Life
1755-1797; b. Derry; clergyman; Govt. supporter and magistrate-rector
in Donegal; fnd. a society, Palaeosopheus, which with Neosophus became
RIA in 1786, contrib. papers to early RIA transactions on antiquarian
matters; issued Letters Concerning Northern Coast of Antrim (1786);
Letters on the Principles of French Democracy and their Influence on
Britain and Ireland (Dublin 1792), both works supporting government
against Catholic and nationalist feeling; assassinated by a 'rapparee’.
DNB DIW DUB OCIL FDA
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Works
Letters Concerning the Northern Coast of the County of Antrim in Ireland,
containing a natural history of its basaltes, with an account of such
circumstances as are worthy of notice respecting the antiquities, manners
and customs of that country; the whole illustrated by an Accurate Map
of the coast, roads, mountains, &c., /In these letters is stated a
plain and impartial View of the Volcanic Theory of the Balsaltes, By the
Rev. William Hamilton, AM FTCD, Dublin, printed George Bonham for Luke
White no.86 Dame-Street MDCCLXXXVI. 195pp. The map extends from Coleraine
to Ballycastle, and includes an inset profile engraving Doon-Point in
the Island Raghery.
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Criticism
Robert L. Praeger, A Populous Solitude (Dublin: Hodges &
Figgis 1941), [Chap. 5:] ‘Dr. Boate and Dr. Barton’, pp.112-38,
includes lengthy comments on William Hamilton of ‘palaeosophy’
fame in conjunction with conjectures about Northern basalt.
J. W. Foster, Colonial Consequences (Dublin: Lilliput Press 1991), remarks on William Hamilton (1755-1797), Derry antiquarian whose Letters Concerning the Northern Coast of the County of Antrim professed a volcanic theory of the formation of basaltic rock in the Giant’s Causeway, was assassinated as a magistrate and a clergyman.
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Notes
Dictionary of National Biography calls him a naturalist
and antiquary, FTCD, 1779; MA 1779; rector of Clondavaddog or Fannet,
Donegal, 1790; published Letters Concerning Northern Coast of
Antrim (1786); murdered by banditti [sic], Sharon. SEE also Richard
Ryan, Biographia Hibernica, Irish Worthies (1821), Vol. II, p.292.
Whelan Books (Cat. 32) lists Letters Concerning the Northern Coast of the County of Antrim containing observations of the Antiquities, Manners and Customs of that Country. With memoir of the author and itinerary and guide to the Giant’s Causeway (Belfast: Simms & M’Intyre 1822, Pull-out map and 6 pls. [good copy £125].
Belfast Public Library holds Letters ... Antrim (1786, 1822, 1839).
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Princess Grace Irish Library (Monaco)