William Hamilton (Jacobite poet)

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

William Hamilton (of Bangour) (1704 - 1754) was a Scottish poet associated with the Jacobite movement.

He was born at the family seat in Linlithgowshire. Cultivated and brilliant, he became a favourite of society, and began his literary career by contributing verses to Allan Ramsay's Tea Table Miscellany. He joined Charles Edward Stuart in 1745, and celebrated the Battle of Prestonpans in his poem, Gladsmuir. After the Battle of Culloden, he wandered in the Highlands, where he wrote his Soliloquy, and escaped to France. His friends, however, succeeded in obtaining his pardon, and he returned to his native country. In 1750, on the death of his brother, he succeeded to the family estate, but died not long afterwards. He is best remembered for his ballad, The Braes of Yarrow. He also wrote The Episode of the Thistle. He died at Lyon, France.

This article incorporates public domain text from: Cousin, John William (1910). A Short Biographical Dictionary of English Literature. London, J.M. Dent & sons; New York, E.P. Dutton.