Hamilton is the
capital city
A capital city, or just capital, is the municipality holding primary status in a country, state (polity), state, province, department (administrative division), department, or other administrative division, subnational division, usually as its ...
of the
British Overseas Territory
The British Overseas Territories (BOTs) or alternatively referred to as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs) are the fourteen dependent territory, territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom that, ...
of
Bermuda
Bermuda is a British Overseas Territories, British Overseas Territory in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean. The closest land outside the territory is in the American state of North Carolina, about to the west-northwest.
Bermuda is an ...
, and the main settlement of
Pembroke Parish. A port city, Hamilton is Bermuda's financial and commercial centre, and a popular
tourist destination. Its population of 854 (2016) and its small land area make it one of the smallest capital cities in the world.
History
The history of Hamilton as a British city began in 1790 when the government of Bermuda set aside for its future seat, officially incorporated in 1793 by an Act of Parliament, and named for
Governor
A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
Henry Hamilton. The colony's capital relocated to Hamilton from
St George's in 1815. The city has been at the political and military heart of Bermuda ever since. Government buildings include the parliament building, the Government House to the north, the former Admiralty House of the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
to the west (both in Pembroke), and the
British Army
The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...
garrison
A garrison is any body of troops stationed in a particular location, originally to guard it. The term now often applies to certain facilities that constitute a military base or fortified military headquarters.
A garrison is usually in a city ...
headquarters at
Prospect Camp to its east. The Town of Hamilton became a city in 1897, ahead of the consecration in 1911 of the
Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity (Church of England), which was under construction at the time. A Catholic cathedral,
St. Theresa's, was later constructed.
In 1940, the Royal Navy commissioned a former US Navy destroyer as
HMS ''Hamilton''. The 2 November 1940, issue of ''
The Royal Gazette'', a newspaper published in the City of Hamilton, reported this in an article titled ''"NEW" DESTROYER HAS NAME OF HAMILTON: Mayor Here Receives Letter From Her Commander'', and began:
The article went on to mention that the Mayor was to open a fund to supply the crew of the ship with newspapers and included the text of Shadwell's letter.
In February 17th, 1975, Queen Elizabeth II made an visit on city hall along with Prince Philip, in the course of world tour on the construction of the structure.
Today, the city overlooking Hamilton Harbour is primarily a business district, with few structures other than office buildings and shops. The City of Hamilton has long maintained a building height and view limit, which states that no buildings may obscure the cathedral. In the 21st century, buildings have been planned and some are under construction that are as high as ten storeys in the area. Bermuda's local newspaper, ''
The Royal Gazette,'' reports, "If you don't recognise the city, from 15 years ago, we don't blame you as it has changed so much".
File:West_end_of_Hamilton_Warf.jpg, West end of Hamilton Wharf, 1857
File:Government_House,_Mount_Langton.jpg, Old Government House, Mount Langton, 1857
File:1875 Hamilton Hotel from Burnaby & Reid Streets, Town of Hamilton, Pembroke, Bermuda by Kilburn Brothers.jpg, The Hamilton Hotel in 1875
File:City Hall in Hamilton, Bermuda.jpg, City Hall in Hamilton
File:Trinity Church chapel-of-ease in City of Hamilton, Bermuda 1879.jpg, ''Trinity Church'' chapel-of-ease in 1879
File:Bishop of Newfoundland & Bermuda chapel of ease Trinity Church after fire 1884.jpg, Trinity Church after the fire in 1884
File:Royal Navy and British Army Church Parade at Hamilton Bermuda ca1900.jpg, A Church Parade by the Royal Navy and British Army in front of the incomplete cathedral, circa 1900
File:Cathedral in Hamilton, Bermuda.jpg, The Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity, which replaced the original Trinity Church destroyed by fire
File:38th Battalion (Ottawa), CEF on Queen Street, City of Hamilton, Bermuda in 1915.jpg, Soldiers of the 38th Battalion (Ottawa), Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF; French: ''Corps expéditionnaire canadien'') was the expeditionary warfare, expeditionary field force of Canada during the First World War. It was formed on August 15, 1914, following United Kingdom declarat ...
marching on Queen Street in 1915.
