Founding Father Alexander Hamilton had a reputation for being a bit of a tomcat when it came to the ladies. In fact, in Hamilton the musical they famously claim that Martha Washington named one of her feral cats after him.
So comrades, did Martha Washington really name her cat, Alexander Hamilton?
Let’s look at what Lin Manuel wrote about “the Tomcat” in Hamilton the Musical, and then examine history to see if it’s true, or just a catty rumor.
The “Tomcat” References in Hamilton the Musical:
When Lin Manuel was researching Hamilton in 2013, he tweeted the following:
Years later he would include this “fact” in the Hamilton musical in the song, “A Winter’s Ball“ with the following lyrics:
Aaron Burr
“(Ladies) They delighted and distracted him,
Martha Washington named her feral tomcat after him!”
Hamilton
“That’s true!”
Miranda also refers to Alexander Hamilton as, “The Tomcat“ in the song, “The Story of Tonight”:
“I’ve seen wonders great and small,
‘Cause if the tomcat can get married,
There’s hope for our ass, after all!”
So, is Miranda correct that Martha named her cat, “Hamilton,” or is he just spreading a false rumor? Let’s look for historical clues about Martha Washington and The Tomcat to decide.
Did Martha really name her feral cat, Alexander Hamilton?
“When the sword is once drawn, the passions of men observe no bounds of moderation.” – Alexander Hamilton
Cats were excellent for pest control in the 18th Century, and there’s evidence there were cats living on the grounds of Mt. Vernon. However, without any written records about them, it’s hard to prove whether Martha Washington really named one of them Alexander Hamilton.
However, history does provide us with some clues.
Hamilton was notorious for being reliable with the ladies, including his infamous lengthy affair with Mariah Reynolds, which he defended in his ranting 95-page “Reynold’s Pamphlet“ in 1797.
John Adams wife, Abigail, once wrote of Hamilton, “I have read his heart in his wicked eyes many a time. The very devil is in them. They are lasciviousness itself.” source
Ouch, hiss! Also, consider this 1780 journal entry from British Captain Smythe during the Revolutionary War which reads:
“Mrs. Washington has a mottled tom-cat, (which she calls, in a complimentary way, ‘Hamilton,’) with thirteen yellow rings around his tail, and that his flaunting it suggested to the Congress the adoption of the same number of stripes for the rebel flag”
While his journal entry was probably sarcastic, Smythe may have been aware of Hamilton’s reputation as an arrogant ladies man. He may have even heard a rumor or joke that Martha Washington’s cat was named Alexander Hamilton.
While we may never know whether Martha Washington actually named a feral cat after Alexander Hamilton, it’s clear that he did have a reputation as a lascivious tomcat. So, it makes sense that Martha and others would tell jokes at his expense, or even name a feral cat after him.
Who really names a feral tomcat, anyway?
A “feral” tomcat is a free-roaming male feline that lives in the wild and is untamed, using its hunting skills and wild ways to survive.
So, why do humans try to name them? A feral cat does not come when called, wear a nametag, or do tricks on command for “The Man.”
No, comrade, naming a feral cat is like naming a hurricane or distant star. Silly humans.
Anyway, although Hamilton did usually land on his feet, it was his cat-like curiosity with the ladies that ultimately killed his political career. Then, he lost the last of his nine lives in 1804 when he was mortally wounded in a famous duel with Aaron Burr.
Chairman Meow say: Having a cat named after you is the highest of honors for any human. Even though Hamilton did other things like shaping the U.S. financial system and writing the Federalist Papers, having a feral cat named after him may have been his most important legacy?
Believe Chairman Meow!
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