George Hamilton

George Hamilton (1757–1832) was a Church of Scotland minister who served as Moderator of the General Assembly in 1805.

Life

He was born on 15 May 1757, the son of Rev John Hamilton (1714–1797) minister of Bolton, East Lothian and his wife Jean Wight of Dumfries. He was educated at the High School in Edinburgh and attended both Edinburgh University and Glasgow University. He graduated MA in 1775. He originally trained as a lawyer and entered the Inner Temple in London.

In 1797 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the chair of Moral Philosophy at Glasgow University. In 1804 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity from Glasgow University. In 1805 he succeeded Rev John Inglis as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland the highest position in the Scottish church.

He died in the manse at Gladsmuir on 4 September 1832.