Hugh Hamilton (bishop)
| Hugh Hamilton | |
|---|---|
Portrait by Gilbert Stuart, c. 1790
|
|
| Born |
26 March 1729 Knock, Co. Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 1 December 1805 (aged 76) Kilkenny, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Known for | Professor of natural philosophy, Anglican bishop |
Hugh Hamilton FRS (26 March 1729 – 1 December 1805) was a mathematician, natural philosopher (scientist) and professor at Trinity College, Dublin, and later a Church of Ireland bishop, Bishop of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh, and then Bishop of Ossory.
He was born at Knock, near Balrothery in County Dublin (now Fingal), on 26 March 1729, the eldest son of Alexander (died 1768) and Isabella Hamilton. His father was a solicitor and politician who represented the Killyleagh constituency in the Irish House of Commons from 1739 to 1759. Alexander's great-grandfather Hugh Hamilton migrated from Scotland to County Down in the early 17th century. The Scottish architect James Hamilton of Finnart was an ancestor. Isabella Hamilton was born Isabella Maxwell, the daughter of Robert Maxwell of Finnebrogue, Downpatrick.
Hamilton entered Trinity College, Dublin on 17 November 1742 at the age of 13 with Thomas McDonnell as tutor. He graduated Bachelor of Arts (BA) in 1747 and Trinity Master of Arts (MA Dubl) in 1750. He took the competitive examination for a vacant fellowship of the college in 1750, but the position was secured instead by his friend Richard Murray, who was a few years older. Two fellowships became vacant the following year and Hamilton was elected to one of them at the age of 22. He was appointed Erasmus Smith's Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy at Trinity College in 1759 and that same year graduated Bachelor of Divinity (BD). He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society on 19 February 1761 and graduated Doctor of Divinity (DD) in 1762.
...
Wikipedia