File:2-4 Bn East Yorkshire Regiment and General Sir James Willcocks Hamilton Bermuda 1917.jpg, 2/4th Battalion of the East Yorkshire Regiment guard on Front Street, inspected by General Sir James Willcocks on his arrival to replace Lieutenant-General Sir George Mackworth Bullock as Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Bermuda in 1917.
File:HMS Caradoc (D60) at the City of Hamilton in Bermuda ca 1928.jpg, HMS Caradoc (D60) berthed on Front Street, circa 1928.
File:Bermuda Volunteer Engineers 1934.jpg, Bermuda Volunteer Engineers on the steps of the Masonic Hall on Reid Street in 1934.
File:Bermuda harbour 1926.jpg, The City of Hamilton and Hamilton Harbour
Hamilton Harbour (formerly known as Burlington Bay) lies on the western tip of Lake Ontario, bounded on the northwest by the City of Burlington, on the south by the City of Hamilton, and on the east by Hamilton Beach (south of the Burlington ...
in the mid-1920s
File:Rembrance Day Parade Bermuda.jpg, Remembrance Day Parade by the Governor of Bermuda, war veterans, Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the naval warfare force of the United Kingdom. It is a component of His Majesty's Naval Service, and its officers hold their commissions from the King of the United Kingdom, King. Although warships were used by Kingdom ...
, Royal Bermuda Regiment, Bermuda Police Service and other uniformed services at the Cenotaph on Front Street.
Geography
Hamilton is located on the north side of
Hamilton Harbour
Hamilton Harbour (formerly known as Burlington Bay) lies on the western tip of Lake Ontario, bounded on the northwest by the City of Burlington, on the south by the City of Hamilton, and on the east by Hamilton Beach (south of the Burlington ...
, and is Bermuda's main port. Although there is a parish of the
same name, the city of Hamilton is in the parish of
Pembroke. The city is named after
Sir Henry Hamilton, governor of the territory from 1786 to 1793. Hamilton Parish antedates the city.
The administrative capital of Bermuda, Hamilton, has a limited permanent population around 854 (2016); however in 2010, 13,340 (40% of Bermuda's working population) worked here on a daily basis. The only incorporated city in Bermuda, Hamilton is smaller than the historic town of
St. George's. A more representative measure of Bermuda's local residential populations tends to be by parish.
Economy
As the offshore domicile of many foreign companies, Bermuda has a highly developed international business economy; it is an exporter of financial services, primarily insurance, reinsurance, investment funds, and
special-purpose vehicles. Finance and international business constitute the largest sector of Bermuda's economy, and virtually all of this business takes place within the borders of Hamilton.
Numerous leading international insurance companies are based in Hamilton, as it is a global reinsurance centre. Around 400 internationally owned and operated businesses are physically based in Bermuda, and many are represented by the Association of Bermuda International Companies. In total, over 1,500 exempted or international companies are registered with the Registrar of Companies in Bermuda.
The city is the registered headquarters of the spirits manufacturer
Bacardi, outsourcing company
Genpact, and reinsurance company
Tokio Millennium Re Ltd. Hamilton is known as the headquarters of international shipping companies, such as
Frontline Ltd.
Its low corporate tax rate makes it attractive to US companies.
In addition, the corporate headquarters of the Bermuda grocery store chain
The MarketPlace is located within the chain's Hamilton MarketPlace location, the largest grocery store in Bermuda.
[Bermuda Shopping The Marketplace]
." ''The New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
''. Retrieved on 21 December 2011.
Cost of living
According to
Numbeo, Hamilton, Bermuda holds the record for the highest cost of living index in the world with the cost of living rate in Hamilton being at 138.01 as of 2023.
Coat of arms and flag
The coat of arms of the city of Hamilton incorporate a shield featuring a golden sailing ship, representing the ''Resolution'', surrounded by three
cinquefoils, two above the ship and one below, also in gold, all on a plain blue background. This shield is supported by a mermaid and heraldic sea horse (i.e., demi-horse, demi-fish), and is placed on a mount in front of which is a scroll containing the motto "Sparsa Collegit". The shield is topped by a crest featuring a closed helm topped with a torque above which an heraldic seahorse is emerging from the sea holding a flower.
The city's full motto is ''Hamilton sparsa collegit'', ("Hamilton has assembled the scattered").
The city's flag is a
banner of arms, featuring the same details as on the shield of the city's coat of arms, but with the flowers in white rather than gold.
