George Hamilton (1757–1832) was a
Church of Scotland
The Church of Scotland ( sco, The Kirk o Scotland; gd, Eaglais na h-Alba) is the national church in Scotland.
The Church of Scotland was principally shaped by John Knox, in the Scottish Reformation, Reformation of 1560, when it split from t ...
minister who served as
Moderator of the General Assembly
The moderator of the General Assembly is the chairperson of a General Assembly, the highest court of a Presbyterian or Reformed church. Kirk sessions and presbyteries may also style the chairperson as moderator. The Oxford Dictionary states th ...
in 1805.
Life
![GladsmuirOldKirk](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c6/GladsmuirOldKirk.jpg)
He was born on 15 May 1757, the son of Rev John Hamilton (1714-1797) minister of
Bolton, East Lothian
Bolton is a hamlet and the third smallest parish in East Lothian, Scotland. It lies approximately south of Haddington and east of Edinburgh, and is an entirely agricultural parish, long by about wide. The most notable buildings in the hamle ...
and his wife Jean Wight of Dumfries. He was educated at the High School in
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
and attended both
Edinburgh University
The University of Edinburgh ( sco, University o Edinburgh, gd, Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in post-nominals) is a public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Granted a royal charter by King James VI in 1582 ...
and
Glasgow University
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, latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis
, motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita
, ...
. He graduated MA in 1775. He originally trained as a lawyer and entered the
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as the Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court and is a professional associations for barristers and judges. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wal ...
in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
.
After a strong change of heart, he decided to follow in his father's footsteps, becoming a minister of the Church of Scotland. He was licensed by the Presbytery of
Haddington in April 1788. In April 1790, he was ordained as minister of
Gladsmuir
Gladsmuir is a village and parish in East Lothian, Scotland, situated on the A199 and near Tranent and Prestonpans.
Description
Gladsmuir's principal "claim to fame" relates to its role as the site of the Battle of Prestonpans (1745). Some sou ...
in
East Lothian
East Lothian (; sco, East Lowden; gd, Lodainn an Ear) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, as well as a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area. The county was called Haddingtonshire until 1921.
In 1975, the histo ...
, close to his home, under the patronage of
King George III
George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of the two kingdoms on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Br ...
. He remained in this role for the rest of his life.
In 1797 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the chair of Moral Philosophy at
Glasgow University
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, latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis
, motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita
, ...
. In 1804 he was awarded an honorary
Doctor of Divinity
A Doctor of Divinity (D.D. or DDiv; la, Doctor Divinitatis) is the holder of an advanced academic degree in divinity.
In the United Kingdom, it is considered an advanced doctoral degree. At the University of Oxford, doctors of divinity are ran ...
from
Glasgow University
, image = UofG Coat of Arms.png
, image_size = 150px
, caption = Coat of arms
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, latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis
, motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita
, ...
. In 1805 he succeeded Rev
John Inglis as
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the ministers and elders of the Church of Scotland, minister or elder chosen to moderate (chair) the annual General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, which is held for a week i ...
the highest position in the Scottish church.
He died in the manse at Gladsmuir on 4 September 1832.
Family
His older brother
Robert Hamilton emigrated to Canada and was a successful politician.
In May 1790 he married Elizabeth Dickson (d.1825) daughter of John Dickson of Conheath, Provost of
Dumfries
Dumfries ( ; sco, Dumfries; from gd, Dùn Phris ) is a market town and former royal burgh within the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland. It is located near the mouth of the River Nith into the Solway Firth about by road from the ...
. Their children included:
*John James Hamilton HEICS (1792-1831)
*William Law Hamilton (1792-1796) twin of John
*Rev George Hamilton minister of
Kirkcudbright
Kirkcudbright ( ; sco, Kirkcoubrie; gd, Cille Chùithbeirt) is a town, parish and a Royal Burgh from 1455 in Kirkcudbrightshire, of which it is traditionally the county town, within Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland.
The town lies southwest of C ...
*Helen Wight Hamilton (1797-1822)
*Jean Bell Hamilton (1799-1876)
*Margaret Coates Hamilton (1800-1832) married Rev Adam Forman of
Innerwick
Innerwick ( gd, Inbhir Mhuice) is a coastal civil parish and small village, which lies in the east of East Lothian, from Dunbar and approximately from Edinburgh.
Name
The name Innerwick is of Anglo-saxon origin and means inland farm or dwel ...
Publications
*The Telegraph, a Political Poem
Trivia
Robert Burns
Robert Burns (25 January 175921 July 1796), also known familiarly as Rabbie Burns, was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who hav ...
referred to Rev Hamilton in his poem "The Reproof" (often called "The Reply").
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton, George
1757 births
1832 deaths
People from East Lothian
Alumni of the University of Glasgow
Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland