Robert George Crookshank Hamilton

Infobox Prime Minister
name =Robert George Crookshank Hamilton


birth_date =birth date|1836|8|30|mf=y
birth_place =Bressay, Shetland, Scotland GBR
death_date =death date and age|1895|4|22|1836|8|30|mf=y
death_place =South Kensington, London, England GBR
spouse =Caroline Jane Ball, Teresa Felicia
order =6th Governor of Tasmania
term_start =March 11, 1887
term_end =November 30, 1892
successor =Jenico Preston, 14th Viscount Gormanston
predecessor =Major Sir George Strahan|

Sir Robert George Crookshank Hamilton KCB, (born August 30, 1836, in Bressay, Shetland, Scotland) was the sixth Governor, and the Commander-in-Chief of the then British colony of Tasmania from March 11, 1887, until November 30, 1892, during which time he oversaw the ministries of two Tasmanian Premiers. Sir Philip Fysh (March 30, 1887 to August 17 1892) and Henry Dobson (August 17, 1892 to April 14, 1894), both of whom, he curiously insisted on incorrectly referring to as Prime Minister.

Sir Robert Hamilton was the son of Rev. Zachary Macaulay Hamilton and his first wife Anne Irvine (nee Croockshank). He was educated at Grammar School, before attending university at the King's College in Aberdeen, where he obtained his Masters Degree in 1857, and then his Doctor of Laws in 1885. On August 18, 1863 he married Caroline Jane Ball, and they had three sons and daughter, however Caroline died in 1875.

Following his completion of his Doctorate, he joined the war office, and served in the Crimean War as a commissariat clerk. Upon his return, he took up a number of bureaucratic posts at which he excelled. In 1868 he published "Book-keeping", and by 1869 he was an accountant for the Board of Trade. In 1878 he was appointed as accountant-general of the Royal Navy and was most famous for making naval book-keeping more easily digestible to the general public.

On July 4, 1877 he married Teresa Felicia, with whom he had a further two sons and one daughter. In 1879 Robert Hamilton was appointed as a member on Earl Carnarvon's royal commission on colonial defences. In 1882 Robert Hamilton became the permanent secretary of the Admiralty.

After the Phoenix Park Murders he became under-secretary to the Irish administration, and received his Companion to the Order of the Bath (CB) in April, 1883 for his devotion to duty in Ireland. He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) on January 12, 1884, however his advice that Ireland should receive home rule, resulted in his loss of the under-secretaryship in November 1886.

He was soon compensated for the embarrassing loss of this position by being appointed as the new Governor of Tasmania, which he began on March 11, 1887, a position which he accepted gratefully. His wife Teresa accompanied him to Tasmania.

He was very much in favour of the advancement of the Australian colonies, and encouraged industrial development, and road and railway works to be undertaken during his time in office. He was also strongly in favour of Australian federalism, and presided over the Federal Council of Australasia held in Hobart in 1887, 1888, and 1889. In 1887 he hosted an extravagant gala balls to mark Queen Victoria's golden jubilee in 1887, and was the president of the Royal Society of Tasmania. He helped to found the University of Tasmania, and promoted the establishment of schools, technical colleges and museums in Tasmania.

However, Robert Hamilton soon tired of the colonial life, and returned to London with his wife in 1893 to resume his work in the civil service. He took further roles on royal commissions, and served on the Board of Customs.

Sir Robert Hamilton died at South Kensington on April 22, 1895 and was buried at Richmond, Surrey.

External links

* [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A040377b.htm Australian Dictionary of Biography]