GEMMS IDGEMMS-PERSON-002913
NameWilliam Hamilton
Title
Gendermale
DenominationPresbyterian
Livedb. ca. 1669-01-01 - d. 1732-11-12 (new)
Linked Manuscriptsmanuscript owner - Sermons of William Hamilton: Acc. 7543preacher - Various Sermons Preached in 1695-1700: GB 247 MS Gen 430
Linked SermonsA sermon on Isaiah 55:2 -- preacher (autograph: no)Sermon on 1 Timothy 4:8 -- preacher (autograph: yes)Sermon on 2 Timothy 2:19 -- preacher (autograph: yes)
Linked Reports
Associated PlacesDutch Republic -- Place of StudyUniversity of Edinburgh -- Place of StudyCramond -- PostUniversity of Edinburgh -- PostWest St Giles -- Post
Source of DataCatherine Evans
Biographical Sources ConsultedODNB (Person ID: 64386)
Other NoteSecond son of Gavin Hamilton of Airdrie and Jane Montgomerie. He graduated MA from Edinburgh in 1686 he likely studied in the Netherlands and then was ordained at Cramond in 1694. He married Mary Robertson in 1696 and would have nine sons and four daughters, including Gavin (1704-1767) bookseller and magistrate, Alexander (1712-1756) physician and American writer, and Robert who would hold the Chair of Divinity at Edinburgh. Hamilton was elected professor of divinity at Edinburgh in 1709. In 1715 he took over leadership of the church with William Mitchell. Hamilton would be moderator of the general assembly five times. He would continue to lead the church after Mitchell's death in 1727, partially due to financial necessity as he had been denied a parish charge to supplement his professor's post. His family depended upon the post of King's almoner. When the regime changed in 1726, Hamilton changed with it and gained a royal chaplaincy in 1727. He was promoted to principal of the university in 1730 and was called to West St Giles in 1732. His father and brothers had been involved in the covenanting cause, but Hamilton sought to move the church towards a more liberal outlook. He smothered recording of dissents and generally sought to quash public displays of disagreements. He died on 12 November 1732 following a long illness.
GEMMS record createdMarch 20, 2020
GEMMS record last editedMarch 20, 2020