a knight of the bath. His first wife died in 1782. In 1784 he revisited England after an absence of twenty years. His main object was to prevent a marriage about to take place between his nephew, the Hon. Charles Greville, and a Miss Emma Hart or Lyon, then living with him as his mistress. He succeeded in averting the threatened misalliance; but shortly afterwards, receiving a visit from the lady at Naples, he married her himself. (See Hamilton, Lady Emma). In 1798, when the French invaded Naples, Sir William and Lady Hamilton accompanied the court to Palermo. From this time till recalled to England Sir William, aided by the talents and intriguing spirit of his wife, played a prominent part in Neapolitan affairs, and was connected with the most stirring military events of the time. In 1800 Sir William returned to England, where he resided alternately at Merton in Surrey, and at his house in Piccadilly, till his death, 6th April, 1803.—G. B—n.
HAMILTON, William, R.A., the son of a Scotchman in the employ of the Adams, the distinguished architects of London, was born in 1750, probably at Chelsea. Robert Adams sent Hamilton to Italy, where he studied painting under Antonio Zucchi, an ornamental painter, also employed by the Adams in England. He returned, still very young, to England, and became a pupil of the then newly-founded Royal Academy of the Arts. In 1784 he was elected an associate of the academy, and in 1789 he became an academician. He died in London, December 2, 1801. Hamilton was also much employed by Alderman Boydell. He painted in various styles—portrait, history, or fancy subjects, and arabesques in the style of Zucchi. He was likewise a book decorator. In 1790 he exhibited a design for a window, representing "The Queen of Sheba entertained by Solomon," which was executed on glass by Eginton for the duke of Norfolk, and placed in the great room of Arundel castle. There is a print of it by Caldwell. Though he earned a considerable reputation in his day, but little of it has survived to the present time. "His manner of painting," says Edwards, "was formed upon the gusto of the modern Italian school, light, airy, and pleasant, but with no very profound principles of art. His compositions are rather too theatrical to be deemed natural or judicious."—(Anecdotes of Painting.)—R. N. W.
HAMILTON, Sir William, Bart., of Preston, professor of logic and metaphysics in the university of Edinburgh, was born in Glasgow on the 8th March, 1788. His father. Dr. William Hamilton, was professor of anatomy and botany in the university of Glasgow, and although he died at the early age of thirty-two, had earned for himself a high scientific reputation. Dr. Thomas Hamilton, the father of Dr. William Hamilton, had occupied the same chair as his son, and was worthily associated with Dr. Cullen in promoting the advances of medical science in Scotland during last century. From his immediate ancestors Sir W. Hamilton appears to have inherited a taste for physiological research, which he turned to good account in connection with his more strictly philosophical studies. Dr. William Hamilton married Elizabeth, daughter of William Stirling, the representative of the ancient family of Calder. Owing to the death of his father. Sir W. Hamilton was left at an early age to the sole care of his mother. The family of Hamiltons from which Sir William was descended, is the oldest branch of the ancient Scottish house of that name. His ancestors, the Hamiltons of Preston, sprung from Sir John Fitz-Gilbert de Hamilton of Rossavon and Fingalton, who lived about the year 1330, and was the second son of the founder of the ducal house of Hamilton. Hamilton of Preston was created a baronet in 1673. The title, however, was allowed to fall into disuse by succeeding representatives of the family, in consequence probably of the loss of their estates, which took place during the troubles preceding the Revolution. The subject of the present memoir established his claim to this baronetcy in the year 1816, and thenceforward assumed the title. Sir William Hamilton was declared lineal representative of Sir Robert Hamilton of Preston, a member of the house noted for his attachment to the cause of the covenant, and as the gallant leader of the popular party at the battles of Drumclog and Bothwell Brig. Sir W. Hamilton entered the university of Glasgow at an early age. He passed through the curriculum of arts at that university, and distinguished himself as a student, especially in the philosophical classes. He formed and retained a high opinion of the system of mental discipline carried out by Professor Jardine, and referred to his instructor in after life with feelings of gratitude and esteem. The summer vacations during his college course were spent with the Rev. Dr. Sommers, minister of Midcalder, who exercised a general superintendence over his studies. Having completed the course of study in arts at Glasgow, Sir William proceeded to Balliol c ollege, Oxford, on the Snell foundation. His career at Oxford was of the most distinguished kind. The works he professed for the honour of examination were remarkable for their almost unparalleled number, and the unusual character of their subjects. His predominant bent towards abstract philosophy, and his love of profound, minute, and unsparing research into the history of philosophical opinions, were already in full activity. He was thus impelled to the study of the original sources of Greek and Roman philosophy, especially Aristotle and his commentators. His knowledge in this department apparently far exceeded the erudition of his examiners, as they declined to question him on several of the books which he professed; and, after a partial examination, were content to pronounce his philosophical information unsurpassed alike in minuteness and comprehensiveness. His private studies at Oxford laid the foundation of his marvellous philosophical erudition. Thenceforward the Organon of Aristotle with the Commentaries of Alexander, Ammonius Hermiæ, Simplicius, Philoponus, and Boethius, maintained a prominent place in his reading. So thorough did his acquaintance with the Aristotelic logical treatises become, that when wearied with prolonged and minute investigation, or temporarily baffled by the difficulty and intricacy of some speculative point, he usually took up his favourite edition of the Organon, by Pacius, that he might find in its familiar and well-marked pages relief for an overtasked brain and mind, in the pleasure that springs from easy occupation with a subject he had completely mastered. On leaving Oxford, Sir W. Hamilton selected the profession of law. He passed advocate in connection with the Scottish bar in 1813. His time was, however, given less to his profession than to philosophical pursuits. He appears to have taken advantage of his leisure at this period of his life to make himself familiar with the writings of the chief representatives of continental, especially German, speculation. In 1820 he unsuccessfully contested the chair of moral philosophy in the university of Edinburgh, then vacant by the death of Dr. Thomas Brown. The appointment was given by the patrons, the town council of the city, to Mr. John Wilson. The faculty of advocates in the following year nominated Sir W. Hamilton to the chair of universal history in the same university, a position of scanty emolument, and, as a non-obligatory class, attracting few students. He occupied the chair of history until 1836, when, on the resignation of Dr. David Ritchie, he was appointed to that of logic and metaphysics by the town council of Edinburgh. The principal opposing candidate for this position was Mr. Isaac Taylor. Sir William was elected, as against Mr. Taylor, by eighteen to fourteen votes. Sir W. Hamilton experienced a paralytic attack, which occasioned great bodily prostration, in July, 1844. It assumed the form of hemi-plegia of the right side. His bearing under this painful and protracted affliction was touchingly heroic, and in marked accordance with the singular manliness, considerateness, and unselfishness of his character. His mind was unaffected by the seizure, and he was able in great measure as formerly to continue his philosophical pursuits, and superintend the work of his class. His physical frame had, however, received a shock from which it was not destined to recover. After several years of impaired bodily vigour and increasing lassitude, there came the hour of release. Sir William Hamilton died, after a renewed attack of illness, at his house in Great King Street, Edinburgh, on the 6th May, 1856. The motto on his tomb happily characterizes the philosopher and the man:—
His aim
Was, by a pure philosophy, to teach
That
Now we see through a glass darkly,
Now we know in part.
His hope
That in the life to come, he should see face to face,
And know even as also he is known.
Sir W. Hamilton married in 1829, Janet, daughter of Hubert Marshall, Esq., Glasgow. He left a family consisting of three sons and a daughter. His eldest son, William, a captain in the Bengal artillery, succeeded his father in the baronetcy.
Sir W. Hamilton has left behind him no great work embody-