Parks
The city of Hamilton has many parks for its size. One of the best known parks in the city is Victoria Park. This park occupies a whole block and was named after
Queen Victoria
Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in January 1901. Her reign of 63 year ...
. Other parks in the city are Par La Ville Park, Barr's Park, Albuoy's Point Park, and the hidden Cedar Park.
Climate
Although located some distance north of the geographic tropics, Hamilton has a warm trade-wind
tropical rainforest climate
A tropical rainforest climate or equatorial climate is a tropical climate sub-type usually found within 10 to 15 degrees latitude of the equator. There are some other areas at higher latitudes, such as the coast of southeast Florida, United States ...
(''Af'') bordering on
humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a subtropical -temperate climate type, characterized by long and hot summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between ...
(''Cfa''). It is warm enough for coconut palms and other tropical palms to grow, although they may not fruit properly due to the lack of heat or sunshine during the winter months because of latitude. Hamilton has uncharacteristically warm temperatures for its latitude
32nd parallel north because of the moderating influence of the North Atlantic and nearby
Gulf Stream
The Gulf Stream is a warm and swift Atlantic ocean current that originates in the Gulf of Mexico and flows through the Straits of Florida and up the eastern coastline of the United States, then veers east near 36°N latitude (North Carolin ...
. Hamilton features warm and humid summers and semi-warm "winters". As temperatures are moderated by the Atlantic Ocean, it rarely gets very hot or cold in the city. Precipitation is plentiful throughout the year and Hamilton does not have a
dry season
The dry season is a yearly period of low rainfall, especially in the tropics. The weather in the tropics is dominated by the tropical rain belt, which moves from the northern to the southern tropics and back over the course of the year. The t ...
month, a month where on average less than of precipitation falls. Summer precipitation is usually from showers, thunderstorms, and tropical disturbances or even
tropical cyclones. Meanwhile, winter precipitation is typically derived from westerly moving extra-tropical cyclones and their associated fronts. Erratic, extended dry spells occasionally develop because of variations in the semi-permanent sub-tropical ridge locally known as the
Bermuda-Azores High.
Education
Schools in Hamilton:
* Dellwood Middle School (public middle school)
* Mount Saint Agnes Academy (private school)
* Bermuda Centre for Creative Learning (private school)
*
Bermuda High School for Girls (private school)
* Saltus Grammar School (private school)
Sports
Hamilton has a host of beaches, which provide many opportunities for water sports, including surfing, wind surfing, water skiing, jet skiing, sailing and diving.
The highlight of the sports calendar is the Bermuda Gold Cup (or Argo Group Gold Cup as it is known), a sailing event which is a key stage of the
World Match Racing Tour, one of only three sailing championships to be sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) with 'Special Event' status. The Argo Cup brings the world's best match-racing sailors (including world champions and Olympic sailors) to Bermuda for five days of one-on-one 'match racing'. Points accrued during the event contribute to the World Match Racing Tour and ultimately a chance to race in the final event, the
Monsoon Cup in Malaysia. The winner of that is crowned ISAF World Match Racing Champion. Unlike many water-based sports, which occur too far out to view from shore, 'match racing' is a great spectator sport. The race takes place only 15m from the shore, and spectators can see the heart of the action.
The history of the modern Bermuda Gold Cup event dates back to the very beginning of the match racing style of sailing. The first '
match race' in a one-design racing yacht, i.e. technically identical boats, was the
King Edward VII Gold Cup in Bermuda (now known as the Argo Gold Cup) that was first sailed in 1937. The Argo Gold Cup is still a key event in the World Match Racing Tour calendar.
The King Edward VII Cup itself was originally given at the Tri-Centenary Regatta at
Jamestown, Virginia
The Jamestown settlement in the Colony of Virginia was the first permanent British colonization of the Americas, English settlement in the Americas. It was located on the northeast bank of the James River, about southwest of present-day Willia ...
, in 1907, by
King Edward VII in commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of the first permanent settlement in America. C. Sherman Hoyt won that regatta, and was the first sailor to accept the historic trophy.
