Charles Lee was the target of ridicule throughout the first act of the Broadway's Hamilton. Developed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the hit musical recently found a new wave of fans after a 2016 recording of the production was made available on Disney+. Miranda, who portrayed the titular figure, Alexander Hamilton, starred alongside an impressive ensemble, including Jon Rua, the face behind Lee. As the musical followed Hamilton's arrival to New York City in 1776 and his subsequent role in the American Revolution, several of the performances took aim at certain historical figures.

As stated in Hamilton, Lee was a general of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Despite being a British born military figure, Lee joined the rebel forces after relocating to North America. He dreamed of being the Commander in Chief but settled for the position of George Washington's second-in-command. It was no question that Lee's experience helped in a few key battles but his criticism of his leader tarnished his reputation.

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Lee first appeared in Hamilton's Act 1 during the song, "Stay Alive." Hamilton questioned why Washington chose Lee as his second-in-command while the man chimed in with "I'm a general, whee!", adding to the notion that his peers viewed him as a joke. The song then mentioned the Battle of Monmouth, a historical moment in which Lee infamously retreated his forces despite Washington's order for a full-blown attack on the British. His actions and attitude following the decision made Lee into some sort of villain, something made evident in the musical.

Charles Lee Had A Complicated Relationship With Hamilton & Washington

George Washington and Alexander Hamilton look out on the audience in Hamilton

Hamilton was undoubtedly jealous of Washington's decision to make Lee his second-in-command, but that envy came off as mockery throughout the musical. In "Stay Alive," Hamilton even states that Lee "shits the bed at the Battle of Monmouth." Historically, Lee's decision actually paid off, but it was his attitude following the battle that painted him as a villain. When Washington questioned the man, Lee publicly criticized his superior while also throwing Hamilton, John Laurens, and the Marquis de Lafayette under the bus. Lee was then court-martialed for his misconduct, leading to a duel against Laurens.

The duel between Lee and Laurens was detailed during the performance of "Ten Duel Commandments." Considering Hamilton aided Laurens while Aaron Burr served as Lee's second, the first duel foreshadowed the climactic ending of the musical. The peace talks failed and Laurens fired upon his opponent, causing him to yield because of a non-fatal wound. Shortly after, Lee's position in the military came to an end.

If it wasn't for Lee's public disrespect of Washington and his peers, he wouldn't have been depicted as a coward in pop culture as was the case with Hamilton. By disobeying orders, he probably saved the Continental Army from a decimating defeat but his ego got the best of him. Rather than accept his initial punishment, the man made an enemy out of Washington and Hamilton. In return, they viewed him as a laughing stock. After Lee's termination, he returned to his homestead in Virginia. Shortly after, he became ill while visiting Philadelphia and passed away at the age of 50 in 1882.

Next: Hamilton: The Biggest Things The Musical Leaves Out (& Why)