William Gerard Hamilton (28 January 1729 – 16 July 1796), English statesman and Irish politician, popularly known as "Single Speech Hamilton," was born in London, the son of a Scottish bencher of Lincoln's Inn.
He was educated at Winchester and at Oriel College, Oxford. Inheriting his father's fortune he entered political life and became Member of Parliament for Petersfield in Hampshire. His maiden speech, delivered on 13 November 1755, during the debate on the address, which excited Walpole's admiration, is generally supposed to have been his only effort in the House of Commons. But the nickname "Single Speech" is undoubtedly misleading, and Hamilton is known to have spoken with success on other occasions, both in the House of Commons and in the Irish parliament.
In 1756 he was appointed one of the commissioners for trade and plantations, and in 1761 he became chief secretary to Lord Halifax, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, as well as MP of the Irish House of Commons for Killybegs (until 1768) and English MP for Pontefract. He was Irish Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1763, and subsequently filled various other administrative offices. Hamilton was thought very highly of by Dr Johnson, and it is certain that he was strongly opposed to the British taxation of America. He died in London on 16 July 1796, and was buried in the chancel vault of St Martins-in-the-Fields.
Two of his speeches in the Irish House of Commons, and some other miscellaneous works—including previously unpublished notes on the Corn Laws by Samuel Johnson—were published by Edmond Malone after his death under the title Parliamentary Logick.[1]
| Parliament of Ireland | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Henry Gore Francis Pierpoint Burton |
Member of Parliament for Killybegs 1761–1768 With: Richard Jones |
Succeeded by Henry Hamilton Thomas Allan |
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
| Preceded by John Jolliffe William Conolly |
Member of Parliament for Petersfield 1754–1761 With: John Jolliffe 1754 William Beckford 1754 Sir John Philipps 1754–1761 |
Succeeded by John Jolliffe Richard Pennant |
| Preceded by Sambrooke Freeman The Viscount Galway |
Member of Parliament for Pontefract 1761–1768 With: The Viscount Galway |
Succeeded by The Viscount Galway Sir Rowland Winn |
| Preceded by Howell Gwynne Thomas Pitt |
Member of Parliament for Old Sarum 1768–1774 With: John Crauford |
Succeeded by Pinckney Wilkinson Thomas Pitt |
| Preceded by Robert Palk Thomas de Grey |
Member of Parliament for Wareham 1774–1780 With: Christopher D'Oyly |
Succeeded by John Boyd Thomas Farrer |
| Preceded by Henry Herbert Charles Herbert |
Member of Parliament for Wilton 1780–1790 With: Lord Herbert 1780–1785, 1788–1790 Philip Goldsworthy 1785–1788 |
Succeeded by Lord Herbert The Viscount FitzWilliam |
| Preceded by John Baynes-Garforth John Lowther |
Member of Parliament for Haslemere 1790–1796 With: James Lowther 1790 Richard Penn 1790–1791 James Clarke Satterthwaite 1791–1796 |
Succeeded by James Clarke Satterthwaite James Lowther |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Richard Rigby |
Chief Secretary for Ireland 1761–1764 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Drogheda |
| Preceded by Sir William Yorke |
Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland 1763–1784 |
Succeeded by John Foster |