a brash know-it-all who doesn't care who he offends and loves to run his mouth, but he cares deeply about his family, friends, and country.
• Jumped at the Call: He's desperate to prove himself, and knows full well that history has its eyes on him. During "Non-Stop", Washington starts making a lengthy apology for asking him to leave his family, but before he has even finished, Alexander is asking if he's going to be running the Treasury or State Department. This momentarily puts Washington off balance.
• Legacy Seeker: Already driven to rise above his humble origins and make a name for himself, the second act kicks this trait into overdrive when Hamilton engages in shady political dealing with Jefferson and Madison in order to "build something that's gonna outlive me," and later publicly confesses to adultery rather than let rumors of financial impropriety spread, all while claiming that "this is the only way I can protect my legacy!" Through this, he manages to prevent his political works from being ruined... but his relationship with his wife is destroyed, his son is provoked to violence in order to defend Hamilton's honour resulting in his death in a duel, and Hamilton is subjected to a major dose of Break the Haughty. In the climax, Hamilton finally accepts the fact that he has no control over how history will perceive him and will never see his legacy come to fruition; with this realization complete, he willingly throws away his shot and allows Aaron Burr to kill him.
• Manipulative Bastard: The normally (overly) upfront and outspoken Hamilton can play the part of a wily politician if need be; "The Room Where It Happens" is a prime example of this, with Hamilton actually taking Burr's advice to "talk less, smile more". This part is crucial, because up until this point in Act Two, Hamilton's verbosity and bluntness made him unpopular in Congress. He only gets anywhere getting his debt plan approved when he strokes Jefferson's ego a bit and arranges a quid pro quo with Madison for the nation's capital in exchange for the votes he needs.
  Burr: (disbelieving) You got more than you gave!
  Hamilton: And I wanted what I got!
  When you got skin in the game, you stay in the game,
  And you don't get a win unless you're playing the game.
• Milking the Giant Cow: Fittingly for his passionate and go-getter character, Hamilton often talks with a lot of hand gestures.
• Mirror Character: Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton are both Child Prodigy orphans who graduated early from Kings College, and are ambitious career driven men. They both try to make themselves of value to Washington during the Revolutionary War and afterwards, practice law right next door to each other. They both even suffer complicated romantic personal lives, but are dedicated to leaving behind a legacy their children can be proud of. All of this serves to highlight the big dramatic differences between Hamilton and Burr: whereas Hamilton comes from absolutely nothing and is desperate to prove himself, Burr comes from a respected family and is concerned about protecting his legacy. Moreover, Hamilton seems equal parts driven by his ideological vision for the United States as well as his personal strive for glory, while Burr on the other hand is willing to be and say whatever he needs to in order to grasp power. This ultimately leads to Hamilton and Burr becoming rivals, with Burr changing parties and colluding with Hamilton's political opposition to keep Hamilton from gaining more power and Hamilton later supporting Thomas Jefferson, his most vocal critic, over Burr in the presidential election because Jefferson has clear beliefs about the country while Burr has none.
• Motor Mouth: He's not as fast-talking as Lafayette or Angelica (who both get the fastest rapping parts in the musical), but he is extremely verbose and prone to lapsing into hours-long speeches both on paper and off. If Congressional documents are anything to go by, this was lifted straight from real life.
• Moving Beyond Bereavement: During Act 2, Phillip is killed in a duel; what follows is the song "It's Quiet Uptown," in which Hamilton tries to move on from the tragedy, and can be seen wandering the city in a depressed daze, talking to himself and absolutely crushed by grief. He begins to recover when he finally mends his relationship with his estranged wife Eliza, allowing them to gradually move on.
• Mr. Vice Guy: Hamilton is an extremely prideful character who can be rather self-centered. Nevertheless, he's still a fundamentally good person.
• Names to Run Away from Really Fast: He shares his name with the ancient Macedonian conqueror, and he has enough pride and ambition to deserve that name.
• Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Publishing the Reynolds Pamphlet saves Hamilton from accusations of treason, but ruins his marriage, his reputation, and leads to his son dying in a duel.
• No Social Skills: He has a touch of this in his first scene, when he meets Aaron Burr. His first lines to Burr can be summed up as, "Oh my God, you're an orphan? Me too! We have so much in common! Wow, I wish there was a war. By the way, I may have punched a friend of yours in the face for calling me stupid. Do you want to be my friend?" (Hey, it worked!) This can be chalked up to him never having had friends before. He gets much better, and is The Charmer when he's with women.
• Nouveau Riche: Only came into money after marrying Eliza and becoming Secretary of the Treasury. Jefferson takes digs at him because of this.
  Jefferson: He knows nothing of loyalty — smells like new money, dresses like fake royalty
  Desperate to rise above his station, everything he does betrays the ideals of our nation.
• Number Two: Hamilton becomes Washington's right-hand man, helping the general lead his men when so many start dying. He also confides with Washington on certain strategic measures for their battle plans. After the war and Washington becomes president, Hamilton is assigned Secretary of the Treasury and ends up creating a new financial system. When Washington steps down as president, he tasks Hamilton to help write his farewell address.
• Obnoxious In-Laws: Averted. Alexander adores Eliza's family, since he lost his own family at a young age, and they all accept him with open arms. He's close to both his sisters-in-law and becomes furious when Burr takes his father-in-law's seat in the Senate.
• Outliving One's Offspring: He outlives Phillip.
• Parental Abandonment: His father left him when he was ten and his mother died of a severe illness two years later.
• Parental Love Song: Shares "Dear Theodosia" with Burr, in which they sing to their young children about how they'll make America a better place for them.
• Passive-Aggressive Kombat: While normally abrasive and overtly confrontational, Hamilton can on occasion engage in underhanded putdowns (especially where Burr is concerned; see the entirety of "Your Obedient Servant").
• Pretty Boy: In "Satisfied" Angelica describes him as boyishly handsome, with peach fuzz that isn't quite facial hair.
• Principles Zealot: Hamilton tends to cling onto honor too much, to the point where it blinds him to reality. He goes against Washington's direct orders to duel Lee when he insulted the former and refuses to apologize to Burr for endorsing Jefferson over him, citing "I will not equivocate on my opinion" as reason, leading to the fatal duel that takes his life.
• Protagonist Title: The main character of the musical.
• Rags to Riches: At the start of the show, he's a penniless, illegitimate orphan from the Caribbean. By the time Act I ends, he's a well-off Secretary of Treasury. (Marrying into a fabulously rich family definitely helped with the "well-off" part). (Of course, he ends Act II dead, and — though not mentioned — also in debt).
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The hotheaded, fast-talking, war-loving red oni to Burr's more pragmatic and slow to anger blue oni.
• The Resenter: It's implied that he resents Charles Lee for getting promoted over him and that is part of why he helps Laurens in his duel.
• Sanity Slippage Song:
  • He becomes increasingly frantic throughout "The World Was Wide Enough", in which he is fatally shot by Burr.
  • At least one blogger noted the similarities between "Hurricane" and a PTSD episode.
• Secret-Keeper: Surprisingly, for someone who likes to talk and babble excessively. During Hamilton's wedding, Burr confides to him about his own affair with a British soldier's wife after Laurens teasingly alluded to Burr having a special someone.
• Social Climber: As Jefferson quips, the penniless, immigrant Hamilton is "desperate to rise above his station". See Gold Digger, above.
• Son of a Whore: Actually referenced by trope name in the show's opening number (and many numbers after). Subverted in that his mother was not actually a prostitute, but rather spent time in prison for "prostitution" (i.e. having relationships out of wedlock).
• Teen Genius: By fourteen, they placed him in charge of a trading charter.^note This still holds true in Real Life: in reality, he was either 15 or 17 at the time, depending on whether or not he'd lied about his age to improve his employment prospects.
• Too Much Information: Long-winded already in his writings and law practice, it takes a dark turn when he fully reveals the details of the Reynolds affair to the public. Even Thomas Jefferson is stunned.
• Tragic Bromance: Hamilton's closest friend, John Laurens, dies in a meaningless post-war skirmish; his death signals a shift in tone for the second act and prompts Hamilton to work even harder.
• Vitriolic Best Buds: With Burr, for most of the show. The two work together often and well, but Hamilton's recklessness combined with Burr's caution create a lot of arguments. Sadly, it doesn't last.
• What Beautiful Eyes!: Both Angelica and Eliza fawn over his lovely eyes.
• When You Coming Home, Dad?: He has phenomenal work ethic - to the detriment of his personal life. See Workaholic, below.
• Workaholic:
  • "Take a Break" is Eliza lamenting over how he devotes more time to his duties as Secretary of the Treasury than to her and their children.
  • "Non-Stop" lays the foundation for this tendency of his, but the real origin of it is "Tomorrow There'll Be More Of Us", where Hamilton receives word that John Laurens was killed in a pointless skirmish after the war had already ended, and he realizes how much more there is to do and how quickly his life could be snuffed out.
• Worthy Opponent: Despite their mutual acrimony, and even before his death, Jefferson sees him as this. After Hamilton textually curbstomps John Adams (who is on Hamilton's side), Madison is gleeful, but Jefferson is still wary.
  Jefferson: Hamilton is a host unto himself. As long as he can hold a pen he's a threat.
• X Meets Y: The show's casting calls describe his style as Eminem meets Sweeney Todd.
• You're Not My Father: Hamilton has a fight with Washington, his mentor and father figure, and reacts badly whenever Washington calls him "son". This is likely due to Hamilton's issues with his actual father, who abandoned him when he was ten.

Aaron Burr

Aaron Burr, Jr.

Leslie Odom, Jr. as Burr

Originated by: Leslie Odom Jr.

Other productions: Daniel Breaker (CBO), Giles Terera (West End), Nik Walker (Second U.S Tour), Donald Webber Jr (Puerto Rico/San Francisco), Joshua Henry (Chicago)

"Talk less. Smile more. Don't let them know what you're against or what you're for."

One of Hamilton's political rivals and for the most part, the narrator of the musical. Burr and Hamilton begin the story as good friends, but Burr's political ambitions and lack of strong beliefs drive a wedge in their relationship. Burr eventually gets elected as the third Vice President of the United States after losing to Jefferson.

