Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 24.djvu/230

 posed buildings was in the Scottish Academy in 1849.

Hamilton died, after a few days' illness, at 9 Howe Street, Edinburgh, on 24 Feb. 1858, aged 73. He was greatly esteemed in his business relations, and beloved for his kindly disposition and cultivated mind. His son Peter, who was also his pupil, was subsequently drawing-master at the Birmingham school, but joined his father towards the close of his life. He died in December 1861. In Crombie and Douglas's 'Modern Athenians,' plate 36, there is a representation of Thomas Hamilton, but it is too much of a caricature to be regarded as an accurate portrait.  HAMILTON, WALTER KERR (1808–1869), bishop of Salisbury, born in London on 16 Nov. 1808, was elder son of Anthony Hamilton, archdeacon of Taunton and prebendary of Lichfi eld. His mother was Charity Graeme, third daughter of Sir Walter Farquhar, bart. [q. v.], physician to the prince regent. William Richard Hamilton [q. v.] was his uncle. Hamilton's early childhood was passed at Loughton in Essex, of which parish his father was rector. After spending some years at a private school, he was sent to Eton in January 1822, where he remained four years. In January 1826 he went as a private pupil to Dr. Thomas Arnold of Rugby [q. v.], then at Laleham, and here it was that was he says) he first learnt what work meant. Morally and intellectually Hamilton was deeply influenced by Arnold, but did not adopt his tutor's theological views. In January 1827 Hamilton matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, and in the following December was nominated to a studentship. In Michaelmas term 1830 he obtained a first class in litt. human, with Joseph Anstice [q. v.], Henry W. Wilberforce [q. v.], and H. E. (now Cardinal) Manning. At Easter 1832 he was elected to an open fellowship at Merton; in the summer of the same year he went abroad, and passed the winter at Rome, where he was introduced by Arnold to Bunsen, the Prussian ambassador, whom he impressed very favourably. On his return to England early in 1833, he settled at Merton College, Oxford. Among his brother fellows there were Edward Denison [q. v.], afterwards bishop of Salisbury, H. E. Manning, and other men of subsequent distinction, and he joined in an endeavour to breathe into the life of the college a more earnest, religious, and moral spirit. On Trinity Sunday, 2 June 1833, he was ordained deacon, and priest on 22 Dec. of the same year. He was college tutor for a time, and lost no opportunity of making himself closely acquainted with the undergraduates. At Michaelmas 1833 he became curate of Wolvercot, near Oxford. At Michaelmas in the following year he became curate to Edward Denison, vicar of St. Peter's-in-the-East, Oxford, and when in 1837 his vicar was promoted to the see of Salisbury, he was, on the petition of the parishioners, appointed his successor. This post he held till 1841. He was an indefatigable parish priest, and an earnest evangelical preacher. But his theological belief underwent a great change. He came under the influence of the Oxford movement, and continued a high churchman to the end of his life. In 1837 he was made examining chaplain to his friend the Bishop of Salisbury, and in 1841 left Oxford with some reluctance to become a canon in Salisbury Cathedral. At Salisbury he threw himself into the duties of his new position with characteristic energy. As precentor he endeavoured to raise the tone of the daily service in the cathedral. He thought that constant residence should be enforced upon the canons as well as upon the dean, and accordingly declined the rectory of Loughton which was offered him at his father's death. In 1853 he published a pamphlet on 'Cathedral Reform,' which he reprinted, together with a 'Pastoral Letter,' in 1855, when bishop of the diocese. When the cholera broke out in 1849, Hamilton at once joined his diocesan in visiting the sufferers, but had soon to go abroad for his health.

In March 1854, on the death of Bishop Denison, Hamilton was appointed to succeed him. On his deathbed Denison dictated a message to the prime minister, Lord Aber- 