Hamilton, William (1751–1801)

Scottish artist. He painted historical, scriptural, and Shakespearean pictures as well as portraits, including one of the religious leader John Wesley.

Born in London, he studied at a very early age under Zucchi, the painter of ornament, in Rome. He was elected to the Royal Academy 1789.

Hamilton, William (c. 1665–1751)

Scottish poet. He is known for his abridged and modernized edition of Blind Harry's Wallace 1722, which inspired Robert Burns. He contributed to James Watson's Choice Collection 1706, and his ‘Willie was a Wanton Wag’ was included in the Tea-table Miscellany of Allan Ramsay.

He had a verse correspondence with Allan Ramsay 1719, which is to be found in the latter's Works.

Hamilton, William (1788–1856)

Scottish philosopher. His influence was felt strongly in Scotland, Germany and France. Hamilton was professor of history (1821), and of logic and metaphysics (1836) at Edinburgh.

He was born in Glasgow and was educated at Balliol College, Oxford. He was called to the Scottish Bar (1813), but devoted all his time to study and research. In 1829 he began his literary career with a criticism of Cousin's Cours de philosophie, entitled ‘Philosophy of the Unconditioned’, in the Edinburgh Review.