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• Actually Pretty Funny: He chuckles at Hamilton's semi-affectionate imitation of his "talk less, smile more" catchphrase.
• Adaptational Sympathy: In real life, Burr never expressed remorse for killing Hamilton in their duel and his "the world was wide enough" quote later added confusion if he was being sincere or not. In the musical, Burr is immediately regretful of what he did after seeing Hamilton throw away his shot. Moreso, Burr is given lines to explain why he thought Hamilton would shoot and to show his concern over Theodosia becoming an orphan.
• Affably Evil: His lack of principles and rivalry with Hamilton aside, he's one of the more respectful characters in the whole show.
• All for Nothing: While not mentioned in the show, Burr's motivation to kill Hamilton because he will not make the latter make his daughter Theodosia an orphan, becomes futile even as he survives because Theodosia eventually gets lost at sea, presumably dying.
• All-Knowing Singing Narrator: Burr acts as this; his "bastard, orphan, son of a whore" line (and variations thereof) is used to segue into the next segment of the story. He has some limitations however, usually reflecting gaps in historians' knowledge. Eliza takes over the narration at the end.
• Ambition Is Evil: As with Hamilton himself, this is played with. Late in the play, Burr proclaims that he wants to be in "the room where it happens" but still does not espouse any strong principles as he throws himself into politics — he seems to want power for the sake of having it. Though his backstory and motivation implies that he's gaining power to continue his family's legacy.
• Anonymous Killer Narrator: The opening number is sung by show's whole cast, and the end of the song reveals their relations to the title character. The last one to describe himself, and the one who narrates throughout the show, is none other than Aaron Burr.
  And me? I'm the damn fool that shot him!
• Antagonist in Mourning: He really regrets killing Hamilton, even referring to himself as a fool for having done so. Most of the end of "The World Was Wide Enough" is Burr bemoaning the fact that he killed Hamilton, when really neither of them needed to die, and how he'll forever be painted a villain for this mistake. In real life, even close friends of Burr were notably disturbed by his seeming lack of remorse or reaction after shooting Hamilton. This changed slightly later in his life and he really was quoted with the "the world was wide enough for Hamilton and me" line.
• Anti-Villain: He gets a much more positive portrayal here than he does elsewhere. The show establishes that he's a complicated, conflicted man with admirable qualities and often highlights the fact that he and Hamilton are Mirror Characters. Arguably this play is the most positive portrayal of Burr that remains accessible to the average person.
• Arc Words: "Talk less, smile more" and "Wait/Waiting", demonstrating his caution and lack of decisiveness.
• Armor-Piercing Question: Hamilton asks Burr a sharp one, basically confronting him on his indecisiveness. It gets repeated in the second act during "The Room Where it Happens", and Burr still dances around the answer, since he essentially seeks power and prestige for it's own sake, rather than doing something with it.
  Hamilton: If you stand for nothing, Burr, what'll you fall for?
• Attention Whore: Aaron Burr sometimes shows a tendency towards this, with his trait of wanting attention and power, but not necessarily wanting to do anything concrete with it. It is especially visible in the song 'The Schuyler Sisters':
  Angelica Schuyler: Burr, you disgust me!
  Aaron Burr: Ah, so you've discussed me.
• Bald of Evil: Scheming, manipulative, completely lacking principles, and is almost always played by a bald guy. Besides Original Cast Precedent, this may be a nod to the real Aaron Burr's receding hairline.
• Big Bad: His rivalry with Hamilton is constant throughout the play, and Act II sees this rivalry twisted in malice that ultimately leads to him fatally shooting Hamilton.
• Beware the Quiet Ones: Burr, most of the time, is reserved and withdrawn and even comes off as more of a Nice Guy than Alexander. However, pushing him far enough will not end well, as Hamilton learned after endorsing Jefferson over him (though Burr immediately regrets killing him in their duel after seeing too late that his opponent threw away his shot).
• Boring, but Practical: This is basically why Hamilton went to him to defend the Constitution: Burr is much more efficient as a lawyer than the Insufferable Genius that is Alexander, who goes on and on to show off his smarts while Burr gets straight to the point.
• Break the Haughty: Shooting Hamilton in a duel and realizing too late that Hamilton had no intention of shooting him finally breaks Burr's ambitions for power.
  I was too young and blind to see. I should have known, I should have known the world was wide enough, for both Hamilton and me.
• Character Development: The Act II song "The Room Where It Happens" marks the turning point of Burr's character in the show, where he slowly starts becoming more proactive in order to get a position of power.
• Character Narrator: This is a given, as he frequently addresses the audience in the midst of his interactions with other characters.
• The Charmer: Like Hamilton, he's a bit of a ladies's man. At one point, he tries to hit on Angelica and fails rather spectacularly. He puts this to good use in the 1800 elections.
  Burr: Ladies, tell your husbands Vote for Burr!
• Color-Coded for Your Convenience: During the opening number, the entire company (including Hamilton) is dressed in off-white - with the single exception of Burr, who's dressed in black. This makes him stand out as the play's narrator, marks him as the antagonist (and an Antagonist in Mourning at that).
• Compliment Backfire: He tries to praise Washington's evasive strategies when they meet. Washington hates being forced to evade and flee all the time and wants someone who has an idea of how to not fight that way, so he dismisses Burr.
• Composite Character: A minor example but Burr wasn't Charles Lee's second, Evan Edwards was.
• Deadpan Snarker: He is much dryer and succinct in his raps than Hamilton and basically everyone else in their group of friends. He is also snarky.
• Depending on the Author: How Burr comes across hinges on the performance of the actor playing him. He can either be a reserved but suave charmer who still has a scheming side like Leslie Odom Jr. or he can be an awkward and slimy individual who's a lot more Obviously Evil but still has a soft spot like Giles Terera's interpretation.
• Deuteragonist: To Hamilton's protagonist, and their differences fuel much of the conflict in the second act. He eventually becomes The Antagonist as his envy and anger towards Hamilton eventually causes him to snap.
• The Ditherer: The Wishy-Washy type - it's almost his defining character trait. Burr definitely supports the revolution, but wants to make sure he's on the winning side before declaring that openly. He tells Hamilton that whilst he privately supports the new Constitution, he's unwilling to help write the Federalist Papers in case they turn out to be "backing the wrong horse". He's supportive of popular leaders such as Washington and Jefferson, but offers them no new ideas for fear that they might be controversial. Even when he admits that his grand goal is to be in "the room where it happens", he never says what he hopes to do once he's there - he's willing to just follow along with whoever's in power.
• Doting Parent: He adores his daughter Theodosia and only wants the best for her. His greatest fear during his duel with Hamilton is that his daughter will be orphaned and alone if he dies. (Historically, Burr was known to have supported the idea of women's equality and gave Theodosia an excellent education.)
• Dramatically Missing the Point: During his presidential campaign, he tells Alexander that he's doing what he learned from him: chasing what he wants, but there's a key element that Burr missed, and that is fighting for your deeply-held beliefs whereas Burr is simply chasing what he wants for personal gain.
• Establishing Character Moment: The cautious, noncommittal Burr gets a brilliant establishing first line:
  Hamilton: Pardon me — are you Aaron Burr, sir?
  Burr: That depends. Who's asking?
• Et Tu, Brute?: Burr is shocked to learn that Hamilton supported Jefferson's bid for president instead of his, especially considering he and Hamilton had been on good terms and Hamilton had always hated Jefferson.
• Even Evil Can Be Loved: Despite being a scheming and unprincipled person, his wife and daughter adore him as much as he adores them.
• Even Evil Has Loved Ones: "Evil" being used loosely here. Burr is Happily Married with Theodosia and adores his daughter and would do anything for her.
• Everyone Has Standards:
  • He's appalled by Hamilton's willingness to "sell the capital down the river" in exchange for getting the votes necessary to get his financial plan through Congress and calls him out on it.
  • He's also horrified, along with Jefferson and Madison, about Hamilton's affair with Maria Reynolds.
• Evil Wears Black: From the opening number, Burr is marked as the Big Bad with his black clothes contrasting with everyone else wearing white. All his outfits have the color black on them.
• Exact Words: invoked When asked how he graduated from Princeton so quickly, he replies "It was my parents' dying wish before they passed." Hamilton assumes that, like him, Burr was motivated by their death to prove himself. In the Hamiltome, Lin-Manuel points out that Burr is neglecting to mention his father was the president of the college, which puts a new spin on Burr's words.
• Fair-Weather Foe: Burr doesn't outright ask Hamilton to support him in the presidential election, but it is implied that he knows Alexander's choice matters, so he speaks amicably to him. Also, Hamilton's reasoning for voting for Jefferson is Burr's lack of principles and not their prior clashes, but it's still a bit rich from Burr to expect an endorsement.
• Family Eye Resemblance: His daughter, Theodosia, has his eyes.
• Fatal Flaw: Sloth. His indecisiveness makes it hard for people to know what he stands for, or to trust him.
  • Burr shows he's ready to follow Washington, but Washington needs someone to give him ideas and relieve the burden of the Revolution. Hamilton offers his talents and those of his friends as well to Washington, leading him to be Washington's "Right Hand Man."
  • He loses his chance to contribute to the Federalist Papers because he's unsure whether to back the new constitution. Said papers turn out to be a roaring success and are still part of governmental studies curriculums to this day.
  • When having to choose between Burr and Jefferson, Hamilton admits while Jefferson isn't a friend, at least Jefferson has ideals that he can be trusted to fight for, while Burr doesn't seem to have any and will go with whatever platform is the easiest route to power.
• Final Boss: He is the final antagonist to confront Hamilton, and the one to kill him.
• First Friend: As contentious and troubled their friendship proved to be later, Burr is undeniably this for Hamilton.
• First-Person Peripheral Narrator: Burr is kind of a quasi-example. He's clearly not the main protagonist, and the majority of the songs concern events that either don't feature him or aren't hugely relevant to him personally, some of which he does provide narration for (such as "Say No To This"), but he is the second most important character, and by the end of the musical his narration becomes much less peripheral and much more personal. Compare the opening to "What'd I Miss", in which he otherwise doesn't appear, to the opening for "Your Obedient Servant", set to the same melody:
  How does the bastard, orphan, immigrant, decorated war vet, unite the colonies through more debt? Fight the other founding fathers 'til he has to forfeit, have it all, lose it all, you ready for more yet?
  How does Hamilton, an arrogant, immigrant, orphan, bastard, whore's son somehow endorse Thomas Jefferson, his enemy, a man he's despised since the beginning, just to keep me from winning?
• Foil: To Hamilton. Hamilton wrote his way up the ranks and has no legacy to protect, Burr feels the need to protect his parents' legacy. Hamilton is a passionate go-getter not afraid to show his ambition, Burr prefers to stay cool and quiet about his chances. Hamilton often acts like an ass but stands for what he believe is right, while Burr is affable to those around him but stands for himself above all else.
• Fourth-Wall Observer: He knows the audience is there and talks to them for most of the show. Sometimes other characters join in for a moment.
• Friendly Enemy: Although they come to oppose each other politically, Burr still values their friendship and is relatively friendly with Hamilton.
• The Friend Nobody Likes:
  • Hamilton likes him enough but doesn't like that Burr lacks resolve. Laurens, Lafayette, and Mulligan actively tease him, with Lafayette noting, "You are the worst, Burr..." upon his appearance at Hamilton's wedding, although it's worth noting that they always try to include him and only remark disapprovingly because Burr refuses to join them in anything.
  • In Act II, nobody cares for him at all - Hamilton is pissed Burr took his father-in-law's seat in the Senate and even though they all worked together to confront Hamilton about his affair, Madison and Jefferson can't stand him and openly taunt him once he loses the election to Jefferson. Jefferson even goes so far as to change the policy regarding how the Vice President is chosen (although Burr still serves as VP for the first term of Jefferson's Presidency).
• Hammy Herald:
  • For Washington in "Right Hand Man," in which he announces Washington's arrival in a pro wrestling-announcer manner, interspersed with the company's excited "Here comes the general!"
    Burr: Ladies and gentlemen! The moment you've been waiting for! The pride of Mount Vernon! GEOOOOOORGE WASHINGTON!
  • For Lafayette in "Guns and Ships," before Lafayette goes off on a very fast tangent about his military exploits.
    Burr: EVERYONE GIVE IT UP FOR AMERICA'S FAVORITE FIGHTIN' FRENCHMAN!
• Happily Married: invoked It's clearer in the Cut Songs, but he and Theodosia I are obviously happy together. (This also lines up with history — by all accounts, he genuinely loved her.)
• Heel–Face Revolving Door: Starts off as Hamilton's friend, even if they disagree on some things. Then he changes parties to run against Hamilton's father-in-law. This pisses Hamilton off, but Burr still wants to remain friends, and for the most part, they seem to be on good terms. Then Burr aligns himself with Jefferson and Madison, and helps them confront Hamilton, which leads to the Reynolds Pamphlet being published, which in itself leads to Hamilton's personal life and career being ruined. However, the two are still friendly during the Election of 1800, Burr saying that he's chasing what he wants because of what he's learned from Hamilton... and then Hamilton endorses Jefferson over him, and says Burr has no principles. Then Burr decides Hamilton's the reason he's failed, and the two exchange some polite-but-scathing letters, each accusing the other of being at fault. Then, Burr shoots him. But it's clear he wishes he hadn't and genuinely regrets it. Jeez.
• Historical Badass Upgrade: Inverted. He tells the audience he's a terrible shot in The World Was Wide Enough, but the Real Life Aaron Burr was a great shot.
• Historical Hero Upgrade:
  • In regards to his relationship with Alexander Hamilton. Burr in the play is initially welcoming and supportive, if skeptical, of young Hamilton, and the two later share a somewhat inconsistent but sincere friendship. Burr and Hamilton actually met significantly later in their lives than is portrayed in the play,^note Admittedly, no one has pinned down with certainty when the two first met. Hamilton and Burr moved in the same social circles in New York before the war, and both served for a time on Washington's staff, so it's not unreasonable for Miranda to show them meeting in 1776; but there's little evidence for their having any real relationship until the 1780s, when both became active in law and politics. If they knew each other before then, neither man thought to record it. and their relationship before the duel was far more neutral and professional than we see on stage. In that same situation, Burr evinced no remorse about shooting Hamilton^note The reason being contrary to how the play depicts it, Hamilton did not actually aim for the sky during their duel, and in fact may have been the one to shoot first even if he did intend to miss. Thus, Burr may have never realized he wasn't acting in self-defense, and as such felt no remorse, and apparently considered it hypocritical for people to lament the fate of a man who if he had been a little more competent would have been "his" murderer. Despite his repentant narration at the beginning of the musical and in the aftermath of the duel scene, in reality Burr never expressed personal remorse for the duel until much later in life, where he admitted in a mocking way that, "Had I read Tristram Shandy rather than Voltaire, I would think the world was not 'wide enough' for himself and Hamilton". The duel itself did not in any way tarnish Burr's reputation in and of itself, at least in America (internationally it ruined him, because Hamilton was more well known in France and England). The subsequent trial over the land-scheme in the western territory, which ended in his acquittal as it happened, but was forced through by Thomas Jefferson to more or less run him over, was far more damaging to his career.
  • The play also omits post-Hamilton-assassination Burr conspiracy.
• Historical Villain Upgrade:
  • The real Aaron Burr was well-known for being friendly and generous, and nearly bankrupted himself on more than one occasion for charity purposes (often pawning his possessions to give money to others). He was an outspoken proto-feminist, a Revolutionary War hero, opposed to slavery (significantly more actively than Hamilton did) and very much opposed to discrimination against immigrants. He also did not change parties to run against his friend's beloved family member; he joined the political scene as a Democratic-Republican in the first place, and didn't know Hamilton particularly well when he ran against General Schuyler.^note The real cause of Hamilton's animosity towards him was the underhanded way he broke up the Federalists' monopoly on the New York banking system. In Hamilton, Burr is selfish and manipulative with no stance on slavery or on the American Revolution, who obsesses over Hamilton's immigrant status and consistently stabs his allies in the back for purely selfish reasons. Burr is also shown gloating over Hamilton's downfall in "The Reynolds Pamphlet" alongside Jefferson and Madison (and is even the one that implies that the truth about the affair would spread even after the other two promised to remain silent and left), even though historically he sympathized with Hamilton in that instance^note Burr actually represented Maria Reynolds during her divorce from James, and believed that James arranged the affair to blackmail Hamilton with Maria as an unwitting pawn. Burr also openly criticized Jefferson's eagerness to exploit Hamilton's private misfortune for his political benefit as unseemly. Indeed, Hamilton's biographer, Ron Chernow, concludes that Burr was virtually the only person involved in the Reynolds Affair to behave honorably. and even helped defuse a potential duel between him and James Monroe over the latter's role in exposing the scandal (which Miranda even noted while narrating a Hamilton episode in Drunk History).
  • Additionally, this version of Burr is portrayed as a privileged and wealthy "trust fund baby" in order to make him more of a Privileged Rival figure to Hamilton; the real Burr did come from a wealthy family, but had a rocky relationship with them at the best of times and was eventually disowned; he graduated from university at 16 not because of his wealthy important father, but rather simply because he was a genius and had a generally good work ethic. Burr spent most of his life in the middle class, actually less wealthy and powerful than Hamilton, who came from a poor background but eventually married into the Schuyler family and was a favorite of George Washington himself.
  • Real life Burr also took a lot more abuse from Hamilton before snapping and challenging him to a duel. In the show, Burr challenges him pretty much immediately after Hamilton endorses Jefferson for President and costs him the election. Burr took this fairly well in real life, largely because he still got to be Vice President for a term. It was only when Hamilton sabotaged him again in New York's governor election in 1804^note Largely because Burr, running against another Republican, campaigned for Federalist support which infuriated Hamilton enough to personally convince New York Federalists not to support Burr and then further slandered him among his professional colleagues that he challenged him^note No one is certain what Hamilton said to their peers that Burr found so offensive, but the most accepted possibility is that Hamilton claimed that Burr was having sexual relations with his own daughter.
  • On top of the above, Burr was not Charles Lee's second in his duel with John Laurens.
  • This is also played with in that while stage Burr is almost certainly more of a villain than real-life Burr, his popular reputation is so bad that the musical's version is still one of his most sympathetic portrayals, making it both a Historical Villain Upgrade (relative to the complexities of actual history) and a Historical Hero Upgrade (relative to the more common perception of him.)
  • The play omits the fact that he successfully broke up Federalists' banking monopoly that prevented people who weren't already wealthy from getting loans by setting up a Manhatten water company and allowing it to lend money. This is commonly considered the historical reason for Hamilton's antagonism towards him.
• Hypocrite:
  • Burr admits to Hamilton that he's courting a woman married to a British officer, but helps spread the Reynolds Pamphlet about Hamilton's own affair with glee. Although to be fair, he was horrified when he heard about it at first.
  • When he defeated Philip Schuyler for the position of senator, Burr tries to tell Hamilton that it was just politics and he wishes no ill will and hope they can still be friends. Years later, Hamilton endorses Jefferson over Burr for president, rightfully pointing out that someone like Burr is unfit for the role. Burr is outraged and initiates the infamous Duel to the Death.
• "I Am" Song: "Wait For It", in which he explains his backstory and overall worldview.
• "I Want" Song: "The Room Where it Happens" is this for him, where he reveals his desire to have a high political position. (Unusually for an "I Want" Song - but appropriately enough for the indecisive, secretive Burr - "The Room Where It Happens" comes late in the show, about halfway through the second act, with Burr's motives having been obscured before that. Even more than that, the song itself isn't revealed to be an "I Want" Song until about 4 minutes into the 5 minute song!)
• Interactive Narrator: Other characters occasionally chime in, though.
• It's All About Me: He's accused of having a self-centered attitude by Hamilton in "Your Obedient Servant", citing Burr's lack of convictions and his lust for power as the reason why he voted for Jefferson over him.
• It's Personal: When Hamilton endores Jefferson over him in the presidential election, Burr becomes extremely angry after being sabotaged one too many times, and hellbent on getting back at his former friend.
• Jerk with a Heart of Gold: He comes off as less of a jerk than Hamilton, but he still has his moments, such as telling Laurens, Lafayette, Mulligan and Hamilton that if they're not careful with their voices, they might as well be shot. Other than that, a lot of his Jerkass moments notably revolve around Hamilton only and if the latter wasn't around, Burr can easily pass off as a Nice Guy.
• Large Ham: Burr, as a character, is rather reserved in his interactions with others, and is constantly admonishing Hamilton and his friends for their bombastic behavior. As a narrator, however, he hypes these same people up with ridiculous enthusiasm. Most notable in "Guns And Ships" when talking about Lafayette's accomplishments in the army and ends his part of the song clinging to a railing.
• Last-Name Basis: He's not once addressed by his first name, representing how he's so guarded that no one feels like they know him.
• A Lighter Shade of Black: Burr is portrayed in a much more sympathetic light than King George, though to counteract this, he's also portrayed/taken more seriously than King George.
• Madness Mantra: A subtle one. The phrase "I wanna be in the room where it happens" becomes more and more prevalent in the second half of the play as his rivalry with Hamilton intensifies, even creeping its way into his conversations. It reaches its crescendo after Hamilton ruins Burr's chances of presidency.
  Burr: I wanna be in the room where it happens.
  The room where it happens,
  The room where it happens.
  You've kept me from the room where it happens
  For the last time.
• Mirror Character: Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton are both Child Prodigy orphans who graduated early from Kings College, and are ambitious career driven men. They both try to make themselves of value to Washington during the Revolutionary War and afterwards, practice law right next door to each other. They both even suffer complicated romantic personal lives, but are dedicated to leaving behind a legacy their children can be proud of. All of this serves to highlight the big dramatic differences between Hamilton and Burr: whereas Hamilton comes from absolutely nothing and is desperate to prove himself, Burr comes from a respected family and is concerned about protecting his legacy. Moreover, Hamilton seems equal parts driven by his ideological vision for the United States as well as his personal strive for glory, while Burr on the other hand is willing to be and say whatever he needs to in order to grasp power. This ultimately leads to Hamilton and Burr becoming rivals, with Burr changing parties and colluding with Hamilton's political opposition to keep Hamilton from gaining more power and Hamilton later supporting Thomas Jefferson, his most vocal critic, over Burr in the presidential election because Jefferson has clear beliefs about the country while Burr has none.
• Mr. Exposition: Comes with the territory of All-Knowing Singing Narrator; especially after timeskips where he contextualizes the current happenings.
• My God, What Have I Done?: Admits in the very first song that he regrets shooting Hamilton; after he actually does it he yells out "Wait!" as if immediately regretting doing so. In the Where Are They Now epilogue, he admits this outright.
• Neutrality Backlash: Aaron Burr is famously vague about everything, making it hard to know what he stands for. It comes to bite him many times in the musical.
• Neutral No Longer: In Act II, Burr starts to act more like Hamilton by actually working to get what he wants, though it's downplayed in that while he is more proactive, he still doesn't have any strong-held beliefs that are driving him to achieve power.
• Never My Fault: Played with. In "Your Obedient Servant", he blames Hamilton for his failures in life because he would always best him which is technically true, but Hamilton retorts that this happens only because Burr has no principles and no one trusts him, which is also hardhittingly true.
• Nominal Hero: During Act I where he is aligned with the Continental Army, but he's not forthcoming about the revolution like Hamilton and everyone else in their friend group.
• Nothing Personal: When Hamilton confronts him about taking his father-in-law's spot in the Senate, Burr responds that he was only taking an opportunity, and sees no reason why their friendship should end because of this.
• Not So Above It All: He starts out "The Reynolds Pamphlet" being happy but not resorting to gloating like Jefferson does, but by the end of the song he's dancing around Hamilton and going just as crazy as the rest of the ensemble.
• Not So Stoic: After Hamilton endorses Jefferson over him, Burr is finally fed up with Hamilton always sabotaging him. "Your Obedient Servant" shows that Burr is all out and cannot contain his resentment anymore.
• Offended by an Inferior's Success: He hates Alexander Hamilton, because Hamilton is an obnoxious, overly ambitious bastard immigrant who nevertheless finds success at everything he does.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: By the end of "Your Obedient Servant", he's resorted to using terse, barely-worded sentences that are Punctuated! For! Emphasis!.
• Orphan's Ordeal: Not as prominent as Hamilton's, but it's another trait the two men share - Burr grew up in wealth and privilege, but he constantly feels the crushing pressure to live up to his parents' legacy, and his greatest fear is that his daughter will grow up without a father like he did.
• Papa Wolf: He'd do anything for his daughter, Theodosia.
• Parental Abandonment: His mother and father both died when he was young. He completed school in record time because it was their dying wish.
• Parental Love Song: Shares "Dear Theodosia" with Hamilton, in which they sing to their young children about how they'll make America a better place for them.
• Passive-Aggressive Kombat: Eager to avoid outright confrontation, Burr disambles and strikes indirectly as his preferred method of taking people down.
• Pet the Dog:
  • Despite his frequent annoyance with Hamilton in Act I, he still comes to the wedding and genuinely congratulates him on marrying Eliza.
  • He shows sympathy for Eliza after the Reynolds Pamphlet is publicized.
• Phrase Catcher: "Aaron Burr, sir". It even happens when he introduces himself.
• Privileged Rival: Whereas Hamilton comes from a poor background and he worked himself up, Burr comes from a wealthy family with important people as its members.
• Pyrrhic Victory: Yes, Burr survives his Duel to the Death, but his reputation is forever ruined with Hamilton's blood on his hands, as well as the soul-crushing guilt of killing a man he once considered his friend.
  When Alexander aimed at the sky, he may have been the first one to die, but I'm the one who paid for it.
  I survived, but I paid for it...
• Rage Breaking Point: Burr goes through the play being outdone by Hamilton again and again, taking it relatively well. It's when Hamilton votes for Thomas instead of him that sets off the murderous rage that causes the duel.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The pragmatic and slow to anger blue oni to Hamilton's hotheaded, fast-talking, confrontational red oni.
• Remarried to the Mistress: Inverted. He began courting his wife Theodosia when she was still married. After her husband died, she married Burr.
• The Resenter: Increasingly so over the second act over Hamilton's political prowess. Interestingly, the only time he directly competes with Hamilton for a position, he shows relatively little ill-will when he is passed over. It's only after his failed bid for president that he gets murderous.
• Rival Turned Evil: Despite butting heads politically several times, Hamilton and Burr remained relatively amiable until Burr found out that Hamilton endorsed his opponent, Jefferson, in "The Election of 1800". At this point, Burr becomes Hamilton's enemy.
• Sanity Slippage Song: He becomes increasingly frantic throughout "The World Was Wide Enough", in which he shoots Hamilton.
• The Stoic: In contrast to Hamilton's hotheadedness, Burr is a lot more reserved and even-tempered. But when Hamilton endorses Jefferson instead of him, his mask starts to crack.
• Sympathetic Murderer: As the story goes, he ends up killing Hamilton in a duel, but the musical makes the circumstances of the murder clearly sympathetic. For one, Burr tells us in the moments leading up to the duel why he thought Hamilton would surely shoot him, and thus he has to shoot him first. The other reason is Burr's daughter Theodosia, who would be orphaned if he died. And when Burr realizes too late that Alexander didn't intend to kill him, he's utterly heartbroken and regretful.
• This Is Gonna Suck: When Washington shows up after Laurens' and Lee's duel, Burr mutters a dismayed "This should be fun..."
• Throw the Dog a Bone: After getting outshined by Hamilton again and again in Act I, Act II's "The Room Where It Happens" has Burr profess his desire to have power, and in the very next song, he manages to do just that by becoming senator.
• Tragic Villain: An indecisive man seeking to honor his parents' legacy and prove his worth, Burr's ambitions and jealousy of Hamilton lead him on a slow, yet steady path to villainy.
• Unreliable Narrator: At the start of the story, Burr's narration is generally neutral, but as the story progresses and he and Hamilton progressively rub each other the wrong way more and more, his narration of events becomes more and more negative and personal up to the point that he at one point outright calls Hamilton corrupt (something the play doesn't otherwise imply at all).

