Hamilton Characters Explained: A Guide to Every Major Role

Hamilton moves fast. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s musical packs decades of American history into a sung-through show built on hip-hop, R&B, pop and traditional Broadway, and it introduces dozens of real historical figures along the way. If you’ve ever finished “Alexander Hamilton” and wondered who exactly just introduced themselves, this guide is for you.

Miranda wrote the book, music and lyrics, inspired by Ron Chernow’s biography of Alexander Hamilton. The show opened off-Broadway at The Public Theater in 2015 and transferred to Broadway later that year. A filmed version of the original Broadway cast arrived on Disney+ in 2020, which is how many international fans first saw it.

This guide covers each major role, the famous double-casting, and how the characters connect. For a deeper look at the music, see our Hamilton songs explained guide, and for everything else, our Hamilton complete fan guide.

Alexander Hamilton

The title character is an orphan from the Caribbean who arrives in New York with nothing but ambition and a gift for words. He writes his way into the American Revolution, becomes George Washington’s aide, and later serves as the first Treasury Secretary of the United States.

On stage, Hamilton is restless, brilliant and often his own worst enemy. He can’t stop talking, writing or fighting, and the musical treats that as both his greatest strength and his biggest flaw. His recurring theme, “My Shot,” captures his hunger to make his mark before time runs out. The show also explores his marriage, his mistakes and his legacy.

Aaron Burr

Aaron Burr is the narrator and Hamilton’s rival. He is also a lawyer and politician, but where Hamilton charges ahead, Burr waits, watches and keeps his opinions to himself. His advice to Hamilton early on is to “talk less, smile more.”

Burr is one of the richest roles in the show. He’s not simply a villain: the musical gives him real reasons, real frustrations and two of its best songs, “Wait for It” and “The Room Where It Happens.” The tension between his caution and Hamilton’s boldness drives the story. Most audiences already know how their rivalry ends in history, and the show tells you in its very first number.

Eliza Hamilton

Elizabeth Schuyler, known as Eliza, is the second of the three Schuyler sisters and becomes Hamilton’s wife. She falls for him at a winter ball in “Helpless” and stands by him through war, politics and personal crisis.

Eliza starts as the gentle heart of the show and grows into one of its strongest voices. “That Would Be Enough” and “Burn” show two very different sides of her. By the end, the musical turns to her role in protecting Hamilton’s story, which gives the show its final emotional note.

Angelica Schuyler

Angelica is the eldest Schuyler sister. She is sharp, witty and politically engaged, and she’s every bit Hamilton’s intellectual match. “The Schuyler Sisters” introduces her as a woman who wants to be “in the room” for the revolution’s big ideas.

Her signature song, “Satisfied,” replays the night Eliza and Hamilton meet from Angelica’s point of view. It’s a rapid-fire, rewind-style number, and it reveals the feelings she puts aside for her sister’s happiness. Angelica remains a close confidante to both of them throughout the show.

Peggy Schuyler and Maria Reynolds

Peggy is the youngest Schuyler sister, best known for the line “And Peggy!” She has a small role in Act One.

In Act Two, the same performer returns as Maria Reynolds, a woman who becomes involved with Hamilton and sets off a scandal. “Say No to This” is her key number. The double-casting is deliberate: the cheerful youngest sister and the source of Hamilton’s biggest personal mistake are played by the same actress, which adds an interesting layer for attentive viewers.

George Washington

Washington is the commander of the Continental Army and later the first President. In the show he’s a steady, fatherly figure for Hamilton, who sometimes needs reining in. Washington gives Hamilton his big break and also his hardest lessons.

His songs, including “Right Hand Man,” “History Has Its Eyes on You” and “One Last Time,” are about leadership, legacy and knowing when to step aside. Many fans find “One Last Time” one of the show’s most moving moments.

The Double Roles: Lafayette/Jefferson, Mulligan/Madison, Laurens/Philip

One of Hamilton’s cleverest choices is that several actors play one character in Act One and a different one in Act Two.

• Marquis de Lafayette / Thomas Jefferson. In Act One, Lafayette is the French ally who fights alongside Hamilton, delivering some of the fastest rap verses in the show. In Act Two, the same actor returns as Thomas Jefferson, back from France and soon Hamilton’s political opponent. Their “Cabinet Battles” are staged as rap battles.
• Hercules Mulligan / James Madison. Mulligan is a tailor and spy, loud and proud in “My Shot” and “Yorktown.” In Act Two, the actor becomes James Madison, Jefferson’s ally against Hamilton.
• John Laurens / Philip Hamilton. Laurens is Hamilton’s close friend and a fierce opponent of slavery. In Act Two, the same actor plays Philip, Hamilton’s eldest son, whose story is one of the most emotional in the show.

The doubling helps tell the story: Hamilton’s friends from the revolution are, in a sense, replaced by rivals and new responsibilities in the second act.

King George III

King George is the comic highlight. He appears in short, Britpop-style solos such as “You’ll Be Back,” singing to the colonies like a jilted lover. He doesn’t interact much with the other characters, but he comments on events from across the ocean, and his appearances are reliable crowd-pleasers.

Smaller Roles Worth Knowing

• Philip Schuyler, Eliza and Angelica’s father, a wealthy and powerful New Yorker.
• Samuel Seabury, a loyalist who argues against the revolution in “Farmer Refuted.”
• Charles Lee, a general whose clash with Washington leads to trouble.
• George Eacker, who appears later in Act Two.
• James Reynolds, Maria’s husband.

The Ensemble

The ensemble in Hamilton does more than fill the stage. Dancers play soldiers, citizens and even moments in time, and one ensemble role is often called “the Bullet,” a performer who quietly foreshadows key events. Watch closely and you’ll notice the ensemble rewinding scenes, freezing time and reacting as the story’s emotional chorus.

Keep exploring: see our Wicked songs explained and Les Misérables complete fan guide.

Where to Listen Legally

• The Original Broadway Cast Recording is on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music and other major services.
• The filmed Broadway production is streaming on Disney+ in many regions.
• The Hamilton Mixtape, featuring other artists covering and reworking songs from the show, is also widely available.
• The official Hamilton YouTube channel posts clips and behind-the-scenes content.

FAQ

Who narrates Hamilton?
Aaron Burr serves as the main narrator, though other characters, including Eliza at the end, also help tell the story.

Why do some actors play two characters?
It’s a deliberate creative choice. The doubling links Act One and Act Two, with Hamilton’s revolutionary friends giving way to political rivals and family.

Are the characters real people?
Yes. Almost every named character is a real historical figure, although the musical takes some creative liberties with timelines and details.

Where can I watch Hamilton?
The filmed original Broadway production is on Disney+ in many countries, and the show also tours and plays in theaters in several cities.