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 Dublin, pledging himself to return within three weeks if unsuccessful. Macaulay, on the authority of Burnet and the 'Commons' Journals,' 1689, states that the terms he was empowered to offer to the Roman catholics, and particularly to the lord deputy (Tyrconnel), were most liberal (Hist. of England, iii. 152). Probably Hamilton meant to keep his word: but on arrival in Dublin he found that he had undertaken a task which he could not perform. Tyrconnel's hesitation, real or feigned, had come to an end. He had easily stimulated the ignorant and susceptible Irish to fury ; to calm them was beyond his skill (ib.) He was compelled to adopt an attitude of open hostility to the house of Orange, and Hamilton, forgetting his pledges, actively abetted him. Tyrconnel despatched Hamilton with 2,500 troops to make head against the Ulstermen, and the news of his having driven them back from Dromore on Coleraine greeted James on his entry into Dublin on 24 March 1689. Hamilton forced the pass at Cladyford, 'swimming his horse across as the enemy had broken the bridge.' He commanded the besieging force at various periods during the famous siege of Derry, and appears to have protested against the atrocities of 2 July (ib.) He withdrew when the city was relieved, after 105 days' leaguer, on 31 July 1689. He is stated by some writers to have 'zealously protected the protestants during his operations in Ulster,' a statement which Macaulay is not disposed to admit. When King William landed in Ireland in June 1690, Hamilton held the rank of lieutenant-general in King James's army. Hamilton strongly counselled the holding of the bridge over the Boyne at Slane. His conspicuous bravery in the fight at the Boyne is admitted by writers of all parties. He led a brigade of foot into the river to attack some of William's Huguenot regiments ; but his followers deserted him, leaving him almost alone in midstream, and he returned to the bank disheartened. Later he made desperate efforts to retrieve the fortunes of the day, charging at the head of the horse, and engaging in a fierce hand-to-hand conflict with Solmes's blues. But though they fought obstinately, his men were beaten, and himself wounded and made prisoner. Macaulay relates his interview with King William: 'Is the business over,' said William, 'or will your horse make more fight?' 'Upon my honour, sir, I believe they will,' answered Hamilton. 'Your honour!' muttered William, 'your honour!' Then, restraining himself, he ordered his own surgeon to attend to the wounds of the captive (Hist. of England, iii. 634-5). Hamilton was sent a prisoner to Chester Castle, and afterwards to the Tower of London. Subsequently he rejoined James in France. At Calais in 1696, in the hope of some attempt at a restoration, James appointed him a Lieutenant-general of his forces and master of the robes. Luttrell (Relation of State Affairs, vi. 252) names Hamilton among the generals who embarked with the Pretender in the Dunkirk armament of 1708. Hamilton died in France, but the exact date is not known.  HAMILTON, RICHARD WINTER (1794–1848), independent minister, son of the Rev. Frederick Hamilton of Brighton, and his wife Martha, daughter of the Rev. Richard Winter, B.D., was born at Pentonville, London, on 6 July 1794. At nine years of age he was sent to a preparatory school at Hammersmith, and subsequently to an academy at Newport, Isle of Wight. From his thirteenth to his sixteenth year he was at Mill Hill grammar school. In 1809 he drew up a solemn 'covenant,' devoting himself to the service of his Creator. In 1810 he entered as a student for the ministry at Hoxton Independent College, and was speedily placed in the highest class of humane letters. He early began to preach, and when only nineteen was chosen to deliver the anniversary oration at the college chapel, Hoxton. In January 1815 he was chosen minister of Albion Independent Chapel, Leeds, and became a popular preacher.

On 21 May 1816 Hamilton married Rachel, daughter of Michael Thackeray of Leeds, who did not long survive. His sermons on French protestants (1816) and the death of the Princess Charlotte (1817) attracted much notice. He was an original member, and at one time president, of the Leeds Philosophical and Literary Society, established in 1821. A selection from his papers read before the society was published under the title of 'Nugæ Literariæ.' In the summer of 1828 he made a tour in connection with the Irish branch of the London Missionary Society. He wrote