  Burr in the opening line of the show: How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore, and a Scottsman dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence, impoverished, in squalor grow up to be a hero and a scholar?

  Burr after losing the presidency because of Hamilton's lack of endorsement: How does Hamilton, an arrogant orphan bastard, whoreson somehow endorse Thomas Jefferson, his enemy, a man he's despised since the beginning, just to keep me from winning?

• Villainous B So D: After Burr shoots Hamilton, realizing too late that he threw away his shot, he becomes so shocked that he doesn't even bother to rhyme for four lines.
• Villainous Lament: The second part of "The World Was Wide Enough" is Burr expressing his regret over shooting Hamilton and realizing too late that he intended to throw away his shot.
• Villain Protagonist: Burr winds up becoming the Big Bad, but he's also only behind Hamilton in terms of prominence and it's ultimately his story as well. He is also the primary narrator for most of the story.^note Odom Jr. was even nominated for Best Actor alongside Hamilton's actor Lin Manuel, and ultimately won.
• Villain Song: "The Room Where It Happens" is where Burr shows his true colors to the audience and starts descending into villainy. Also doubles as an "I Want" Song.
• Villains Out Shopping: For most of the show, Burr is shown clashing with Hamilton repeatedly in politics. "Dear Theodosia" is a song that puts him in a more sympathetic spot as he's cooing his newborn daughter and promising to be there for her always.
• Vitriolic Best Buds: With Hamilton, for most of the show. Both of them can actually get along enough to work together, but their clashing personalities inevitably cause some sort of argument.
• We Used to Be Friends: Although their fundamental differences showed early on in their friendship, they don't really conflict until Hamilton endorses Jefferson for the position of president.
• What the Hell, Hero?: Burr calls out Hamilton for selling the nation's capital in exchange for the votes he needs to establish a national bank. Hamilton brushes him off and tells him he got what he wanted and that's all that matters.
• X Meets Y: The show's casting calls describe his style as Mos Def meets Inspector Javert.
• Yank the Dog's Chain: After years of waiting, Burr finally decides to go all-out in order to become president by openly campaigning and charming the voters. It gets taken away from him when Hamilton votes for Thomas instead, and it sends Burr into the murderous rage that causes the duel.
• You Have GOT to Be Kidding Me!: In "Your Obedient Servant", Burr demands an apology from Hamilton for costing him the presidency, but Alexander refuses and tells Burr to "cite a more specific grievance", then proceeds to send him an itemized list of 30 years of disagreements. Burr is understandably miffed.
  Burr: Sweet Jesus.
• You Taught Me That: This is his response to Hamilton questioning his open presidential campaign, he's finally chasing what he wants. Though Hamilton's endorsement of Jefferson over Burr shortly after shows that while Burr is indeed chasing what he wants like Hamilton would, he still missed the point of having principles to fight for.

Eliza Schuyler Hamilton

Elizabeth "Eliza" Schuyler Hamilton

Phillipa Soo as Eliza

Originated by: Phillipa Soo (OBC)

Other productions: Krystal Joy Brown (CBO), Rachelle Ann Go (West End), Arinana Afsar (Chicago), Solea Pfeiffer (First US Tour), Shoba Narayan (Second US Tour), Julia K. Harriman (Puerto Rico/San Francisco)

"And if your wife could share a fraction of your time, if I could grant you peace of mind—would that be enough?"

Middle daughter of wealthy General Philip Schuyler, Eliza is sweeter and more passive than her older sister Angelica but falls for Hamilton just as easily. Eliza goes through a lot as Hamilton's wife, but is still fiercely loyal and self-possessed, eventually ending the story as keeper of her husband's legacy.

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• Adaptation Name Change: Eliza. The real Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton generally went by her full name or "Betsey". The nickname "Eliza" did exist, but the show turns it into the default means of addressing her.
• Adaptational Nice Girl: As noted below, the real Elizabeth Schuyler had been described as hotheaded and impulsive, a far cry from her portrayal in the musical as a relaxed, loving woman.
• Affectionate Nickname: Technically, the name Eliza is one, her given name is Elizabeth. There's also "my dear Eliza" from Angelica. In real life, Hamilton called his wife "Betsey".
• Arc Words:
  • "Helpless," her adoration for Hamilton. But it eventually comes to mean helpless to keep him with her, and helpless when he reveals he had an affair by writing a public pamphlet.
  • Another would be "Narrative", as Eliza wants desperately to be a part of Hamilton's life story. However, after word of his affair with Ms. Reynolds is out, she angrily erases herself from it, before finally putting herself back in the narrative and keeping Hamilton's memory alive.
• Beware the Nice Ones: Eliza's a sweetheart, but OMG she is scary when she's mad. Want proof? Listen to (or watch) "Burn."
• Big "NO!": In "Stay Alive (Reprise)" upon seeing Philip dying.
• Break the Cutie: Eliza gets this hard by "The Reynolds Pamphlet," after her husband cheats on her. Then it gets worse.
• Character Development: Eliza becomes more mature and grounded, as well as more assertive and proactive over the course of the show. Compare her line, "Let me be a part of a narrative" in "That Would Be Enough" to her line in "Burn", "I'm erasing myself from the narrative", and to her line in the finale, "I put myself back in the narrative."
• Character Title: She's still Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, after all. Likely the reason the show is titled Hamilton instead of Alexander Hamilton, because Elizabeth is just as important as Alexander is.
• Come Back to Bed, Honey: The more-or-less chaste variant — in "Best Of Wives And Best Of Women", Elizabeth gently tries to persuade Hamilton to give his writing a rest and come back to their bed. But Hamilton has a meeting at dawn to prepare for, so she goes back to bed alone.
• Emasculated Cuckold: A Gender-Inverted example Played for Drama. Eliza becomes a target of mockery after Alexander publishes the Reynolds Pamphlet. The ridicule and betrayal causes her to be so filled with rage that she burns Alexander's love letters to her.
• The Hecate Sisters: She is the loving and loyal Mother to Angelica's Crone and Peggy's Maiden.
• Heroic Self-Deprecation: In "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Our Story", despite spending fifty years doing wonderful things, from speaking out against slavery to opening New York City's first private orphanage, she laments that Alexander could have done much more than her and wonders if she's done enough.
• The Ingenue: Starts off as this; she's wealthy, lovestruck, and naive. This changes after Hamilton slights her and she loses her eldest son.
• Innocent Soprano: Eliza is a soprano to emphasize her sweetness, femininity, and naivete regarding Alexander. Her sisters and her husband's mistress all sing in the mezzo range for contrast.
• Innocently Insensitive: She doesn't notice Angelica's strong feelings for Hamilton, which makes the latter miserable.
• Love at First Sight: Starts making heart eyes at Hamilton almost as soon as she sees him.
• Marry for Love: Eliza, as the second daughter of a wealthy statesman, is free to marry the penniless Alexander. (By contrast, Angelica, as the oldest daughter, is supposed to marry well, resulting in a Marriage of Convenience to a man she finds rather dull).
• My Girl Back Home: She's this to Hamilton while the latter is away fighting in the revolution. He's openly shocked when she reveals she's pregnant, and Eliza and their unborn child become major motivators for him.
• Never Got to Say Goodbye: Eliza's last words to Alexander before his duel were essentially shrugging off his routine of being up too early writing. What she didn't know however, was that he was writing his letter to her for the duel, which he lied about and described as a normal meeting.
• Nice Girl: In the words of Angelica, "You will never find anyone as trusting or as kind." She's no pushover, as we see in "Burn", but in general she is very sweet, loyal, and loving. This is probably why she never raps in the play; its aggressive nature just isn't characteristic of her. (A characterization that runs counter to history, since the real Eliza's contemporaries described her as aggressive and impulsive.)
• Outliving One's Offspring: She outlives Phillip.
• Parental Substitute: After Hamilton dies, Eliza starts an orphanage, taking care of hundreds of children who like Hamilton started out with nothing.
• Please Wake Up: As Philip is dying, Eliza recites numbers to French like when she was teaching him piano, but the second time she does, Philip stops at three, and Eliza keeps going, hoping he'll repeat after her before letting out a heartbreaking scream of anguish.
• Proper Lady: Eliza is a wife, a mother, very domestic, and very intelligent and sweet — the ideal for upper-class women at the time.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The sweet and demure blue oni to Angelica's outspoken and opinionated red oni. This is even reflected by their costumes: Eliza's dress is pale blue, while Angelica's dress is pink (i.e. shade of red).
• Silk Hiding Steel: A beautiful, kind, soft-spoken woman who is delicate and ladylike, but not a pushover and able to hold her own against the louder, more demanding characters in the show? Eliza fits the trope almost word-for-word.
• True Blue Femininity: She frequently wears blue gowns to emphasize her gentle personality and genteel upbringing.
• Uptown Girl: Eliza comes from a wealthy family while Alexander is an orphan who had to work his way up.
• What the Hell, Hero?: "Burn" is essentially a whole song of Eliza doing this to Hamilton, though he's not actually there.
• X Meets Y: The show's casting calls describe her style as Alicia Keys meets Elphaba.

