The musical Hamilton - available as a movie on Disney+ - reveals little about the focal subject's parents, so who were they and what happened to them? Created by and starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, the historical musical references Alexander Hamilton's upbringing early on, but then quickly shifts to his personal and professional pursuits as an American immigrant. Here's what you need to know about James A. Hamilton and Rachel Faucette, the parents of Hamilton's titular character.
Much of Hamilton's conflict derives from the main character's quest for familial harmony. On the surface, he's entirely devoted to his political interests and career in general, but he's often reminded about the importance of true friendship and loyalty. Hamilton forms a genuine bond with Angelica Schuyler (Renée Elise Goldsberry), but ultimately weds her sister, Eliza (Phillipa Soo). Later, after carrying on a sexual relationship with New York City native Maria Reynolds (Jasmine Cephas Jones), Hamilton gets involved in America's first sex scandal and tries to manage the situation by airing his dirty laundry in the Reynolds Pamphlet. And when Hamilton's oldest son Philip (Anthony Ramos) dies in a duel at only 19-years-old, he must re-assess who he wants to be as a husband and parent, as well as one of America's founding fathers. The concept of home is very much a factor in Hamilton's accessibility as a hip-hop-themed musical about U.S. history on Disney+.
Alexander Hamilton was the son of James A. Hamilton, a Scottish resident of the island Nevis, a region of the West Indies. In 1755 or 1757, James had a sexual relationship with a married woman of British and French descent named Rachel Faucette, which resulted in the birth of James Jr. and Alexander. Because of the children's untraditional upbringing in 18th century Nevis, James essentially abandoned his family in order to protect them from public shame. He later relocated to Bequia in the country Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and eventually moved to the island of St. Vincent, where he reportedly wrote to Alexander in 1793. James A. Hamilton died six years later in St. Vincent - five years before Aaron Burr killed his son - and was buried in Kingstown. Two years later, Alexander's teenage son was killed in a duel, which undoubtedly brought back memories of his own childhood.
Alexander's mother, Rachel, originally married a man named Johann Michael Lavien before meeting James A. Hamilton in 1850. Miranda's musical acknowledges that Rachel died in 1768 when Alexander was approximately 12 years old. Her first husband then reportedly gained control of her estate (and made nasty comments about her), which is perhaps the reason why Nevis locals helped Alexander move to America in pursuit of a better life. It's also been theorized that Rachel's legal issues caused Alexander to leave Nevis for good.
Three decades after leaving Nevis, Alexander had become a true cultural icon after serving in the Revolutionary War and becoming one of America's founding fathers. He and Eliza had eight children, and even named the youngest after their deceased son Philip. That child, known as "Little Philip," was only two when Alexander died in a duel with Aaron Burr, and lived to be 82-years-old. Philip Hamilton's first son, Louis - the great-grandson of Philip A. Hamilton and Rachel Faucette - served in the American Civil War under General George Armstrong Custer, and was killed at age 24 during the Battle of Washita River in 1868.
Hamilton: What The Musical Changes About The Real Alexander Hamilton