Hugh Hamilton 1759-1769

Hugh Hamilton was born in Co. Dublin on 26^th March 1729. His Father was Alexander Hamilton, who was Member of Parliament (MP) for Killyleagh. He entered Trinity College aged 14 on 17th November 1742. He graduated BA in 1747 and MA in 1750 and was elected a Fellow in 1751. He graduated BD in 1759 and DD (Divinity) in 1761. His book ‘De sectionibus conicis tractatus geometricus’ (1758), concerning properties of conic sections, was well received. Euler in his book ‘the Analysis of Infinties’ wrote ‘There are but three perfect mathematical works; these are by Archimedes, Newton, and Hamilton.’ He was Erasmus Smith’s Professor of Natural and Experimental Philosophy (1759 to 1769). He published philosophical essays on vapours, comets, and mechanics (1767) and in 1784 an essay in which he attempted to prove the existence of God. His textbook ‘Four Introductory Lectures on Natural Philosophy’ was used in Trinity and Cambridge for fifty years. He was one of the founding members of the Royal Irish Academy. He became Dean of Armagh helping improve Armagh city by establishing a piped water supply and a county hospital. In 1796 he was appointed Bishop of Clonfert. He married Isabella Wood in 1772 and they had five sons and two daughters. He died on 1^st December 1805 and was buried at St Canice’s cathedral in Kilkenny. His descendants include Clive Staples Lewis, John Millington Synge and John Lighton Synge, academics and playwright.

Sources

1. Thomas Ulick Sadlier (1935), Alumni Dublinenses: a register of students, graduates, professors, and Provosts of Trinity College in the University of Dublin (1593-1860), Thom Co Ltd, image 385, page 362 https://digitalcollections.tcd.ie/concern/works/70795b624
2. Alfred Webb (1878), Hugh Hamilton, Bishop of Ossory, Library Ireland https://www.libraryireland.com/biography/HughHamiltonBishopofOssory.php
3. Linde Lunney (2012), Hamilton, Hugh, Dictionary of Irish Biography, https://www.dib.ie/biography/hamilton-hugh-a3745
4. Eric Finch (2016), Three Centuries of Physics in Trinity College Dublin, Living Edition
5. Image of Hugh Hamilton, By Gilbert Stuart - Historical Portraits Image Gallery, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=21957456