Toronto Police Did Not Confiscate Aaron Burr's Gun

Misbar’s investigation revealed that the weapon seized by the Toronto Police Department did not belong to Aaron Burr, and was not used to shoot Alexander Hamilton. The actual gun from the duel was purchased in 1930 by J.P. Morgan Chase & Co, and is often displayed at the bank’s headquarters in New York City. It was part of an exhibit at the National Postal Museum in Washington D.C. in 2018. 

The pistol is a .56 caliber flintlock made of brass, gold, and walnut. It is an important artifact of American history, and came to prominence again with the popularity of the Hamilton musical, which depicts the ongoing rivalry between the two men. 

After losing both the presidential election in 1800, and the New York governor’s election in 1804, Burr blamed Hamilton, who’d been outspoken in his opposition. A prominent newspaper had just published statements in which Hamilton had called Burr a “dangerous man” and “despicable,” and Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel.

The two met early in the morning in a wooded New Jersey dueling ground. It is unclear who fired first, but witnesses said that when Hamilton fired he aimed above Burr’s head, intending to miss. Burr shot Hamilton directly in the stomach, killing him. The moment inspired lyrics from the now famous musical: “When Alexander aimed at the sky / He may have been the first one to die / But I’m the one who paid for it / Now I’m the villain in your history.”