HAMILTON, Anthony, Count, celebrated as the author of the "Mémoires de Grammont," was of the noble family of that name; his father, Sir George Hamilton, being the fourth son of James, first earl of Abercorn. His mother was the daughter of Lord Thurles, and sister to James, first duke of Ormond. Anthony is said to have been born about the year 1646; at Roscrea, county Tipperary. His father removed the family into France in the spring of 1651, where they resided with the Ormonds near Caen in Normandy. At an early age Anthony, with his brothers, George, Richard, and John, entered the army of Louis XIV.; and on the accession of James II. to the English throne, Roman catholics no longer being inadmissible, he entered the Irish service, where he is mentioned in 1686 as lieutenant-colonel in Sir Thomas Newcomen's regiment. On the recommendation of the earl of Clarendon he was made a privy councillor in Ireland, and appointed governor of Limerick. After the overthrow of James II. he retired with that monarch to St. Germain, where he was distinguished not only by his wit and politeness, but by the composition of the "Quatre Facardins," "La Fleur d'Epine," "Le Belier," and "Zénéide," writings highly extolled by Voltaire and La Harpe. About the year 1704 Hamilton undertook to write the memoirs of the Comte de Grammont, his brother-in-law, and produced a work which for grace and purity of style has never been surpassed. The "Memoirs" are chiefly occupied with a description of the personages who figured in the court of Charles II., with most of whom Hamilton was himself acquainted. Some years after the completion of the "Memoirs," he translated Pope's Art of Criticism into French, for which performance he received the poet's thanks. One of his last efforts, when past seventy, was a copy of verses, "Sur l'usage de la vie dans la vieillesse." He died at St. Germain in April, 1720. His death seems to have been calm and resigned, as his life was innocent, honourable, and unassuming. In his latter years there is no doubt he followed the profession of the christian faith; nor does there seem to be any foundation for the insinuation of Voltaire, that at an earlier period he entertained sentiments of irreligion similar to his own—
" Aupres d'eux le vif Hamilton,
Toujours armé d'un trait qui blesse;
Médisoit de l'humaine espèce,
Et même d'un pen mieux, dit-on."
Complete works, Paris, 1813, 5 vols.—N. H.
HAMILTON, Charles, was born in Belfast in 1753. In the sixteenth year of his age he entered as a cadet the service of the East India Company, and applied himself, in addition to his military duties, to the sedulous study of the oriental languages. In these he made great progress, and soon obtained a high reputation. He was selected to undertake a translation of the Hedaya, or code of Mahommedan laws, from the Persian—a task originally committed to Mr. Anderson, one of the most distinguished oriental scholars of his day, but which his health prevented his undertaking. To accomplish this laborious work, Captain Hamilton obtained five years' leave of absence, and returned to Europe in 1786. The year after he published his "History of the Rohilla Affghans," which he had prepared while in India, and in 1791 appeared the translation of the "Hedaya," a work of great value and importance. Meantime, he had been appointed to a high official situation in India, and prepared for his return to that country. He was, however, attacked with pulmonary disease which terminated fatally. He died at Hampstead, March 14, 1792.—J. F. W.
HAMILTON, David, architect, was born at Glasgow on the 11th May, 1768. Glasgow owes to David Hamilton some of its principal architectural features. Chief of these is the Exchange, a noble classic structure, 200 feet by 76, with a fine octostyle Corinthian portico. On its completion, his fellow-citizens marked their admiration of his labours and their appreciation of his private worth by a public dinner, at which he was presented with a service of plate and a gold box. Other buildings of a superior character executed by him in Glasgow are the Western Club house; the Glasgow and British banks; the theatre, &c. He was also the architect of the duke of Hamilton's seat, Hamilton palace; Lennox castle, Campsie; Toward castle; Dunlop house, Ayrshire; and other mansions in the west of Scotland. He was a competitor for the erection of the Royal Exchange, London, and his was one of the premiated designs. He died on the 5th of December, 1843.—J. T—e.