Hoyt held the Gold Cup for three decades before donating it to the
Royal Bermuda Yacht Club and proposing an annual one-on-one match-race series in 6-Meter yachts. In his letter he expressed the propriety of "my returning a British Royal trophy to the custody of your club, with its long record of clean sportsmanship and keenly contested races between your Bermuda yachts and ours of Long Island Sound, and elsewhere..." The first winner of the Cup in its new format was
Briggs Cunningham in 1937. He was also the first skipper to win the
America's Cup in a
12-Meter racing yacht.
Transport
Busses

All but one route (Route 6) in Bermuda start from the bus terminal in Hamilton.
* Route 1 – Hamilton / Grotto Bay /
St. George's
* Route 2 – Hamilton / Ord Road
* Route 3 – Hamilton / Grotto Bay / St. George's
* Route 4 – Hamilton / Spanish Point
* Route 5 – Hamilton / Pond Hill
* Route 7 – Hamilton / Barnes Corner via South Shore Road
* Route 8 & 8C – Hamilton / Barnes Corner; Hamilton / Dockyard; Hamilton / Somerset via Middle Road
* Route 9 – Hamilton / Prospect (National Stadium)
* Route 10 – Hamilton / St. George's via North Shore past Aquarium
* Route 11 – Hamilton / St. George's via North Shore Road
Notable people
*
Jacques Loeb (1859–1924), physiologist, died in Hamilton
*
Squadron Leader Arthur Rowe Spurling (1896 in Hamilton – 1984 in Guernsey) was a Bermudian who served during the First World War as an infantryman and an aviator, becoming an
ace. He was a ferry pilot during the Second World War.
*
Rev. Canon Guy Pentreath MA Cantab. (1902 in Hamilton −1985 in Ashford, Kent) was an Anglican clergyman and headmaster. In his retirement, he was a chaplain and guest lecturer on many Swan Hellenic cruises.
*
Sir Gilbert Alexander "Gibby" Cooper, CBE, ED (1903 – 29 May 1989) was a businessman and politician in Bermuda, serving as a member of the House of Assembly and as Mayor of Hamilton.
*
Edwin Bennett Astwood (1909–1976) physiologist and endocrinologist whose work led to treatments for hyperthyroidism
*
Russell Dismont (1913–2005) educator, tennis player and campaigner against racial discrimination.
*
Graham Gibbons CBE (1920–2016) was a Bermudian businessman and politician who served as the mayor of Hamilton from 1972 to 1988.
*
Fernance B. Perry MBE (1922 in Ponta Delgada, Azores – 2014 in Atlanta, Georgia) was a Portuguese-Bermudian entrepreneur who had a prominent role in the economy of Bermuda.
*
Johnny Barnes (born 1923 in Hamilton – 2016) was a Bermudian native
IMDb
retrieved 15 October 2017 who waved to passing traffic at the foot of the Lane roundabout in Hamilton from roughly 3:45 am to 10 am, every workday, rain or shine.
* Earle E. Seaton (1924 – 1993 in USA) was a jurist and a diplomat.
* Arthur Motyer (1925 in Hamilton – 2011 in Canada) was a Canadian educator, playwright, and novelist.
* Dame Lois Browne-Evans DBE JP (1927 in Pembroke – 2007) was a lawyer and political figure in Bermuda. She was Bermuda's first female Attorney-General
* Nora Sayre (1932 in Hamilton – 2001 in the USA) was an American film critic and essayist.
* Robert Kurtz, CR (born 1939 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American-born Roman Catholic bishop, who has served as the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Hamilton in Bermuda since 1995.
* Mel Ming (born Hamilton 1944) was a Bermudian-American broadcast executive.
* Gabriel Jackson (born 1962 in Hamilton) is an English composer.
* Lena Headey (born 1973 in Hamilton) is an English actress, voice actress and film producer.
* Jordan Claire Robbins (born 1990 in Hamilton) is a Bermudian-Canadian actress
* Gina Swainson (born 1958 in Hamilton) was the winner of Miss World 1979 and first runner-up at Miss Universe 1979.
Sport
* William Eldon Tucker (1872 in Hamilton – 1953 in Paget) was a Bermudian rugby union player who played club rugby in England. He was selected for England in 1894. He returned to Bermuda after qualifying as a medical doctor.
* Bill Tucker CVO MBE TD (1903 in Hamilton – 1991) was a Bermudian rugby union player who played club rugby in England. He was selected for England in 1926. Tucker was a notable orthopaedic surgeon, specialising in sports injuries.
