Background
Hamilton, James was born on January 29, 1918 in Sligo, Ireland. Son of Joseph and Jessie Ann (Mackay) Hamilton.
Hamilton, James was born on January 29, 1918 in Sligo, Ireland. Son of Joseph and Jessie Ann (Mackay) Hamilton.
Bachelor of Science, Belfast University, 1939. Doctor of Philosophy, Manchester University, 1948. Master of Arts, Cambridge University, 1950.
Dr (honorary), Trondheim (Norway) University, 1982. Dr (honorary), Lund (Sweden) University, 1986.
At the University of Manchester (1945-1949), under Patrick Blackett, he worked on radiation damping and associated topics. At the University of Cambridge, where he lectured in mathematics (1950–1960), he was at the forefront of work on South-matrix theory, known for his use of dispersion relations. His work there included collaborations with Abdus Salam and Hans Bethe.
During his last two years he was at the core, along with Richard Eden and George Batchelor, of founding the new Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics.
At University College, London (1960-1964) he formed a thriving high energy physics research group, before moving to Copenhagen and NORDITA, where he led the teaching of particle physics in Scandinavia from 1964 to 1983.
Lieutenant operations research Royal Navy, 1943-1945, United Kingdom and Southeast Asia.
Married Glen Dobbs, August 8, 1945. 3 children (1 deceased).