Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 2.djvu/213

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Hamilton
193
Hanbury

the quater-centenary of the University of Aberdeen. The book contains an article by Hamilton on 'The Alimentary Canal as a Source of Infection' and his portrait. An enthusiastic and inspiring teacher, with a strong personality and great powers of organisation, he was the first to introduce the practical teaching of bacteriology into general class work. He initiated the bacteriological diagnosis of diphtheria and typhoid fever in the north of Scotland, and did much to apply pathology to the uses of ordinary life. He investigated the diseases of sheep known as 'braxy' and 'louping ill,' and was chairman of the departmental committee on this question appointed by the board of agriculture in 1901, which presented its report in 1906. He confirmed the description of the 'braxy' microbe given in 1888 by Ivar Nielsen and discovered the bacillus of 'louping ill.' He wrote widely on all branches of pathology, especially on the nervous system, tuberculosis, and other diseases of the lungs, and on the healing of wounds. His textbook on pathology (2 vols. 1889-94) was recognised as a standard work.

He was F.R.S. Edin., and in 1908 was elected F.R.S. London. In 1907 the University of Edinburgh made him an honorary LL.D. He was a connoisseur in music and a facile draughtsman. He died on 19 Feb. 1909 at Aberdeen, and was buried there. Hamilton married: (1) in 1880, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Griffith, by whom he had two sons and one daughter; (2) in 1894, Catherine, daughter of John Wilson of South Bankaskine, Falkirk; she died without issue in June 1908.

[Information from his brother, G. G. Hamilton, and from W. Bulloch; Proc. Roy. Soc. 81 B.]

H. D. R.


HAMILTON, Sir EDWARD WALTER (1847–1908), treasury official, born at Salisbury on 7 July 1847, was eldest son of Walter Kerr Hamilton [q. v.], bishop of Salisbury, whose friendship with Gladstone descended to his son. His mother was Isabel Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Lear, dean of Salisbury. Educated at Eton (1860–5) and Christ Church, Oxford (1866–8), he entered the treasury in 1870, before he could take his degree. He was private secretary to Robert Lowe, chancellor of the exchequer (1872–3), to his father's friend, Gladstone (1873–4), and again to Gladstone in his second administration (1880–5). With Gladstone his relations were always intimate. Gladstone wrote to him, on his ceasing to be his private secretary (30 June 1885): 'As to your services to me, they have been simply indescribable' (Morley's Gladstone, iii. 210-1). Hamilton published 'Mr. Gladstone,' a monograph, in 1898, in the preface to which he speaks of himself as 'one who was privileged to know Mr. Gladstone for nearly forty years and still more privileged to have been brought into the closest contact with him for a considerable time,' In June 1885 Hamilton became a principal clerk in the finance branch of the treasury, in 1892 assistant financial secretary, in 1894 assistant secretary, and in 1902 permanent financial secretary and joint permanent secretary with Sir George Murray, until the autumn of 1907, when he was compelled by ill-health to retire from the service. He was made C.B. in 1885; K.C.B. in 1894; G.C.B. in 1906, and a privy councillor in 1908; he also held the honours of K.C.V.O. and I.S.O. He died, unmarried, at Brighton on 3 Sept. 1908, and was buried in Brighton cemetery.

As an official, Hamilton devoted himself to the financial rather than the administrative side of the treasury, and mastered the details of City business and banking. He was thus specially connected with Goschen's great financial measures, and published an account of them in 'Conversion and Redemption: an Account of the Operations under the National Debt Conversion Act, 1889' (1889).

Without striking brilliancy, Hamilton gained to a remarkable degree the confidence and affection of those whom he served. In nearly every case official relations led to private friendship. In personal life he found his chief interest in music, and he was the author of various musical compositions. His colleagues in the treasury presented him with his portrait by Mr. John da Costa in March 1908, after his retirement.

[Who's Who; The Times, 9 and 28 Oct. 1907, 4 Sept. 1908; private information.]

C. P. L.


HAMILTON, EUGENE JACOB LEE (1845–1907), poet and novelist. [See Lee-Hamilton.]

HAMPDEN, Second Viscount. [See Brand, Henry Robert (1841–1906), governor of New South Wales.]

HANBURY, Mrs. ELIZABETH (1793–1901), centenarian and philanthropist, born in Castle Street, All Hallows, London Wall, on 9 June 1793, was younger daughter of John Sanderson of Arnthorpe, Yorkshire,