HAMILTON, Elizabeth, a clever miscellaneous writer, was born in Belfast, July 25, 1758. Her father, a merchant, died in the following year, leaving a widow and three children, one of whom was Charles, the distinguished oriental scholar. The circumstances of the widow were so straitened that she availed herself of the kind offices of relatives in the education of her children; and Elizabeth at the age of six years was sent to Mr. and Mrs. Marshall of Stirling, the latter of whom was her paternal aunt, and by them she was educated with a care and tenderness that in after years she gratefully recorded. At eight years of age she was sent to school, and distinguished herself by assiduity and success in every branch of study. She soon displayed a strong taste for letters, and especially for poetry. Upon the death of her aunt in 1778 the household duties occupied much of her time; but she nevertheless found leisure for literature, so that in 1785 she commenced regular authorship, contributing some papers to the Lounger. The following year a visit from her brother, then returned from India, exercised a beneficial influence on her in developing her tastes and guiding her studies, especially in the direction of oriental literature. With him she visited London, and was introduced into the literary society of the capital. Shortly after this she lost her second protector, Mr. Marshall; and, quitting Stirlingshire for ever, she established herself with her brother and sister in London, devoting herself to literature. The death of this excellent brother in 1792 was another severe affliction; but she persevered in the course which he had urged her to follow, and in 1796 produced her first work of note, the "Letters of a Hindoo Rajah," in two volumes, in which she pourtrays the character and commemorates the virtues and talents of her lost brother. This work was well received, and in 1800 she published three volumes entitled "The Modern Philosopher" Two editions before the end of the year marked the success of this work, and established the reputation of the authoress. Next followed "Letters on Education" (two volumes in the two succeeding years), dealing not with new systems, but with improved methods of applying those in use. "Agrippina," a classical novel, appeared in 1803, and her merit received the high recognition of his majesty, who conferred a pension on her. She now settled in Edinburgh, where, with the exception of a short interval, she resided till near the close of her life. Here she applied her talents in a great measure to promoting the moral and social condition of the lower classes, and with that view published, in addition to other minor compositions, the work by which she is best known, "The Cottagers of Glenburnie." In this novel Miss Hamilton has done for Scotland what her distinguished contemporary, Maria Edgeworth, had done for Ireland in her Castle Rackrent; and the influence of both works in laying bare and correcting national failings was considerable. "The Cottagers" met with high praise in high quarters. Scott and Jeffrey gave it hearty commendation. Its success was rapid and wide, and a cheap edition was published for circulation in the Highlands. Miss Hamilton's health began to give way, so that in 1812 she was obliged to winter in the milder climate of England. But she still pursued her literary labours, publishing "Popular Essays on the Elementary Principles of the Human Mind;" and "Hints to the Patrons and Directors of Public Schools." She died at Harrowgate on the 23rd of July, 1816. Miss Hamilton's works, including many others besides those mentioned, have been republished. She was a woman of a fine intellect, a sound judgment, a quick and keen appreciation, and great common sense. Her piety was deep and unaffected; benevolent, cheerful, and learned, she was courted as a companion, and esteemed as a friend.—J. F. W.
HAMILTON, Lady Emma, wife of Sir William Hamilton, the antiquarian and diplomatist, but more famous for her connection with Lord Nelson, was probably born on the 26th of April, 1764, at Preston in Lancashire. Her father, Henry Lyons, a labourer, died when she was quite a child, and her mother, a native of Hawarden in Flintshire, removed with her to that place, where they remained with their relatives, who were colliers. There is a tradition that at this time the future Lady Hamilton used to assist her mother in carrying coals about in donkey-panniers. Afterwards Emma was engaged as a nursery-maid in the family of the surgeon of Hawarden, and in 1780, when she was sixteen, she migrated to London to act in a similar capacity in the house of a physician in Blackfriars. She then entered the service of a tradesman in St. James' Market, where her beauty attracted the notice of a lady of