Angelica Schuyler Church

Angelica Schuyler Church

Renee Elise Goldsberry as Angelica

Originated by: Renee Elise Goldsberry (OBC)

Other productions: Mandy Gonzalez (CBO), Rachel John (West End), Emmy Raver-Lampman (First US Tour), Ta'rea Campbell (Second US tour), Sabrina Sloan (Puerto Rico/San Francisco)

"I know my sister like I know my own mind. You will never find anyone as trusting or as kind. I love my sister more than anything in this life, I would choose her happiness over mine every time."

The eldest daughter of Philip Schuyler, fierce, charming Angelica wants nothing more than an intelligent man with whom she can match wits, and is thus easily attracted to Hamilton. But she loves her family more than anything else, and sets him up with Eliza instead.

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• Arc Words: "Satisfied" — at first, it refers to her and Alexander's shared restlessness and attraction, but she later throws it in his face when she learns about the Reynolds pamphlet.
• Big Sister Instinct: Do not hurt Eliza if you know what's good for you.
• Commuting on a Bus: Leaves for England at the end of Act 1, but returns to the US several times during Act II
• The Confidant: To Hamilton, who often vents out his feelings in their personal correspondence. (This was historically true, as well).
• Cool Big Sis: The outgoing and vivacious older sister to the more passive Eliza and Peggy.
  • "I love my sister more than anything in this life" as she says on many occasions, and sings for Eliza during "It's Quiet Uptown"
• Dude Magnet: She's gorgeous, intelligent, witty ^note  and-the-gossip-in-New-York-City-is-insidious , kind, and wealthy, to boot — so naturally, Angelica has no issue attracting guys wherever she goes.
• The Dutiful Daughter: In "Satisfied", she acknowledges that as the eldest daughter in a family with no sons she has to marry well for the sake of the family, regardless of her personal feelings. It's one of the reasons she gives up her courtship with Alexander. Since Eliza is younger, there's not as much pressure on her to marry someone wealthy and well-connected.^note  Historically, Angelica was already married to Church by the time she met Alexander. She also had a few brothers.
• A Family Affair: Alluded to with her unrequited feelings for Hamilton, in reference to the theory Hamilton may have had an affair with his sister-in-law in real life.
• Friend Versus Lover: Averted. While she's briefly torn between loyalty for her best friend and little sister, Eliza, and her love for Hamilton, it doesn't take her long to choose Eliza, willing to do anything to make her happy.
• Happily Married: While she's in love with Hamilton, she is perfectly content with the man who becomes her husband. The only flaw she can see in her husband is that he's not as smart and witty as Hamilton.^note Although in the cut song "Congratulations", she does call it a loveless marriage. Even then, however, she never implies that John Church treats her badly, so while he isn't as fun or as witty as Alexander, he's a perfectly decent and caring person.
• Has a Type: She wants "a mind at work", a man who can engage with her intellectually. The first thing that draws her to Alexander is the intelligence in his eyes. Sadly, she ends up having to marry for money, not brains.
• The Hecate Sisters: Angelica is the smart, sharp-tongued, and wise Crone to Eliza's Mother and Peggy's Maiden.
• Historical Hero Upgrade: To a minor degree, but the real Angelica Schuyler Church was no egalitarian, and actually owned a lot of household slaves (what's worse, many of her slave transactions were handled by none other than Alexander Hamilton himself). She also might have had an affair with Hamilton (which historians have suggested because of how flirtatious her letters were), whereas the play's Angelica is fiercely loyal to her sister and would never do such a thing.
• I Want My Beloved to Be Happy: Angelica has an interesting variation on this; it's Eliza's happiness she's more concerned with, not Hamilton's.
  I love my sister more than anything in this life,
  I will choose her happiness over mine, every time!
• "I Want" Song: Her segment in "The Schuyler Sisters" details what she's looking for in a man and how she's excited for the intellectual revolution that will come with the uprising.
• Marriage of Convenience: She resigns herself to marrying a wealthy but boring man instead of her beloved Alexander, though her husband at least seems to treat her well.
• Motor Mouth: Her fast-paced rap in "Satisfied", which has a rhythm similar to Nicki Minaj's "Super Bass."
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The opinionated and passionate red oni to Eliza's quiet and demure blue oni.
• Romantic False Lead: Even if only briefly, it initially seems like she is set to be Hamilton's love interest. In the song introducing the Schuyler sisters, she is featured most prominently and she is the one who he first speaks to at the gala. However, due to her insecurity of her role in the family (being the eldest daughter in a family with no sons, she is expected to marry someone with wealth and status, things Hamilton lacks), she introduces Hamilton who her sister Eliza, who is the woman Hamilton marries. She clearly regrets this to an extent though.
• Spirited Young Lady: She's definitely a lady, but she's also very intelligent, opinionated, and able to hold her own against Hamilton. In contrast, her little sister Eliza is more of a Proper Lady.
• Stepford Smiler: During Alexander and Eliza's wedding, because she's in love with Alexander too but wants her sister to be happy.
• Thicker Than Water: Angelica prioritizes her sister Eliza above all else, even above her own feelings for Hamilton.
• Unresolved Sexual Tension: Pretty much how her relationship with Hamilton is after he got married to Eliza. As seen in "Take A Break", despite both of them being married, Angelica has a Freak Out over a comma in Hamilton's letter that seemingly changed the meaning and has certain undertones. In "The Reynolds Pamphlet", it finally comes to and end as Angelica is livid at Hamilton for cheating on her sister and declares that whatever they had is over.
• What the Hell, Hero?: She really lays into Hamilton after the Reynolds pamphlet. Her Cut Song "Congratulations" is a full-on "The Reason You Suck" Speech, two minutes and fifteen seconds of her calling him a complete moron not just for outing the affair himself, but for hurting Eliza so terribly and that he'd better make sure any future "sacrifice" he makes is on her behalf.
• X Meets Y: The show's casting calls describe her style as Nicki Minaj meets Desiree Armfeldt.

George Washington

George Washington

Christopher Jackson as Washington

Originated by: Christopher Jackson (OBC)

Other productions: Nicholas Christopher (CBO), Jonathan Kirkland (Chicago), Isaiah Johnson (First U.S. Tour, Puerto Rico/San Francisco), Obioma Ugoala (West End), Marcus Cho (Second U.S. Tour)

"I know that we can win. I know that greatness lies in you. But remember from here on in: history has its eyes on you."

Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army during the American Revolution and eventual first President of the United States, Washington is a man admired even by King George for his authoritativeness and leadership. Becomes something of a father figure to Hamilton, as well as his primary political supporter.

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• Arc Words: "History has its eyes on you."
• Armor-Piercing Response: Post-Cabinet Battle #1, which hits the ambitious and brash Hamilton where it hurts.
  Hamilton: And what if I don't get congressional approval?
  Washington: I imagine they'll call for your removal.
• As the Good Book Says...: Quotes Micah 4:4, "everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid"^note this is also the passage that includes the more famous "swords into ploughshares" to back up his argument for stepping away from power.
• Big Good: He's the general of the Continental Army in Act I and the President in Act II and is overall the most well meaning, level-headed, and capable person in the play.
• Breaking the Fourth Wall: He turns and directs the lines "history has its eyes on you, you, you!" to the audience in "One Last Time."
• But Now I Must Go: He retires from politics after "One Last Time," believing that it will be the best way for the country to move forward and live up to the ideals of electing their own leaders.
• Cincinnatus: He retires after two terms as President and returns to Mount Vernon, even though he still had widespread popular support — a shocking move both in real life and in the play. As King George puts it, "I wasn't aware that was something a person could do."
• Disappointed in You: Although he has no specific lines, he does take the stage in "The Reynolds Pamphlet" and is clearly disgusted with Alexander's actions (be it the original adultery or the decision to expose his wife and family to public scorn).
• A Father to His Men: Beloved by his young soldiers as a caring and fatherly general. Only Hamilton seems to take issue with the idea.
• Four-Star Badass: A general at the beginning of the musical, and a hands-on badass.
• Gentle Giant: George Washington is known to be one of the tallest US presidents and he's depicted as a good man who always puts the country first.
• Historical Hero Upgrade: Big time, as is to be expected of him in an American recounting of the Revolution. His ambition and desire for self-advancement are all but erased, and his owning of slaves is never mentioned in the play itself.^note The Cut Song "Cabinet Battle #3" explictly mentions he does though and in fairness, the real Washington freed all of his slaves in his will, though that doesn't excuse not doing it earlier. While he did his best to act humble in real life, the actual George Washington used that as a careful facade to mask the extent of his political ambitions. In addition, he could be extremely haughty and arrogant in personal interaction- a far cry from the polite Humble Hero he's depicted as being in the play.
• Humble Hero: invoked Washington is acutely aware of his flaws but always tries to do what's best for the nation. In "Right Hand Man" he's uncomfortable with his Memetic Badass reputation because he knows he doesn't live up to the hype. Later, in "One Last Time", he includes in his farewell address an apology to the country for all the mistakes he made as president.
• Killed Offscreen: Washington's last song ends with him talking about going to his vineyard, a biblical metaphor for Heaven, as Hamilton tearfully says goodbye to him. Sure enough, the next time he's mentioned Washington is thought to already be on "the other side", presumably having died on December 14, 1799 due to quinsy (a throat infection) as he did in real life. It wouldn't be the first time he's ascended to the heavens.
• Large and in Charge: George Washington was one of the tallest US presidents, standing at 6'2. In the original run, he's played by the 6'0 tall Christopher Jackson.
• Leitmotif: "Here comes the Gen-a-RAL!"
• The Mentor: Along with being a father figure of sorts, he serves as this to Hamilton. Washington's song "History Has Its Eyes On You" is dedicated to warning Hamilton about his actions because they will be remembered for ages to come.
• My Greatest Failure: Washington tells Hamilton that during his first command he failed horribly and led his men into his massacre, and is haunted by their deaths.
• Officer and a Gentleman: He's the general of the American army in the first act and is second to none when it comes to being well-mannered.
• Only Sane Man: He seems to be the only character that can keep his head screwed on right at all times. As such, he's easily frustrated by petty infighting.
• O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Musically speaking. Most of his lines are traditional singing to fit his dignified image. But when he's frustrated and angry (e.g., with his shambles of an army in "Right Hand Man", or Hamilton and Jefferson's bickering in Cabinet meetings) he falls into rapping.
• Parental Substitute: Washington treats Hamilton like a son^note And, historically, for Laurens and Lafayette as well., which Hamilton finds patronizing at first. Jefferson later uses this to taunt Hamilton, belittling him as a boy clinging to his father's coattails. When Hamilton glimpses "the other side" during his fatal duel, he sees his dead son, his dead mother, and a dead George Washington, implying that Washington is effectively his father.
• Passing the Torch: When he steps down as president, he hands power over to John Adams — much to everyone's surprise.
• Realpolitik: The reason he goes with Hamilton's proposal in Cabinet Battle #2; yes, Jefferson's right that America does owe France for their help in the Revolution, but the situation in France is too uncertain and the United States aren't in a stable enough position on their own to offer help.
  Washington: Enough. Enough! Hamilton is right; we're too fragile to start another fight!
• Reasonable Authority Figure: George Washington is a very benevolent leader. During both cabinet battles, he generally ignores the inevitable childish bickering in favor of supporting whoever has the best actual plan.
• Retired Badass: Washington steps down from presidency to settle down in "One Last Time".
• Supporting Leader: Of the American army, and later the fledgling United States.
• Won't Take "Yes" for an Answer: In "Non-Stop", he's recruiting Hamilton to join him in shaping up the newly born country, clearly expecting him to say no. It takes Washington three interruptions from Hamilton to realize that he's already asking which department he wants him to run.
• Worthy Opponent: In "I Know Him", King George is surprised that Washington is stepping down, and seems to lament that it will be impossible to replace him, as there's on one else in the country who looms so large.
• X Meets Y: The show's casting calls describe his style as John Legend meets Mufasa.
• You Know I'm Virginian, Right?: Rebukes Hamilton for complaining about how "these Virginians [Jefferson and Madison] are birds of a feather" by pointing out that he too hails from Virginia.

King George III

King George III

Jonathan Groff as George III

Originated by: Jonathan Groff (OBC)

"What comes next? You've been freed. Do you know how hard it is to lead?"

King of Britain at the time of the Revolution, George has pretty pointed opinions of the Revolution and its aftermath.

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• Air Quotes: He uses very exaggerated ones in the live version of "I Know Him."
  King George: There's nobody else in their "country" that looms quite as large...
• Arc Words: Not as prominent as others but he says, "Oceans rise, Empires fall" in all three songs when referencing the difficulties with running a country.
• Aside Glance: He grins at the audience when he finds out John Adams will be the next president. The messenger who informs him does this, too, before the king rudely shoos him offstage so he can sing alone.
  King George: That poor man, they're going to eat him alive!
• Ax-Crazy: This portrayal of King George certainly shows him to be just a little bit deranged and murder-happy.
• Back for the Finale: He stops appearing after "The Reynolds Pamphlet" when the show focuses on Hamilton's family life and his final years, but George's actor returns as a chorus member for the closing number "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story."
• Big Bad: Of Act I due to being the tyrant Hamilton and the others are fighting against, and unlike Burr he isn't portrayed sympathetically at all.
• Break the Haughty: Losing the war takes a toll on him as seen in his attitude in "What Comes Next?"
• Camp Straight: He behaves like a scorned lover and dresses in the most glamorous costume. And though the play doesn't delve into his personal life, he was Happily Married to Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, and would have 15 children with her.
• Cool Crown: He wouldn’t be a king without a crown, would he?
• Disc-One Final Boss: He is the Greater-Scope Villain of the first act, which takes place during the American Revolution, but he is defeated and demoted to a Greek Chorus late in said first act.
• Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: Seems genuinely confused when he hears that George Washington is stepping down from politics and allowing others to assume the presidency. He seems not only perplexed that America really intends to continuously change rulers, but stunned that anyone would walk away from such a position of power willingly, summing up that he "wasn't aware that was something a person could do." ^note  In real life, the British Monarchy is one of the few in the world where abdication is not an easy option; to decline the crown the Monarch would need the approval of Parliament. Perhaps George's confusion is because walking away from power is a freedom he himself genuinely lacks.
• Evil Laugh: Gets a wonderfully over-the-top (and rather ridiculous) laugh at the end of "I Know Him." This could be a reference to his infamous descent into insanity late in life.
  King George: President John Adams? ...Good luck!
• Greek Chorus: His role essentially boils down to doubting various historical courses of action to remind the audience that while they know that the French navy will drive the British navy away from Yorktown, that America's new government will get its act together, and that John Adams will be able to keep the country together after George Washington retired, nobody at the time knew that.
• Historical In-Joke: "When you're gone/I'll go mad!" Well... popular history has it that George III certainly did wind up going mad around 1800.
• Historical Villain Upgrade: As is typical for depictions of him in American made Revolutionary War media, he's depicted as a greedy, self-indulgent tyrant whose oppression of the American colonies is entirely to blame for the conflict. In reality, he had very little to do with the relentless taxation that drove them to revolt - that was mostly Parliament's fault. When war did come, he was one of the loudest voices against the colonies' independence and one of the last to accept Britain's defeat; after it ended, however, he had this to say to John Adams:
  "I was the last to consent to the separation, but the separation having been made and having become inevitable, I have always said, as I say now, that I would be the first to meet the friendship of the United States as an independent power."
• It Will Never Catch On: All of King George's songs are essentially him stating this about what's happening overseas. It starts with the belief that the Revolution will crumble at the hands of the British navy (it probably would have, but then the French navy intervened), then that the newly freed Americans will utterly fail at self-governance, and then that the presidency will fall apart without Washington as a figurehead. He's proven consistently wrong, but his skepticism serves to help remind the audience (who might otherwise be biased due to hindsight) that each of these was a genuine concern and had a good chance of going wrong.
• Jerkass Has a Point: If there's one thing King George does know, it's ruling a country and how heavy The Chains of Commanding get. His songs serve to remind the audience that getting independence isn't the end of Hamilton's fight, as Great Britain had handled a lot of administrative work that America would now need to figure out for itself- which in turn forms the plot of the second act.
  King George: It's much harder when it's all your call.
• Large Ham: He stands out because he's the only character to have big Broadway showstopper numbers structured like Britpop (as opposed to the rap and R&B songs comprising most of the play). Additionally, he sings all his songs alone (except for when he asks the company to sing with him), further isolating him and emphasizing how hammy he is. He's also never shown coming to America except for when he's seen briefly passing by Hamilton and throwing copies of the Reynolds Pamphlet everywhere, which still doesn't affect the plot.
• Laughably Evil: He's a deranged tyrant, but damn if he isn't entertaining.
• Meaningful Appearance: Him being weighed down by his massive, jewel-encrusted outfit underscores his inflexible personality and outdated mindset.
• Minor Character, Major Song: Three major songs. King George has nothing to do, plot-wise, but he gets some show-stopping numbers.
• Ooh, Me Accent's Slipping: Jonathan Groff does a great job keeping up the English accent for the most part. However, during "You'll Be Back" on the Broadway soundtrack album, you can hear his natural American accent somewhat plainly on the line "You'll be the one complaining when I am gone."^note Could be justified in that the melody and sentiment on that line is rather country music-styled, and Groff gives it a little bit of country-music twang to bring that out.
• Pass the Popcorn: He eagerly looks forward to watching the chaos that's sure to ensue following America getting a new president, and even pulls up a chair on the side of the stage so he can get a good view.
• Plot-Irrelevant Villain: Zig-Zagged. While the King of Britain makes a good Greater-Scope Villain when a portion of the play is set during the American Revolution, he is more of a spectator and a Greek Chorus than an actual player, since he spends the entire war on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Once the revolution ended, he becomes nothing but a spectator to the newly emancipated colonies under the assumption that it would collapse without Britain's control. Really, you could have cut him out of the play and nothing would have changed, not that King George III was an irrelevant player historically speaking...
• Plucky Comic Relief: From his mostly simplistic rhymes, to his flashy royal clothing, to his borderline childish lyrics, to his immaturely degrading and insulting America, to the overall tacky nature of his numbers, just about everything King George says and does is played for laughs in an otherwise serious piece about the rise and fall of a Founding Father.
• Psychopathic Manchild: He shows unbridled enthusiasm and glee at the thought of America descending into chaos and violence once Washington steps down, as if he were a kid getting ready to watch his favorite sporting event.
• Requisite Royal Regalia: Crown and ermine cape.
• Shoo Out the Clowns: His last appearance is "The Reynolds Pamphlet" where he has no lines but is one of the political figures dancing and taunting Hamilton for blowing his chance at becoming president. The rest of the musical takes a more decidedly somber tone, covering Phillip's death and the events leading up to the duel with Burr and Alexander's own death, making a King George appearance inappropriate in tone.
• Stealth Pun: King George's numbers mimic the music of the British Invasion because a British invasion of the Colonies is exactly what the king wants.
• Sympathy for the Hero:
  • Not that John Adams is portrayed as a hero by any stretch, but George does seem to have a bit of (admittedly backhanded) sympathy towards Adams when George hears that Adams will replace Washington as president.
    King George: I know him / That can't be!
    That's that... little guy who spoke to me
    All those years ago / What was it? '85?
    That poor man, they're going to eat him alive!
  • King George also very genuinely respects and admires George Washington.
• Token White: Enforced. The casting specifically calls for nonwhite actors to play all the other principals and a specifically Caucasian actor to play King George. While the rest of the soundtrack is a fusion of hip-hop, R&B, and soul, King George's numbers are more Britpop, sort of like if Simon Cowell were managing The Beatles. This reinforces the idea that the Colonies and the old country have grown too far apart.
• Villain Has a Point: In "What Comes Next?", he points out that governments aren't easy to manage and correctly predicts that the newly-independent America will have trouble adjusting to the responsibility of managing its own affairs.
• Villain Love Song: "You'll Be Back" is him declaring his love on an international scale by declaring his intention to murder (see Yandere, below, for details).
• Villain Respect: For George Washington. When Washington announces that he won't seek a third term and plans to retire from politics, the King seems genuinely saddened and says he doesn't think anyone will be able to fill his boots.
• Won the War, Lost the Peace: Seems to think this will happen to the United States after they win the Revolutionary War. He's wrong, of course.
• X Meets Y: The show's casting calls describe his style as Rufus Wainwright meets King Herod.
• Yandere: Seems to view the colonies as deluded lovers who will eventually return to him.
  George: When you're gone / I'll go mad
  So don't throw away this thing we had
  'Cause when push comes to shove
  I will kill your friends and family
  To remind you of my love.

Main Characters (First act only)

John Laurens

John Laurens

Anthony Ramos as Laurens

Originated by: Anthony Ramos (OBC)

Other productions: Anthony Lee Medina (CBO), Jose Ramos (Chicago), Rubén J. Carbajal (First US Tour/San Francisco), Cleve September (West End), Elijah Malcomb (Second US Tour),

"And we'll never be truly free until those in bondage have the same rights as you and me."

A soldier and statesman from a wealthy family who serves as one of Washington's aides-de-camp. Hamilton's best friend and a fierce critic of slavery.

The role of Laurens is double-cast with Philip, Alexander and Eliza's eldest son.

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• Ambiguously Gay:
  • A growing number of historians believe that Hamilton and Laurens had a romantic or sexual relationship, a possibility alluded to by Ron Chernow in the biography on which the show was based. Laurens' close relationship with Hamilton here is particularly emphasized in the lyrics and staging.^note Although Laurens historically impregnated and later married a woman named Martha Manning, he married her primarily to preserve her honor and the legitimacy of their child, and returned to the war effort a few months after their marriage.
  • While he does join in with Hamilton, Burr, and his other friends during "A Winter's Ball", it looks more like he's there for fun and camaraderie than actually ogling at any ladies.
• The Atoner: Although it's not mentioned in the play, Laurens is a committed abolitionist because his family made their fortune off the slave trade, and he didn't want that to be part of his legacy.
• Best Friend: Of Hamilton's True Companions, Laurens was the friend he was closest to (though he might have been more than just a friend).
• Birth-Death Juxtaposition: Just after Hamilton finishes a wistful song about his son Philip's birth, Hamilton (as well as Lafayette and Mulligan) receives news that Laurens was killed in a post-war skirmish.
• Deadpan Snarker: The "I'm satisfied," after having shot Lee during their duel reeks of this.
• The Heart: The most optimistic and upbeat (if not somewhat brash) of Hamilton and his friends in Act I. His death is seen as positively tragic and devastates not only Hamilton, but Lafayette and Mulligan as well.
• Honor Before Reason: Really, this could apply to all of the duels that takes place over the course of the musical (as well as many duels in history that carried out this way), but Laurens' duel with Lee is notable because despite the knowledge that they had just lot a sizeable chunk of their forces, Laurens and Hamilton still choose to engage Lee in a duel and risk another loss to the army after the latter insults Washington.
• Hot-Blooded: His overeagerness to avenge the slight to his commander George Washington leads to he and Lee fighting the first of the three duels in the show.
• Killed Offscreen: Hamilton is given a letter reporting his death at the end of Act I. (In Act II, his actor goes on to play Philip Hamilton.)
• Nice Guy: He's a generally friendly dude, if a bit impulsive, and quickly forms a tender, deep friendship with Hamilton.
• Shoo Out the Clowns: He, Lafayette, and Mulligan, who are responsible for many lighthearted moments in the show, are all gone by the end of Act I, right before Hamilton's life snowballs into a shitshow. As noted above, Laurens was killed in combat during a post-war skirmish. Outside of the context of the story, his actor goes on to play Philip Hamilton in Act II.
• Tenor Boy: Young, idealistic, and one of the two tenors in a cast of baritenors.
• Tragic Bromance: Laurens is Hamilton's closest friend, and his death signals a shift in tone for the second act and prompts Hamilton to work even harder to avoid confronting the loss.
• Values Resonance: Laurens, in-universe and in real life, was a committed abolitionist.
• X Meets Y: The show's casting calls describe his style as Nas meets Elder Price.

Marquis de Lafayette

Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de La Fayette

Daveed Diggs as Lafayette

Originated by: Daveed Diggs (OBC)

Other productions: James Monroe Iglehart (CBO), Chris De'Sean Lee (Chicago), Jordan Donica (First US tour), Jason Pennycooke (West End), Kyle Scatliffe (Second US Tour), Simon Longnight (San Francisco)

"I came from afar just to say 'Bonsoir!' Tell the King 'Casse toi!' Who's the best? C'est moi!"

A French nobleman living in America who is instrumental in obtaining French aid for the rebels, turning the tide of the war in their favor. One of Hamilton's closest friends before he returns to France.

The role of Lafayette is double-cast with Thomas Jefferson.

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• The Ace: He brings in French support and is a brilliant tactician in his own right, saves the Battle of Monmouth from being a total disaster, and runs circles around the British. No wonder Burr calls him "America's favorite fighting Frenchman." He also compares himself to Lancelot, who was also The Ace.
• Ascended Extra: Lafayette actually doesn't show up that much in Chernow's biography; in fact, he has a far greater presence in the author's later biography of George Washington.
• Badass Boast: "Who's the best? C'est moi!" He also details his numerous exploits in "Guns and Ships".
• Badass in Distress: Historically, Lafayette would be imprisoned in France for siding with the people during France's political turnovers, in part due to Hamilton advocating not to assist a country without a leader. Hamilton brushes his situation off after Cabinet Battle #2 saying "Lafayette's a smart man, he'll be fine," but in real life he had to flee France and was imprisoned in Austria for 5 years.
• Big Damn Heroes: Suddenly showing up with the French fleet, turning the tide of the war.
• Gratuitous French: His lines in "Aaron Burr (Sir)" and "My Shot," including one with the stereotypical "How you say?"
  Lafayette: Oui oui, mon ami, je m'appelle Lafayette! ^note  Yes, yes, my friend, my name is Lafayette!
• Motor Mouth: The verse he spits out in "Guns and Ships" is faster than Angelica's verse in "Satisfied", and "Guns and Ships" as a whole is one of the fastest Broadway songs on record. (Note that his actor raps that fast while adopting a French accent and jumping around onstage.)
• Only Known by Their Nickname: Lafayette is ONLY referred to as Lafayette throughout the musical, but this isn't even his name, it's a title. The use of his nickname is perfectly justified though, since most everyone, including the French, refers to him as Lafayette, and his real name^note Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier, to be exact is rather long.
• Poirot Speak: Though he speaks English well, he seems to enjoy switching to French to artistically emphasize a point.
• Put on a Bus: Lafayette returns to France after America wins the revolution, and remained fairly prominent in history afterwards. This is so his actor can play Thomas Jefferson. ^note  Fairly prominent as in "wrote the Declaration of the Rights of Man" (which Jefferson does mention in the show). Lafayette's last political act was resigning as commander of the National Guard because he refused to order the Guardsmen to fire on the rebels during the French Revolution.
• Shoo Out the Clowns: He, Laurens, and Mulligan, who are responsible for many lighthearted moments in the show, are all gone by the end of Act I, right before Hamilton's life snowballs into a shitshow. Historically, Lafayette returned to France and wouldn't return until the 1820s, long after Hamilton died. Outside of the context of the story, his actor goes on to play Thomas Jefferson in Act II.
• The Smart Guy: Fits this role within Hamilton's friends, and boy, the play never lets us forget it.
  • During Guns and Ships:
    Lafayette: [about Hamilton] No one has more resilience or matches my practical tactical brilliance!
  • During Cabinet Battle #2:
    Hamilton: Lafayette's a smart man, he'll be fine!
• X Meets Y: The show's casting calls describe his style as Ludacris meets Lancelot.

Hercules Mulligan

Hercules Mulligan

Okieriete Onaodowan (center) as Mulligan

Originated by: Okieriete Onaodowan (OBC)

Other productions: Wallace Smith (CBC/Chicago), Mathenee Treco (First National Tour), Tarinn Callender (West End), Fergie L. Philippe (Second U.S. Tour), Brandon Armstrong (Puerto Rico/San Francisco)

"Yo, I'm a tailor's apprentice and I got y'all knuckleheads in loco parentis. I'm joining the rebellion cause I know it's my chance to socially advance, instead of sewing some pants."

Another of Hamilton's close friends (and a fellow immigrant- he's from Ireland), Mulligan is a gifted tailor and spirited conversationalist who charms intelligence out of British officers and feeds it to the rebels.

The role of Mulligan is double-cast with James Madison.

