William Hamilton (1669-1732)

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William Hamilton (1669-1732) was Principal of Edinburgh University from 1730 to 1732, serving also as Professor of Divinity from 1709.

Biography

The second son of Gavin Hamilton of Airdrie and Jane, daughter of Robert Montgomerie of Hessilhead, Hamilton graduated MA from the University of Edinburgh in 1686. He most probably pursued further studies in the Netherlands before being ordained as Minister of Cramond in 1694. In 1696 he married Mary Robertson (1676-1760), with whom he had thirteen children including the bookseller Gavin Hamilton (1704–1767), the physician Alexander Hamilton (1712–1756), and the churchman Robert Hamilton (1707–1787), who would go on to occupy the Edinburgh Divinity chair in 1754.

In 1709 William Hamilton succeeded George Meldrum (1634?-1709) as Professor of Divinity at Edinburgh University. Over the next two decaded he took a prominent role in Church affairs, was an active member of Church Courts and ecclesiastical committees, and served as Moderator of the General Assembly on no fewer than five occasions: in 1712, 1716, 1720, 1727, and 1730. When William Wishart died he was elected as the Principal in 1730. In 1732 he became minister of West St. Giles Parish. Hamilton died in Edinburgh on 12 November 1732

Positions

  • Minister Parish of Cramond 1694-1709
  • Professor of Divinity 1709-1730
  • Moderator of General Assembly 1712, 1716, 1720, 1727, and 1730
  • Principal University of Edinburgh 1730-1732
  • Minister of West St. Giles Parish 1732

Publications

  • The truth and excellency of the Christian religion: a sermon preached in the High Church of Edinburgh, Monday, January 3, 1732, upon occasion of the anniversary meeting of the Society in Scotland for Propogating Christian Knowledge; and published at their request. Edinburgh : Printed by R. Fleming for Gavin Hamilton, and sold at his shop ..., 1732

Sources

  • Laurence A. B. Whitley, 'Hamilton, William (1669-1732)', Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2004) [[1], accessed 17 Sept 2010]
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