* Jordy Walker (1939 in Hamilton – 2010 in Hamilton) a sailor from Bermuda. He competed at the 1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and officially branded as Munich 1972 (; ), were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. It was the ...
.
* Gary Darrell (born 1947 in Hamilton) is a Bermudian retired association football player and manager who played in the North American Soccer League.
* Kyle Lightbourne (born 1968 in Hamilton) is a former Bermudian footballer who mainly played for Walsall F.C., Stoke City F.C. and Macclesfield Town F.C.
* Dean Minors (born 1970 in Hamilton) is a Bermudian cricketer, who played as wicketkeeper.
* David Hemp (born 1970 in Hamilton) is a Bermudian cricketer – a left-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler.
* Leonard Shaun Goater MBE (born 1970 in Hamilton) is a Bermudian former footballer. He played as a striker for a number of English clubs and is manager of Ilkeston F.C.
* Dwayne Leverock (born 1971 in Hamilton) is a former Bermudian cricketer. He is a policeman and also drives a prison van and played football with Bermudian team Zebras. He also plays golf.
* Tim Hemp (born 1974 in Hamilton) is a former cricketer – a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler.
* Chris Foggo (born 1982 in Hamilton) is a Bermudian cricketer – a right-handed batsman.
* Caroline Nichols (born 1984 in Hamilton) is an American field hockey player. She was a member of the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team for Women's Field Hockey and the 2012 US Olympic team.
* Taurean Manders (born 1986 in Hamilton) is a footballer who plays for English club Whitchurch United F.C.
* Nahki Wells (born 1990 in Hamilton) is a footballer who plays as a forward for Championship club Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is a professional association football, football club based in Bristol, England. The team compete in the , the second level of the English football league system.
Founded in 1894, the club competed in the Southern ...
and the Bermuda national team.
* Kilian Elkinson (born 1990 in Hamilton) is a Bermudian soccer player, who moved to Canada, aged 15.
* Reggie Lambe (born 1991 in Hamilton) is a footballer who plays for English club Cambridge United F.C as a midfielder
* Mauriq Hill (1995 in Hamilton) is a Bermudian footballer who plays for the SIMA Águilas.
* Djair Parfitt-Williams (born 1996 in Hamilton) is a professional footballer who plays for West Ham United F.C. as a forward
Gallery
File:Front Street, Hamilton, Bermuda.jpg, Front Street
File:Chancery Lane, Hamilton, Bermuda.jpg, Chancery Lane
File:Bermuda Cathedral, View from Tower.jpg, View from the cathedral's tower
File:Sessions_House,_Hamilton,_Bermuda.jpg, Sessions House, home of Bermuda's House of Assembly
House of Assembly is a name given to the legislature or lower house of a bicameral parliament. In some countries this may be at a subnational level.
Historically, in British Crown colonies as the colony gained more internal responsible g ...
and Supreme Court
File:Bermuda-Cabinet Office and Senate-1.jpg, Cabinet Building, home to Bermuda's Senate
File:Fort Hamilton, Bermuda.jpg, Fort Hamilton
File:St. Theresa's Cathedral exterior.jpg, Saint Theresa's Cathedral
File:St. Theresa's Cathedral chapel.jpg, The image of the Lord Holy Christ of the Miracles, devoted by all the Azoreans in Bermuda islands.
File:Queen's Birthday Parade, Hamilton Bermuda 2000.jpg, Queen's Birthday Parade on Front Street in June, 2000
File:Colour party of the Royal Bermuda Regiment at Queen's Birthday Parade in 2017.jpg, Colour party of the Royal Bermuda Regiment at Queen's Birthday Parade on Front street (at its intersection with Burnaby Street) on 10 June 2017
File:Police car drives westward on Front Street, City of Hamilton, Bermuda on 6 June 2006.jpg, A police car of the Bermuda Police Service drives westward on Front Street on the 6 June, 2006, responding to an incident
See also
Notes
References
External links
The Corporation of Hamilton
municipal government website
From Bermuda Attractions
City of Hamilton
Bermuda Island.net's detailed History
{{Authority control
Capitals of British Overseas Territories
Capitals in North America
Capitals in the Caribbean
Municipalities of Bermuda
Populated places established in 1790
Populated places in Bermuda
1790 establishments in North America