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• Badass Boast: Hercules Mulligan's entire verse in "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)".
  "We're in the shit now and somebody's gotta shovel it
  Hercules Mulligan, I need no introduction
  When you knock me down, I get the FUCK BACK UP AGAIN!"
• The Big Guy: He's the toughest, most rugged member of the group.
• Boisterous Bruiser: An excellent fighter who's very loud, extroverted, and fun to be around.
• Chekhov's Gunman: Mulligan drops out of the story during "Stay Alive," just as the war is getting off the ground, with a brief reference to going back to his apprenticeship as a tailor. While Lafayette, Hamilton, and Washington throw their efforts into the war, Mulligan isn't mentioned again until "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)," which reveals that he's been their spy on the inside the whole time.
• Composite Character: Sort of. Hercules Mulligan definitely existed (and was a badass), but he was never on Washington's staff. Mulligan is sort of a composite of other aides who were close friends of Hamilton (Richard Kidder Meade, Tench Tilghman, Robert Hanson Harrison, James McHenry, etc.)
• Fighting Irish: Like Hamilton and Lafayette, he was born outside the Thirteen Colonies- in his case, Coleraine, Ireland.
• Hero of Another Story: While Hamilton, Laurens, Lafayette and Washington are busy in the field, Mulligan is hard at work as a spy in New York; while it isn't mentioned in the show, he also worked with the Culper Ring, Washington's spy network.
• Historical Hero Upgrade: Hercules Mulligan was a spy, but so was his slave Cato, who is completely Adapted Out of the musical, probably to avoid tarnishing Mulligan's image as a sympathetic character. Also ironic is that, contrary to the musical's depiction, the spy who was actually responsible for giving Washington the information necessary to win at Yorktown and thus end the war was not Mulligan but another slave named James Armistead.^note Doubly ironic is that Armistead later added "Lafayette" to his name because of the Frenchman's tireless efforts to secure his freedom after the war as a reward, something that the real Hamilton never did for his own slaves despite the play painting the latter as the more ardent abolitionist.
• Lovable Sex Maniac: He boasts about his sex life in "Aaron Burr, Sir" and is definitely one of the most fun characters in the show.
• The Mole: He works as a spy smuggling British intelligence to the Continental army, which becomes instrumental in the American victory at Yorktown.
• Parental Substitute: Mulligan says that he stands in loco parentis for Hamilton, Laurens, and Lafayette. Laurens, at least, is nonplussed by this, if his reaction on the soundtrack is any indication.
• Put on a Bus: He's not present in the second act, like the other Act I double-cast characters, so his actor can play Madison. Also, in "Stay Alive", he heads back to New York to continue his apprenticeship, which just makes his return during "Yorktown" all the more awesome.
• Real Men Wear Pink: A good fighter, spy and all-around manly man- who works as a tailor and is the flower boy at Hamilton and Eliza's wedding.
• Shoo Out the Clowns: He, Laurens, and Lafayette, who are responsible for many lighthearted moments in the show, are all gone by the end of Act I, right before Hamilton's life snowballs into a shitshow. Historically, Mulligan returned to tailoring full-time and ran a prosperous business until he died in 1824, age 84. Outside of the context of the story, his actor goes on to play James Madison in Act II.
• Sir Swears-a-Lot: Has the foulest mouth out of any of the Act I characters.
• Team Dad: Is quite a bit older than the rest of the Revolutionary Set, and says he has them "in loco parentis".
• X Meets Y: The show's casting calls describe his style as Busta Rhymes meets Donald O'Connor.

Peggy Schuyler

Margarita "Peggy" Schuyler

Jasmine Cephas Jones as Peggy

Originated by: Jasmine Cephas Jones (OBC)

"Daddy said to be home by sundown![...] Daddy said not to go downtown!"

Other productions: Joanna J Jones (CBO), Samantha Marie Ware (Chicago), Amber Iman (First U.S. Tour), Christine Allado (West End), Danielle Sostre (Second U.S Tour), Darilyn Castilo (Puerto Rico/San Francisco)

The youngest of the Schuyler sisters shown on stage. The role of Peggy is double-cast with Maria Reynolds.

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• Affectionate Nickname: Like her sister Eliza, while she is only known as Peggy in the play, her real name was Margarita.
• The Baby of the Bunch: She's the youngest of her sisters and is portrayed as an innocent, cheerful maiden. When she tries to stop Angelica and Eliza from disobeying their father, Eliza merely says she can go home by herself if she wants to, and Peggy decides to go along with them.
• The Cutie: She's one of the most light-hearted characters in the play. Even more so than Eliza, who undergoes Break the Cutie-induced character development in Act II.
• Daddy's Girl: Implied. Of the three sisters, Peggy's the most concerned with doing what their father told them to do, and openly expresses dismay that he wants to go to war, probably fearing he'll get hurt.
• Expy: The only principal character not to receive an X Meets Y description in the casting calls, instead being directly referred to as the Michelle Williams of the Schuyler sisters' Destiny's Child.
• The Hecate Sisters: Peggy is the naive Maiden to Angelica's Crone and Eliza's Mother.
• My Friends... and Zoidberg: Being the least historically relevant of the three Schuyler sisters, she often forces her way into the conversation:
  Angelica: Angelica!
  Eliza: Eliza!
  Peggy: ...and Peggy!
• Only Sane Woman: During "The Schuyler Sisters", Angelica and Eliza are excited about the upcoming revolution since it is inspiring new ideas and more concerned about "looking for a mind at work". Meanwhile, Peggy is the only one who is noting that the American Revolution will bring "violence on our shore" and that their father may potentially be killed in the conflict by going to war.
• Out of Focus: Unlike her sisters, Peggy doesn't get a significant character arc and doesn't even appear in the second act (which has some historical basis - the real Peggy died three years prior to Hamilton).
• Put on a Bus: Like the rest of the double-cast Act I characters, Peggy disappears from the narrative in the second act. She isn't even mentioned in the finale (with good historical reasons - the finale takes place in 1804 and after, 3 years after the historical Peggy's death in 1801.)
• Shoo Out the Clowns: Primarily used to round out the Schuyler sisters, Peggy disappears by Act II right before Hamilton's life snowballs into a shitshow. Historically, Peggy died a couple of years before Hamilton in the same year as her nephew Philip. Outside of the context of the story, her actor goes on to play Maria Reynolds in Act II.

Main Characters (Second act only)

Philip Hamilton

Philip Hamilton

Anthony Ramos as Philip Hamilton

Played by: Anthony Ramos (OBC)

Other productions: Anthony Lee Medina (CBO), Jose Ramos (Chicago), Ruben J Carabajial (First U.S. Tour), Cleve September (West End), Elijha Malcomb (Second U.S. Tour), Ruben J. Carbajal (San Francisco)

"Sorry, I'm a Hamilton with pride. You talk about my father, I cannot let it slide."

The eldest son of Alexander and Eliza Hamilton, named after his grandfather Philip Schuyler.

The role of Philip was double-cast with John Laurens.

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• Bullying a Dragon: Challenges a much older man to a duel despite having no experience dueling himself.
• The Charmer: He flirts with two women in "Blow Us All Away" and they're both quite taken with him. Truth in Television as Robert Troup, a friend of the Hamilton family, privately called Philip a "rake" - a person prone to immoral behavior, especially womanizing.
• Died in Your Arms Tonight: His mother and father hold him as he succumbs to his bullet wound.
• Duel to the Death: Although Phillip follows his father's advice to shoot at the sky so as not to become a killer, Eacker has no such compunctions and mortally wounds him - before they even counted to ten. ^note Historically, Eacker not only didn't shoot him in the back, but also hesitated to shoot when Philip didn't shoot; the duel only continued when neither one would back down when they turned.
• Historical Hero Upgrade: His duel with Eacker went a lot differently in real life. In the show, Phillip fires into the sky when Eacker cheats and shoots him before the countdown is over. In real life, neither of them initially fired even after they turned around, but when Phillip slowly began to raise his gun, Eacker decided to fire first in preemptive self-defense.
• Hot-Blooded: Philip lets his emotions get the best of him and impulsively challenges Eacker to a duel without a thought to the consequences.
• Like Father, Like Son:
  • He's as passionate and clever as his old man. On a darker note, father and son even die the same way — shot during a duel while aiming at the sky.
  • You also don’t have to look far to guess where he got his flirtation skills from.
• "Near and Dear" Baby Naming: He's named for his paternal grandfather, who was alive and well when he was born.
• Sir Swears-a-Lot: He's more casual about foul language than the other characters, rivaled only by Hercules Mulligan.
• Tenor Boy: One of the few tenors in the play and the one who plays the "young, idealistic hero" trope straight. Even when Philip is 19, Anthony Ramos in the soundtrack still portrays him with a higher, more boyish voice than he did with Laurens in the first act, who was the same age but battle-hardened from the war.
• X Meets Y: The show's casting calls describe his style as Tupac Shakur meets J. Pierrepont Finch.

Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson

Daveed Diggs (center) as Jefferson

Originated by: Daveed Diggs (OBC)

Other productions: James Monroe Iglehart (CBO), Chris De Sean Lee (Chicago), Jordan Donica (First US tour), Jason Pennycooke (West End), Kyle Scattiffle (Second US tour), Simon Longnight (San Francisco)

"Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. We fought for these ideals, we shouldn't settle for less. These are wise words; enterprisin' men quote 'em. Don't act surprised, you guys, 'cause I wrote 'em!"

Another Founding Father, who returns from France at the beginning of Act II. Laid-back but brilliant, Jefferson opposes Hamilton's political views and forms the Democratic-Republican party to counter Hamilton's Federal party. He eventually gets elected second Vice President and third President of the United States after Hamilton supports him in the 1800 elections.

The role of Jefferson is double-cast with Lafayette.

