William Hamilton (educator)

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For other persons named William Hamilton, see William Hamilton (disambiguation).

William Hamilton (1669-1732) was a Scottish Presbyterian theologian and minister of the Church of Scotland. He was Professor of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh from 1709 to 1732 and also Principal of the University from 1730 to 1732.

He began in 1694 as a minister at Cramond[1]. He was also Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on five occasions.

The elder Hamilton was an influential figure in the growth of “early moderatism”, and several of his students, including Wishart[2], were prominent Rankenians.[3]

[edit] Family

His father was Gavin Hamilton of Airdrie[4]. Robert Hamilton, the economist, was a grandson. Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet, the philosopher, was a great-grandson, son and grandson of anatomy professors at Glasgow.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ PDF, where he is described as a transitional figure.
  2. ^ William Wishart (secundus). The Rankenian Club was founded 1717 by radical theology students in Edinburgh.
  3. ^ (PDF), p. 25
  4. ^ Hamilton 14
Preceded by
William Wishart (primus)		 Principals of Edinburgh University
1730–1732		 Succeeded by
James Smith (educator)


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