James Hamilton was born in 1710 in Accomac County, Virginia, United States, the son of Andrew and Anne (Brown) Preeson Hamilton. His father, a native of Scotland and an eminent Philadelphia lawyer, was famous as the defender of John Peter Zenger, the New York printer. His mother came of a wealthy and prominent Maryland family.
James was educated in Philadelphia and England.
James Hamilton became a practising lawyer and in 1733 succeeded his father in the lucrative office of prothonotary of the supreme court of Pennsylvania. From 1734 to 1739 he was a member of the Pennsylvania Assembly. On his father’s death in 1741 he inherited a considerable fortune, including the “Bush Hill” estate, then a rendezvous for distinguished visitors. In 1745 he was elected mayor of Philadelphia. On retiring from office he discontinued the customary banquet on such occasions, donating instead £150 toward the erection of a public building. He was also a member of the provincial council from 1745 to 1746. Toward the close of 1746 he visited England, returning to Pennsylvania on November 23, 1748, with a commission as lieutenant-governor.
Hamilton’s term began auspiciously. The Governor’s contention in 1750 that the Assembly could not sit legally out of its appointed time without executive sanction provoked a bitter dispute. Frequent vetoes, especially of paper-money bills, caused further friction. Finally finding his position almost intolerable in the face of the complaints of the back-country, the Quaker Assembly’s refusal to provide defense, and the interests of the Crown and proprietaries, Hamilton resigned, October 3, 1754, retaining his seat in council.
During his second term as lieutenant-governor from 1759 to 1763, his relations with the Assembly were equally unpleasant. As president of council he served twice as acting governor in the absence of John Penn. Since he had been devoted to the Crown and proprietors for so many years, it is not surprising that he did not espouse the American Revolution. Although prudently submitting to the new order of things, he was arrested in 1777 but in the following year was given his freedom. Under the new régime his claim to office and influence vanished. Disappointed at heart and broken in health from cancer, he survived the war but two years.
James Hamilton was known as Deputy Governor of the Province, serving from 1748 to 1754 and again from 1759 to 1763. During his term he endeavored to settle the grievances of the Indians caused by encroachments on their lands and urged appropriations to build forts, arm men, and provide other protection for the trade, lives, and property of the frontier settlements.
Hamilton was an active promoter of public improvements, a patron of Benjamin West, warmly supported the College of Philadelphia, and contributed liberally to religious, educational, scientific, and philanthropic projects.
Energetic, determined, selfconfident, Hamilton possessed great ability and a high sense of civic duty and responsibility.
Quotes from others about the person
“We esteem James Hamilton a benevolent and upright, as well as a sensible man. ” - Benjamin Franklin
Hamilton never married.