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• Actually Pretty Funny: Possibly. His smirks during Hamilton's verses in the first Cabinet Battle can either be interpreted as him finding some of his cracks at him funny in spite of himself... or relishing in how he's going to mop the floor with Hamilton later. Or both.
• Adaptational Personality Change: The real-life Jefferson was a very introverted, awkward, eccentric, and withdrawn man. By modern understanding, he’d likely be somewhere on the autism spectrum. However, the musical portrays him as charming, boisterous, and gregarious. This humorous parody where the characters are simply talking in "Cabinet Battle #1" instead of rapping has Daveed Diggs portraying a somewhat Truer to the Text version of Jefferson; being a lot more subdued, calm, and awkward, especially when he laughs.
• Agent Peacock: Jefferson is fabulous, from his constant self-aggrandisement to his overblown purple velvet outfit complete with pimp cane. He's also an incredibly savvy political operator, and everyone throughout the play recognises that he's a valuable friend to have - or a dangerous enemy to make.
• Antagonist in Mourning: After Hamilton's death, he (sort of) mourns his passing and admits that the bank he created was too well-made to be destroyed (not for lack of trying on his part).
• Armor-Piercing Question: "Did you forget Lafayette?" - Jefferson asks Hamilton after the latter convinced Washington to stay neutral regarding France. It hits even harder knowing that Jefferson's actor also portrays Lafayette and that Hamilton promised the latter in the first act to "be with him" when he returns to fight for France's freedom. It noticeably takes Hamilton a bit to recover.
• Armor-Piercing Response: Close after his Armor-Piercing Question, Jefferson follows up with this, leaving Hamilton of all people speechless.
  Jefferson: Yeah, well, someone oughta remind you.
  Hamilton: What?
  Jefferson: You're nothing without Washington behind you.
• Big Bad Wannabe:
  • The show, himself, and especially the song "What'd I Miss" hypes Jefferson up to be one of the key figures in Hamilton's downfall, however, while he does manage to piss Hamilton off and make implementing his debt plan a lot harder, Hamilton ultimately manages to outwit Jefferson at the political game and their other debates has Hamilton mostly succeeding.
  • Even Jefferson's attempts at taking Hamilton down fall flat compared to the other show's villains. Burr has a far more personal connection to Hamilton and is the one who ends up killing him, James Reynolds is the one who blackmails Hamilton after the affair with Maria, George Eacker murders Hamilton's son, and it is James Madison who suggests blackmailing Hamilton with accusations of embezzlement. Compared to those four, Jefferson comes across more like a pompous bully than a legitimate villainous threat.
• Big "WHAT?!": Jefferson manages to combine this with Flat "What". A fan managed to assemble all of Jefferson's 'what's here.
• Breaking the Fourth Wall: After multiple consecutive songs about Hamilton's tragic and complicated personal life, Jefferson interjects, "Can we get back to politics?" to begin a number about the election of 1800.
• Brilliant, but Lazy: Jefferson is acknowledged to be very clever, and seems to be Madison's and Burr's (both fairly intelligent men in their own right) best option to go up against Hamilton, but he seems far more laissez faire than either one of them.
  • He brags about writing the "wise words" in the Declaration of Independence... then dismisses Hamilton's debt plan as being too long and hard to understand. ^note  Though he's definitely doing that to Troll Hamilton a bit, knowing that dismissing hard work is a major Berserk Button for the latter.
  • He claims responsibility for getting everyone together to negotiate it in "The Room Where It Happens", but admits he basically went along with it because he wanted to reduce his travel time to the capital. (Although he might not have been being fully serious about that.)
  • Though part of it seems to be a facade, as while he constantly presents himself as very laid back, he continues to work to undermine Hamilton as well as running for president - Jefferson proves to be just as ambitious as everyone else - he just isn't as upfront about it as Hamilton.
• Chekhov's Gunman: He's mentioned once by Angelica in "The Schuyler Sisters" and appears in the second act.
• The Dandy: Just take a look at that fabulous purple costume (complete with a pimp cane!). He's also incredibly derisive about Hamilton's clothes (which the latter apparently even takes offense to).
• Deadpan Snarker: He always has a snide comment ready for Hamilton.
• Enemy Mine: Late in Act 2, Hamilton decides to support him for president over the wishy-washy Burr.
• Everyone Has Standards:
  • Jefferson is hypocritical, arrogant, certainly an antagonistic figure in the musical, and even takes a few pointed potshots at Hamilton's background... but even he seems shocked by Adams' racist taunts in "The Adams Administration". He also briefly expresses sympathy towards Hamilton after his son dies. ^note  Which makes sense, because at this point, Jefferson had lost his wife and six of his children.
  • He also seems genuinely shocked when Hamilton reveals his role in the Reynolds affair, reacting only with a disgusted "...My God" when Hamilton confesses fully. And when Hamilton humiliates himself and destroys his career by making the affair public, though Jefferson happily gloats about the political end of his rival, he seems genuinely sympathetic to Hamilton's wife Eliza.
• Failed a Spot Check: He's a brilliant man in several different fields of study, but finances isn't one of them. He and Madison provide Hamilton the votes he needs for his debt plan in exchange for establishing the Nation's capital along the Potomac River. Hamilton, being Secretary of Treasury, couldn't care less about that. Jefferson essentially handed him a financial system he could mold however he wanted, and all Hamilton had to do was stroke his ego a bit.
• Foil: To Hamilton. On the surface, Hamilton and Jefferson have a lot in common; both are brilliant writers, both founded the guiding principles of the American government, both stand by their beliefs, both have rather large egos that frequently need to be stroked, and both have prominent positions in Washington's cabinet (Treasury and State, respectively). The difference is that Jefferson is a smug old-money Southerner for the Democratic-Republicans who employs slave labor, and Hamilton is a Northern Federalist who married into wealth and abhors slavery. Hamilton is also incredibly hot headed and it takes him some time to adopt a more subtle approach to achieve his goals in politics, while Jefferson at least presents himself as more laissez faire in the beginning. While both admit they never agreed with each other once, they do consider each other worthy opponents. Really, the second act can be viewed as Hamilton taking on his shadow self.
• Foreign Culture Fetish: Accusations of being a Francophile hurt his campaign for president in 1800. It took Hamilton's endorsement for him to gain the public's approval.
• The Heavy: While Burr is still the main antagonist of the show, Jefferson is the one that most consistently opposes Hamilton in Act 2 due to his position in the Cabinet.
• Historical Villain Upgrade: While few would be faulted for considering the real Jefferson a hypocrite for preaching liberty while owning human beings as property, he was no worse than any other American slaveowner of the era,^note a group that, most notably, included Hamilton himself and arguably a good deal better than most. He genuinely wanted to free his slaves, but was prevented from doing so by various legal and financial complications. Furthermore, as president, he abolished the slave trade, before even the celebrated British ban on it^note though this happened in 1807, after the time frame the show takes in. Likewise, no mention is made of his support for the rights of the poor and for religious freedom, both positions Hamilton opposed.
• Hypocrite:
  • Jefferson constantly espouses his ideals of freedom and equality...while being an unapologetic slave owner. Hamilton calls him out on it in "Cabinet Battle #1", as does the choreography of the musical itself (e.g. members of the chorus are contextualized as Monticello slaves scrubbing floors and doing back-breaking work, while Jefferson belts out lines like "I can't believe that we are free" while being rolled across the stage on a wooden staircase by his 'property', etc).
  • Due to his costume being changed as an Actor-Inspired Element, it's a bit rich of him to accuse Hamilton of dressing flashily, when he's the one prancing on stage in a magenta velvet suit at the beginning of Act II.
  • He also criticizes Hamilton for overstepping his bounds in his opposition to joining France in their (most recent) revolution in "Cabinet Battle #2" with the line, "I remind you that he is not Secretary of State!" when three of the last five songs have dealt with Jefferson's opposition to Hamilton's plans to form a National Bank; i.e., the domain of the Secretary of the Treasury.
  • In the two Cabinet songs, Jefferson cloaks his debates in idealism, first claiming that the federal government shouldn't be given excessive power or it would endanger personal freedom (in regard to a national bank being formed), and second that the new country must do its best to champion the ideals of liberty (in regard to providing aid to post-revolutionary France). The Mixtape's third song, discussing a proposal to end slavery, has him do a 180, claiming the Federal Government should use its power to regulate the slave trade by banning the importation of more slaves, while continuously using technicalities and bad-faith arguments to attempt to shut down the discussion.
  • Jefferson seems to take great delight in mocking Hamilton for having an affair with another woman, especially when doing so ruins his rival's political career. The musical has a quick nod to (and in the Mixtape outright states) the fact that Jefferson had an affair himself. With one of his personal slaves. Who was his dead wife's sister.
• Hypocritical Humor: More of a Truth in Television example: During "The Election of 1800," Jefferson muses that Aaron Burr, while a strong politician, "is not terribly forthcoming on any particular stances." In real life, one of the most frequent accusations levied against Jefferson was his tendency to openly display a sort of political apathy while in actuality hiding a ruthlessly pragmatic political agenda...just like Aaron Burr in Hamilton.
• Jerkass Has a Point: Hypocritical and decidedly antagonistic as he is, that doesn't stop Jefferson from being right from time to time.
  • It's not difficult to empathize with his points about assisting France in war even though Hamilton has reason to believe in preserving neutrality. Alexander's more subdued tone when he refutes Jefferson's point about Lafayette indicates Hamilton understands why Jefferson would think this way.
  • "You're nothing without Washington behind you" not only hits Hamilton where it hurts given his father-issues regarding Washington (and his issues with his low birth and need of a patron to get anywhere in politics), the latter's retirement proves his point; without Washington around to reign in his more self-destructive qualities, Hamilton's life and career rather quickly go downhill and he ends up getting himself killed by provoking Aaron Burr.
  • As Lin-Manuel Miranda pointed out, Jefferson isn't wrong about "Wallstreet [robbing people] blind in search for chips to cash in" during "Washington on your side".
• Lesser of Two Evils: Hamilton considers him to be this to Burr. While he has never once agreed with him on any position, at least Jefferson has ideals while Burr has none.
• Motor Mouth: Maybe not to the extent of Daveed Diggs' other character, Lafayette, but Jefferson still has a very fast-paced flow at the end of "Washington On Your Side", with rather tongue-twisting lines, too.
• Not-So-Harmless Villain: He notably fails at all of his goals in the play, until "We Know" and "The Reynolds Pamphlet" where his actions discredit Hamilton. He also directly benefits from the disconnect between Hamilton and Burr to the point of securing the presidency.
• Old Money: From a fairly wealthy family who owned a plantation. This is part of why he looks down on Hamilton.
• Pet the Dog:
  • Is openly shocked at Adams's racist taunts towards Hamilton in "The Adams Administration."
  • Expresses genuine sympathy when Hamilton's son dies. Of course, historically, many of Jefferson's children did not survive to adulthood.
  • In the finale he grudgingly gives Hamilton credit for his help in creating America, admitting that his financial system was a work of genius.
  • At the end of "We Know," once he's been assured that Hamilton isn't breaking the law by appropriating Federal funds, he agrees to keep his extramarital affair a secret. While he still takes great pleasure in Hamilton blowing the whistle on himself in "The Reynolds Pamphlet," he still never attempted to tell anyone himself even though he knew it would destroy Hamilton's career. ^note  Historically, Jefferson had an ongoing sexual relationship of questionable consent with one of his house slaves. A few years after this song takes place, rumors and speculation began to spread about it, which he spent the rest of his lifetime denying; perhaps he was sympathetic because he knew the same thing could easily happen to him.
  • When James Madison starts hacking and coughing during the first Cabinet Battle, Jefferson walks over to him and touches his shoulder, looking like he's about to ask if he's alright before Hamilton interrupts.
• Pimp Duds: Jefferson's outfit alludes to the stereotype, between being the only character to carry around a cane and having the most eye-catching and flashy colors other than King George III. He's the symbol of the slaveholding Southern plantation owners for the story, with the slaves being the "girls" whose labor he profits off of.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The fast-talking, loud, boisterous red to Madison's rational, quiet, understated blue.
• Smug Snake: Sarcastic, antagonistic, and basically oozes disdain - especially during "The Reynolds Pamphlet".
• Southern-Fried Genius: From Virginia, Southern drawl and all, and undeniably a genius.
• Sympathy for the Hero: He's clearly genuinely sympathetic towards Hamilton after Philip's death.
• Those Two Guys: He and Madison are always seen together throughout the play, with the exception of his introductory number "What'd I Miss?", where Jefferson enters first and is joined by Madison later.
• Unsportsmanlike Gloating: Jefferson has an unseemly habit of viciously mocking his opponents when they are at their lowest.
  • His lyrics in "The Reynolds Pamphlet," have him reading the contents of the document aloud, which detail a massive scandal. Publishing this document permanently derails Hamilton's career and wrecks havoc on his personal life, including his marriage, yet Jefferson's tone is smug and mocking as he's been rid of one of his biggest political rivals.
  "Well, he's never gon' be President now, Never gon' be president now...."
  • After being elected for president Jefferson really lays it onto Burr who came to congratulate him, especially when he asks Burr to thank Hamilton for the endorsement on his behalf.
• Villainy-Free Villain: Jefferson isn't portrayed as evil, as is proved by his stance about helping France against the various monarchies trying to reinstate the French Monarchy by force. He only opposes Hamilton in the play because he reasonably believes that his policy ideas are better for the country. However, he is a hypocritical Jerkass who owns slaves.
• Worthy Opponent: He and Hamilton consider each other this despite despising each other; this is what gets him Hamilton's endorsement for president, and gets Hamilton Jefferson's respectful acknowledgment of Hamilton's financial genius after he dies.
• X Meets Y: The show's casting calls describe his style as Drake meets Harold Hill.

James Madison

James Madison

Okieriete Onaodowan as James Madison

Originated by: Okieriete Onaodowan (OBC)

Other productions: Wallace Smith (CBC/Chicago), Mathenee Treco (First National Tour), Tarinn Callender (West End), Fergie L. Philippe (Second U.S. Tour), Brandon Armstrong (Puerto Rico/San Francisco)

"I have been fighting for the South alone! Where have you been?"

A former ally of Hamilton's who ends up siding with Jefferson and company. Will go on to be the fourth president of the United States.

The role of Madison is double-cast with Hercules Mulligan.

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• Affably Evil: Despite being in opposition with Hamilton, James Madison is a rather fair and reasonable guy. In fact, "evil" is pushing it.
• Antagonist in Mourning: Like Jefferson, he admits that Hamilton doesn't get enough credit for his role in shaping America after his passing.
• Anti-Villain: Compared to Jefferson, Madison is a fairly reasonable guy. He is the first person to let up on Hamilton when he realizes that Hamilton did not break the law. In real life, there is no evidence James Madison was involved in the Reynolds Affair or that Madison ever blackmailed or slandered anybody.
• Character Tic: A subtle one. Whenever Madison is about to propose a plan or things go his way due to his smart planning he tends to tap his head twice with his finger, a fitting gesture for an intelligent, rational and practical man such as he. In a subtle but rather touching moment at the end, when speaking about Hamilton's legacy during "Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your story." he instead taps his heart which shows how much genuine respect he had for Alexander in the end.
• Chekhov's Gunman: He's mentioned by Burr in "Non-Stop" as one of the men who helped Hamilton with the Federalist Papers before making his appearance in Act II in the following song.
• Composite Character: With both historical Madison and James Monroe. In real life, Monroe instigated the investigation into Hamilton and James Reynolds (with Jefferson working behind the scenes) while Madison was not involved. Monroe was a Jefferson cheerleader, whereas the actual Madison was Jefferson's best friend and ally, but also very much Jefferson's equal and not his Number Two.
• Face–Heel Turn: In Act I, he helps Hamilton write the Federalist Papers, but in Act II he teams up with Jefferson to oppose Hamilton. He was a driving force for the Constitution, but he believes that Hamilton's financial plan will hurt the South.
• Foil: To his actor's Act 1 role Hercules Mulligan. Mulligan is a loud, irreverent, Boisterous Bruiser and stalwart friend of Hamilton while Madison is a shy, well spoken, quiet man who was friends with Hamilton but has since turned against him.
• Heterosexual Life-Partners: With Jefferson, as in real life.
• Hidden Depths: The quiet guy with the cough wrote the Bill of Rights? AND 29 of the Federalist Papers? Including "Federalist 10?" Also his tears at "It's Quiet Uptown" hint at his more sensitive side. He's also the one who masterminds Jefferson's election to the presidency and had the idea that saved his campaign.
  • Compared to the flamboyant Jefferson and the overly verbose Hamilton, he's the only character in Act Two who spares us the Purple Prose and actually does something when a problem comes up. He suggests investigating Hamilton's finances under suspicion of embezzlement, proposes the Potomac for the capital when Congress is too busy sniping with each other, and suggests Hamilton endorse Jefferson to put the latter over the cap during the Election of 1800.
  • In the cut "Cabinet Battle #3", he's also the only one to propose a plan to deal with the spread of the slave trade (for now), when Hamilton, Jefferson, and even Washington were at a loss at how to deal with the issue.
• Hypochondria: The line "Madison take your medicine" references this historical trait of Madison's, who was rather small and sickly. Additionally, in the original Broadway production, Okieriete Onaodowan would walk around the stage holding a handkerchief and periodically coughing into it while playing Madison, further indicating the man's constantly poor health.
• Irony: James Madison was both the shortest and lightest President of the United States at 5' 4'' and 122 pounds. Okieriete Onaodowan, the actor who originated the role on Broadway, is a 5'11", muscular former football player. Subsequent productions go in a similar direction, as an actor who fits Madison's description would hardly be able to pull off the role of Hercules Mulligan, whom Madison's actor must double as.
• Not So Above It All: He's just as gleeful as Jefferson about Hamilton's downfall in "The Reynolds Pamphlet", even enthusiastically calling for highlights of the document.
• Number Two: Becomes Jefferson's right-hand man.
• Pet the Dog:
  • He comes back onstage wiping his eyes for "The Election of 1800", apparently as heartbroken as the audience over the tragedy of the previous two songs.
  • In the finale he grudgingly gives Hamilton credit for his help in creating America.
• The Quiet One: He doesn't speak much on his own, instead choosing to back up Jefferson. Historically, Madison was exceedingly shy and rather uncomfortable with public speaking.
• Red Oni, Blue Oni: The rational, quiet, understated blue to Jefferson's fast-talking, loud, boisterous red. In a meta example, he's also one to the brash, cheery Hercules Mulligan, with whom he is double cast.
• Sympathy for the Hero: Madison expresses genuine sadness and sympathy after Hamilton's son dies, and even comes onstage weeping after "It's Quiet Uptown."
• Those Two Guys: He and Jefferson are always seen together throughout the play, with the exception of his introductory number "What'd I Miss?", where Jefferson enters first and is joined by Madison later.
• Villainous Friendship: He has one with Jefferson.
• Villain Respect: Gives this to Hamilton after his death for helping America financially.
• We Used to Be Friends: With Hamilton. They were allies at the Constitutional Convention and collaborated on the Federalist Papers. An annotation from Miranda in the book Hamilton: The Revolution states that "the falling out between Madison and Hamilton is relegated to the intermission." The original draft of "Washington on Your Side" features oa verse from Madison about how he once liked Hamilton before coming to regard him as ambitious and dangerous.
• X Meets Y: The show's casting calls describe his style as RZA meets Zach.

Maria Reynolds

Maria Reynolds

Jasmine Cephas Jones as Maria Reynolds

Originated by: Jasmine Cephas Jones (OBC)

Other productions: Joanna J Jones (CBO), Samantha Marie Ware (Chicago), Amber Iman (First U.S. Tour), Christine Allado (West End), Danielle Sostre (Second U.S Tour), Darilyn Castilo (Puerto Rico/San Francisco)

"I know you are a man of honor. I'm so sorry to bother you at home. But I don't know where to go, and I came here all alone."

Maria Reynolds comes to Hamilton in a time of personal crisis, eventually beginning an affair with him. Her husband James uses this affair as blackmail, extorting money out of Hamilton to keep him quiet. When Hamilton's political rivals begin sniffing around his spending, Hamilton is forced to reveal the details of his affair with Maria in order to clear his name — making his family miserable in the process.

The role of Maria is double-cast with Peggy, the youngest Schuyler sister.

