Images:
Top: Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom Jr., courtesy of Disney Plus
Middle: Captain Alexander Hamilton of the Provincial Company NY Artillery; 1776 (artwork 1923), National Archives ID 542435
Lower: Portrait of Aaron Burr attributed to Gilbert Stuart
HAMILTON IN OUR RECORDS: Who Lives, Who Dies, Who Tells Your Story? Song 2: Aaron Burr, Sir
Today’s post, by Miriam Kleiman from the Public Affairs office, is the second in a series using archival records (largely from the National Archives Founders Online) to explore Hamilton’s life and legacy, song by song. Please note: given differing accounts of Hamilton’s birth year, stories use the 1755 date, with the 1757 date in parentheses.
The blockbuster musical’s catchy second number, “Aaron Burr, Sir,” could be the response to an AP US History Exam question:
Compare and contrast (in rap): Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr
The song opens in New York City in 1776, setting the stage for the coming drama by showing the first encounter of “young, scrappy and hungry” Hamilton and “prodigy of Princeton college” Burr, and underscoring the cavernous difference between the two in the following realms.
First impressions From the start, Hamilton’s enthusiasm clashes with Burr’s haughtiness. Burr is evasive when Hamilton asks: “Are you Aaron Burr, Sir?” responding: “That depends, who’s asking?” Beyond thrilled to meet Burr, Hamilton enthusiastically solicits college and career advice: “Sir, I heard your name at Princeton” when “seeking an accelerated course of study.” Like Burr, he wanted to ”graduate in two, then join the revolution” and asks: “So how’d you do it, how’d you graduate so fast?” Burr responds: “It was my parent’s dying wish before they passed.”Burr also offers the following guidance: “Talk less… Smile more…”
Background Though both orphans, the men are from vastly different backgrounds. Hamilton, as described by John Adams, was the “bastard brat of a Scotch Pedler” (letter of 1/25/1806) who immigrated from the Caribbean to America in 1772 at age 15 (13) lacking family, wealth, and connections. By contrast, Burr was born into early American aristocracy; his maternal grandfather was “Great Awakening” preacher Jonathan Edwards, his father helped establish the College of New Jersey (Princeton), and his father and grandfather were the second and third presidents of the school.
Education Hamilton hoped to study at Princeton and was initially accepted, but was rejected when he sought to follow Burr’s lead and “graduate in two.” He says the bursar “looked at me like I was stupid” and admits he “may have punched him.”* Hamilton enrolled at Kings College (now Columbia) in 1774, but didn’t graduate.
Despite his unparalleled connections to the school, Burr was rejected when he first applied to Princeton (at age 11)! He was admitted two years later (age 13) with sophomore standing, excelled on the debate team, and graduated in two years. After college, he first studied theology and then law.
To the Revolution! Hamilton became an activist at Kings College, speaking and writing in support of the Continental Congress and independence. He left school to “join the revolution” in 1775, started a volunteer military company, and was commissioned Captain of the New York Provincial Artillery Company in March 1776.
Following the Battle of Lexington and Concord, Burr put his legal studies on hold and “fast tracked” his military career. In July 1775, he traveled with another well-connected friend, Matthias Ogden, to the fledgling, month-old Continental Army camp in Cambridge, MA. Thanks to their impressive family networks, they personally met with General George Washington and presented themselves and a letter of introduction/recommendation from Continental Congress President John Hancock! General Washington reportedly had no officer appointments available but accepted both men as so called “gentlemen volunteers.“
*FUN FACT! Hamilton met with Princeton president (and founding father) John Witherspoon, not a bursar. Also, there’s no record of violence. Miranda justified the need for artistic license: “Chernow blanched a bit at this historical leap-Hamilton wasn’t needlessly violent-but the rhyme [bursar and blur/Burr, sir] was too good to pass up.” Agreed, Mr. Burr, Sir?
ICYMI: Song 1, Alexander Hamilton
Stay tuned for Song 3, My Shot, and discover:
Does Hamilton socially advance or socially distance?
Can he help the new country “handle our financial situation”?
Do he and Burr prove they’re “worth more than anyone bargained for”?
Featured National Archives public program/video: Historians on Hamilton: How a Blockbuster Musical is Restaging America’s Past, with opening remarks by Archivist of the United States David S. Ferriero.
More online:
Papers of Alexander Hamilton, Founders Online
Papers of Aaron Burr, Founders Online
Archives Displays Hamilton’s Documents in Exhibit Incorporating Musical’s Lyrics, National Archives News
Conversation with Chernow, Kail, and Miranda at the 2016 Records of Achievement Award Ceremony
From Alexander Hamilton to ‘Hamilton’—at the National Archives
Obscure fun fact: Romano and Kleiman were high school classmates and fellow speech/debate team members!

