Hamilton, William, 1777-1859

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Epithet: of Add MS 19347

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001299.0x0001d7

Epithet: of Add MS 37315

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000001299.0x0001d8

William John Hamilton (1805-1867), English geologist and eldest son of William Richard Hamilton (1777-1859), was born in London on July 5, 1805. Educated at the Charterhouse and at the University at Goettingen, he paid particular attention to modern languages and history. Since the German university, established in 1737, had been founded on the principles of the natural sciences, Hamilton's studies included these disciplines as well.

Upon leaving university in 1827, Hamilton served as attaché in Madrid and, briefly, in Paris, returning to England in 1829, at which time his interest in the sciences began to grow dominant. Studying geology under Roderick Impey Murchinson, he became a fellow of the Geological Society in 1831. After being introduced by Murchison, Hamilton and Hugh Strickland undertook a geological tour of the Levant, after which Hamilton continued on his own through Armenia and across Asia Minor, making careful topographical observations and keeping a full diary of geological matters. His two-volume, author-illustrated, work entitled "Researches in Asia Minor, Pontus, and Armenia, with some account of their antiquities and Geology" (1842) was presented to the Royal Geographical Society, which awarded it its founders' medal.

Hamilton's father, William Richard Hamilton (1777-1859), famous in his own right as an antiquarian and diplomat, was the founder of the Royal Geographical Society. As the secretary to Lord Elgin, he was instrumental in the acquisition of both the Elgin Marbles and the Rosetta Stone and through his efforts, became a trustee of the British Museum. His chief work, Aegyptiaca, appeared in 1809.

William John Hamilton continued to publish papers on such subjects as the rocks and minerals of Tuscany, the agate-quarries of Oberstein, and the geology of the Mayence Basin and of the Hesse Cassel district. He was chosen president of the Geological Society in 1854, having long been one of its most active members. He subsequently made various excursions in France and Belguim, and was re-elected president of the society in 1865. Resigning his post in 1866, Hamilton spent a year abroad returning to England shortly before his death on June 27, 1867. He left a son, Robert William, by his first wife, and three sons and four daughters by his second wife, Margaret, daughter of Henry, thirteenth viscount of Dillon, whom he had married in 1838.

From the guide to the William John Hamilton Papers, 1825-1828, 1825-1828, (American Philosophical Society)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Goulburn, Henry, 1784-1856. Henry Goulburn papers, 1813-1826, bulk 1814. William L. Clements Library
referencedIn LETTERS of various persons, principally addressed to Viscount Valentia, with a few drafts of letters of Lord Valentia; 1804-1830. The names of the writers are as follows:-Lieut. A. Maxfield, f. 3; Viscount Valentia, ff. 4, 98, 141, 372; Henry Salt, f..., 1804-1830 British Library
creatorOf Haydon, Benjamin Robert, 1786-1846. Papers, 1808-1888. Houghton Library
referencedIn Hincks, John, 1788-1842. Journal of a tour on the continent of Europe made in 1823 by Thomas Cowper Hincks and John Hincks and written by John Hincks, 1823. Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874. Correspondence, 1829-1874 Houghton Library
referencedIn Papers, 1808-1888. Houghton Library
creatorOf William John Hamilton Papers, 1825-1828, 1825-1828 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Hamilton, William H. A. Papers, 1875. Duke University Libraries, Duke University Library; Perkins Library
referencedIn Henry Goulburn papers 1813-1826 1814 Goulburn, Henry, papers William L. Clements Library
referencedIn Vol. I. (ff. 308), 1800-1826.Poetry: Alcaics on Jerusalem by Lord Wellesley, at Eton: 1778.: Lat.Richard Wellesley, 2nd Earl of Mornington; Marquess Wellesley: Family correspondence: 1800-1842.includes:f. 1 Richard Wellesley, 2nd Earl of Mornington..., 1800-1826 British Library
referencedIn Papers, 1808-1888. Houghton Library
referencedIn Andrieu, J., 1816-after 1876. Stereograph Collection. Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
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Relation Name
associatedWith Beddoes, Thomas Lovell, 1803-1849 person
associatedWith Blumenbach, Johann Friedrich, 1752-1840 person
associatedWith Goulburn, Henry, 1784-1856. person
associatedWith Hamilton, Juliana Udny person
associatedWith Hamilton, William John, 1805-1867 person
associatedWith Hausmann, Johann Friedrich Ludwig, 1782-1859 person
associatedWith Haydon, Benjamin Robert, 1786-1846. person
associatedWith Hincks, John, 1788-1842. person
associatedWith Krause, Karl Christian Friedrich, 1781-1832 person
associatedWith Muller, Karl Otfried person
associatedWith Müller, Karl Otfried, 1797-1840 person
correspondedWith Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874 person
associatedWith Universität Göttingen. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Great Britain
Germany
Subject
Archaeology
Beyond Early America
Universities and colleges
Geology
Mineralogy
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Person

Birth 1777

Death 1859

Britons

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