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• Adaptational Dye-Job: Due to being cast as the same actress as Peggy, Maria in the musical will often have brown or black hair. In real life, Maria was blonde.
• Big "YES!": Lets out several that get bigger each time at the end of "Say No to This."
• Damsel in Distress: Reynolds is presented as a battered wife who was abandoned by her husband and can no longer make ends meet on her own.
• Domestic Abuse: James Reynolds is described as one, and Hamilton's sympathy for Maria is the gateway to their affair. As it turns out, James Reynolds is forcing Maria to act as bait for blackmail. He doesn't care whether Hamilton has sex with her, even calling her a whore, as long as Hamilton pays up.
• Et Tu, Brute?: She's understandably disgusted with Hamilton when he decides to expose their affair to the world in a misguided attempt to save his own reputation. Somewhat Truth in Television too, as the Reynolds Pamphlet essentially destroyed the real Maria Reynolds' reputation beyond repair.
• Honey Trap: James Reynolds forced Maria to act as a bait for blackmail.
• Hypocrite: Among other things, she tells Hamilton she needs help because her husband is "cheating and mistreating" her... then immediately seduces Hamilton into doing the exact same thing to his own wife, Eliza. Though depending on the performance, it's implied that she isn't doing this by choice.
• Lady in Red: Maria appears as a seductress at least initially, and she does it in a very nice red dress.
• Minor Character, Major Song: "Say No To This" is her only appearance in the play but her impact is huge, considering she's at the center of a vicious blackmail plot and the first-ever sex scandal in American politics.
• The Mistress: Hamilton maintains a steady relationship with her while being married to Eliza.
• Please, Don't Leave Me: She begs this of Hamilton word for word when he tries to end their relationship due to her husband's blackmail.
  Maria: Please don't leave me with him helpless!
• Small Role, Big Impact: She only has a few minutes of screentime, but her role in the plot destroys Hamilton's political career and nearly takes his marriage along with it.
• The Vamp: Her low, seductive voice suggests how much of a sultry young woman she is. Despite this, she is later described in the song 'Say No To This' as "Half dressed, apologetic. A mess, she looked pathetic," as well as numerously being illustrated as looking 'helpless'.
• X Meets Y: The show's casting calls describe her style as Jazmine Sullivan meets Carla.

Minor Characters

Samuel Seabury

Samuel Seabury

Thayne Jasperson as Samuel Seabury

Originated by: Thayne Jasperson (OBC)

"Heed not the rabble who scream 'revolution!'"

A bishop who advocates for America to remain a British colony. His work is harshly criticized by Hamilton.

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• Artistic License – History: Samuel Seabury published his pamphlets anonymously as the "Westchester Farmer" or "A.W. Farmer," and his authorship of them wasn't proven until after the Revolution, when he was forced to forswear his allegiance to the British crown. That said, Hamilton and others in New York were well-aware of Seabury's Loyalist sympathies even if they didn't tie him directly to the "Farmer" pamphlets.
• Broken Record: Instead of changing what he says in response to Hamilton he just repeats himself something Hamilton complains about on his third time around.
• Pen Name: Not stated in the musical, but the pamphlets Seabury writes and recites were published under the pseudonym "A. W. Farmer", hence the song's title "Farmer Refuted".
• The Quisling: He's on the side of the British and denounces the rebels.
• Villainous Breakdown: He becomes noticeably distraught during the third verse of his song due to Hamilton's criticism.

Philip Schuyler

Philip Schuyler

Originated by: Sydney James Harcourt (OBC)

Father of the Schuyler sisters.

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• The Comically Serious: After he gives his blessing to Hamilton for his daughter's hand in marriage, he leaves the room to grab some wine, returning to see Hamilton breaking into a laughter-inducing Happy Dance and giving a confused looked that quickly puts an end to it.
• Demoted to Extra: Besides coming from one of New York's richest families, Schuyler was a general in the Continental Army until relieved of command for losing Fort Ticonderoga during the Saratoga Campaign (he was later cleared of responsibility). He was heavily involved in New York politics, attended the Constitutional Convention, and led government negotiations with the Iroquois. He also became very close to Hamilton after the latter's marriage to Eliza, and the two were also active political allies. While Schuyler lost reelection to the Senate to Burr, he was later reelected in 1797, unmentioned in the play. The play mentions little of his background.
• Excellent Judge of Character: While he gives Hamilton his blessing to marry his daughter, he only does so after ordering Hamilton to "be true", implying he already noticed the hunger in his eye that his eldest daughter also noticed. This turns out to be prophetic since Hamilton ultimately does cheat on Eliza.
• Sacrificial Lamb: Non-fatal example. He loses his Senate seat to Burr, the moment that settles Burr as a political enemy of Hamilton's and helps lead to his political downfall and another stepping stone in the chain of events that leads to Hamilton's death at Burr's hands.
• The Stoic: Eliza describes him as "stone-faced".
• The Voiceless: Eliza and Peggy quote Phillip during "Helpless" and "The Schuyler Sisters" respectively, but we never hear him speak, even when he's onstage.
• War Hawk: Peggy mentions that he's eager to go to war with the British.

Charles Lee

Charles Lee

Jon Rua as Charles Lee

Originated by: Jon Rua (OBC)

"I'm a General! Wheeee!"

An incompetent general who is responsible for the near-destruction of the Revolutionary Army at the Battle of Monmouth.

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• Asshole Victim: Non-lethal example, but him getting shot in the side is well-deserved.
• Dirty Coward: Washington harshly (and rightfully) chews him out for trying to retreat as soon as the battle started getting intense.
• Evil Is Petty: After losing his position he started talking badly about Washington around camp, despite the fact that Washington had every reason to strip him of command.
• General Failure: He nearly propelled the Americans into a devastating defeat at Monmouth. The Continental Army only made it out still intact thanks to Lafayette's superior leadership and prowess, but even then it was only a stalemate rather than a victory.
• Historical Downgrade: The real Lee was actually an experienced veteran officer who had fought for England, Portugal and Poland, seeing action in the Seven Years' War, the Spanish Invasion of Portugal and the Russo-Turkish War. There's some speculation as to why Washington got the position of commander in chief over Lee, but some theories are that Lee was deemed unfit to represent the revolution (Washington was a handsome gentleman, Lee reportedly had poor hygiene and bad manners), that Lee was British and Washington was colonial, or that Lee demanded pay, as he had forfeit his British citizenship and properties, where Washington volunteered. Possibly all three. Lee did indeed slander Washington and was insubordinate for the remainder of his time in the war, but that had more to do with a personal grudge than his actual ability.
• Jerkass: Lee starts to trash talk Washington around camp, even though he was the one responsible for their losses.
• Major Coward: He’s a cowardly general in the American army.
• The Millstone: His actions at Monmouth lead to the near-destruction of the Revolutionary Army.
• Never My Fault: Blames Washington for the massive losses at Monmouth even though Lee ignored orders and retreated.
• Not What I Signed on For: Lee is ecstatic to be a general, but instantly cowers and retreats the moment he gets on the battlefield.
• Psychopathic Manchild: He's portrayed as immature and unprepared for war.
• Ungrateful Bastard: Washington promotes him and rightly chews him out when he fails in his duties. Lee responds with blaming Washington for the army's losses.

James Reynolds

James Reynolds

Sydney James Harcourt as James Reynolds

Originated by: Sydney James Harcourt (OBC)

"Time to pay the piper for the pants you unbuckled!"

Husband of Maria Reynolds. He blackmails Hamilton for money in exchange for not telling anyone about Hamilton's infidelity.

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• Blackmail: He extorts Hamilton for money after Hamilton had an affair with his wife Maria.
• Domestic Abuse: Maria tells Hamilton that he's an awful, violent, and uncaring husband. Given the way he talks about her in his letter and the likelihood that he forced her to be bait in a blackmail scheme, she clearly wasn't exaggerating.
• Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Subverted. He forces his wife into a blackmail scheme, is all but shown to be violent towards her and their unmentioned daughter and refers to his wife as a whore (in some productions going as far as to call her to his side by smacking his knee like one would with an animal).
• Karma Houdini: He never suffers any comeuppance for blackmailing Hamilton or for his mistreatment of his wife, though his offstage arrest for defrauding veterans' pensions (the event that actually kickstarted the investigation leading to the Reynolds Pamphlet) goes unmentioned.
• Laughably Evil: Despite being an alleged abusive husband who openly blackmailed Hamilton, all his appearances and lines are funny to hear and watch.

George Eacker

George Eacker

Ephraim Skyes as George Eacker

Originated by: Ephraim Sykes (OBC)

"Your father's a scoundrel—and so, it seems, are you."

A lawyer who insults Alexander Hamilton and is challenged to a duel by Alexander's son Philip over it.

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• Dirty Coward: He fired his shot at the count of seven, rather than ten, and killed Philip.
• Hate Sink: Eacker stands out as one of the few genuinely malicious characters in the show, even for his rather limited stage time.
• Historical Villain Upgrade: While he was a critic of Alexander (going as far as to claim Hamilton wanted the monarchy back), according to witnesses of his and Phillip's duel, in their historical duel not only did Phillip hesitate to shoot, Eacker did too, and the duel only started when neither one was willing to back down. The only reason why Eacker shot at all is because Phillip started to slowly raise his gun, leading to Eacker shooting first in self-defense.
• Jerkass: He's shown to be rude, condescending, and dishonorable.
• Jerkass Has a Point: He isn't wrong about Alexander being a scoundrel, and he calls out Phillip for interrupting the play he was watching.
• Karma Houdini: In the play, he's never punished for killing his opponent by cheating. His own death of tuberculosis at age 30 isn't present in the play.
• Small Role, Big Impact: Only appears in one scene, and is played by a member of the ensemble, but sets the tone for the rest of the play, leading to the show's darkest moments.

Referenced Characters

John Adams

John Adams

The hapless second President of the United States. His attacks on Hamilton severely damage the Treasury Secretary's already-precarious reputation.

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• Butt-Monkey: He's frequently a target of Hamilton's mockery. Even Jefferson, one of the few characters who actually likes him, admits that Adams is hopeless and has no chance of being re-elected, as does everyone during "The Election of 1800"
• The Ghost: Despite being mentioned often, he never physically appears in the musical. (This is because John Adams already has his own show, and Miranda knew that many people, himself included, would automatically picture that version of Adams.)
• Historical Villain Upgrade: Although not to outright villain levels, John Adams gets something of an unfair rap in show. The show obviously sides with Hamilton, while ignoring Adams' achievements such as preventing a war with France and the very good reasons he had for loathing Hamilton's less than stellar conduct during his administration.
• Invisible President: A real-life President of the United States who never physically appears in the musical. He only gets mentioned.
• Jerkass: Despite never physically appearing, his racist remarks towards Hamilton are enough to signify that he's obnoxious and disliked.
• Kick the Dog: His racist taunts about Hamilton. Even Jefferson was appalled.
• Vice President Who?: During Washington's administration Hamilton states, "John Adams doesn't have a real job anyway."

Theodosia Burr

Theodosia Burr

Aaron Burr's mistress and later, wife. Already married to a British officer, but the mother to his daughter of the same name.

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• Demoted to Extra: She was quite the women's activist and devoted to Burr in life, but gets no stage time here.
• The Ghost: Referenced a bit in the play, and even gets a shout-out in "Wait For It", but is never seen onstage.
• Happily Married: So in love with Burr that she married him after her marriage to her first husband was over. From what the play shows, he did not regret this.

Benjamin Franklin

Benjamin Franklin

Founding Father, Declaration of Independence signer and ambassador to France, Ben Franklin was originally a character in the play before being cut. Later he got his own song in the "Hamildrops" releases, where he's sung by Colin Meloy and The Decemberists.

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• Badass Boast: At one point in his song, calls himself "76-and-I'll-still-kick-your-ass-fucking Franklin!"
• The Conscience: The cut "Cabinet Battle #3" references one of his last published writings in his lifetime; a petition on behalf of a Quaker delegation in Philadelphia requesting that slavery be abolished in the United States. Washington and his cabinet know that Franklin was respected enough that anything written or signed by him could not be ignored ^note While Franklin owned slaves in his youth and allowed ads for slaves to be published in his newspapers, he became a staunch abolitionist later in life, especially after returning from Europe. Even though his attempts were unsuccessful, he died with the cleanest conscience of the Founding Fathers.
• Demoted to Extra: From real-life history, due to being in France for most of the scenes the show covers.
• Establishing Character Moment: His opening line, "Electricity! Yeah, you can all thank me..." quickly establishes his arrogant and self-important attitude which is nonetheless entirely justified due to his incredible accomplishments.
• "I Am Great!" Song: Spends most of his song singing about his fame and many accomplishments.
• Improvised Lightning Rod: Both his song and his sole reference in the actual play mention his famous experiment with the key and the kite.
• Gentleman and a Scholar: Points out that "They call me a genius, I can't disagree!", but also one of the most savvy diplomats in the international political sphere.
• The Ghost: Never shows up in the actual play and is only mentioned once. He's also the impetus behind the cut song Cabinet Battle #3, which is prompted by his last political act of signing a petition against slavery, which Congress must respond to because Franklin's importance means it can't be ignored.
• Guile Hero: Secures money and funds for the American Revolution by charming the French nobility.
• My Greatest Failure: Describes his imprisoned Loyalist son as "One pain that lingers, the hitch in my stride."
• Really Gets Around: Repeatedly mentions that sleeping around is a core element to his personal diplomatic strategy.
• Renaissance Man: One of history's most famous polymaths, and refers to himself as one.
• Sir Swearsalot: Has more swear words in his one song than the rest of the cast combined.
• This Is for Emphasis, Bitch!: "I said 'Early to bed, bitches, early to rise / Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise!'"

John Jay

John Jay

Founding Federalist and co-author of the Federalist papers, alongside Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.

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• Demoted to Extra: From real-life history; he was a significant member of the Federalist Party, and was involved in several of the show's events where he is curiously absent.
• The Ghost: Never shows up, and is only mentioned once.

Hidden Character

Spoilers

The Bullet

DeBose as The Bullet, slightly behind Hamilton and to his right.

Originated By: Ariana DeBose

The bullet aimed at Hamilton that will eventually take his life.

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• Anthropomorphic Personification: The female personification of both death in general and specifically the bullet that Aaron Burr killed Hamilton with.
• Bullet Time: She does it in live action.
• Designated Bullet: Meta example. Aaron Burr does not save a bullet for Hamilton; he isn't even committed to killing him. Instead, the Foregone Conclusion of history designates the Bullet as the one that will kill Hamilton.
• Foreshadowing: If the Bullet interacts with someone, they're probably going to die.
• Meaningful Background Event: For most of the play, the Bullet hangs around in the background, but is always targeted at Hamilton.
  • The Bullet takes a book from Hamilton during Alexander Hamilton.
  • The Bullet is the first character to die onscreen- she's the dancer executed for espionage in You'll Be Back.
  • When a redcoat shoots at Hamilton, the Bullet runs towards him, but moves around him instead. She does the same routine when Aaron Burr shoots him... but doesn't miss.
  • The Bullet moves next to Hamilton during The Ten Duel Commandments.
  • The Bullet is the last character to interact with John Laurens, in Yorktown. They kill a Redcoat together and she shakes his hand.
  • The Bullet sits in on Cabinet Battle #1- and Aaron Burr takes her chair for Cabinet Battle #2.
  • The Bullet is the messenger who tells King George III about the Adams presidency, the one he shoos away (of course, George III died of old age, not by a bullet, so she has no power over him).
  • The Bullet is among the crowd in The Reynolds Pamphlet.
  • The Bullet is the girl who tells Philip where to find George Eaker. She also catches him when Eaker shoots him and he falls.
  • The Bullet is one of the chorus members in Your Obedient Servant and the one to hand Aaron Burr his quill so he can write to Hamilton.
• Punch-Clock Villain: She kills Hamilton but has nothing against him; she's just the bullet shot at him. Her actress floats the Alternative Character Interpretation that the Bullet slows down his death scene to give Hamilton the time to say all he needs to say.
• Sweet Polly Oliver: A meta example, as the Bullet often plays male roles, such as a minuteman.

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