Paul Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Paul Hamilton was the 3rd United States Secretary of the Navy
, from 1809 to 1813.
Paul Hamilton was born in Saint Paul's Parish, South Carolina
, on October 16, 1762. He left school at the age of sixteen due to financial problems. During the American War of Independence he served actively in military roles in the southern states, fighting under General Francis Marion
. He participated with Colonel William Harden in the capture of Fort Balfour.
Following the war, he was a planter and public figure. Hamilton served South Carolina in many public offices including state Representative (1787), State Senator (1794), Comptroller (1800), and the 42nd Governor
(1804).
In 1809, President James Madison
selected Hamilton to become the third Secretary of the Navy. His term in office included the first months of the War of 1812
, during which time the small United States Navy
achieved several remarkable victories over British warships.
Hamilton was a proponent of military preparedness, especially sea fortifications. Although he wanted to strengthen the Navy, he found the Congress hostile and the President indifferent to his ideas. However, he was responsible for the Naval Hospitals Act of 1811. Secretary Hamilton resigned at the end of 1812 and returned to South Carolina, where he died in Beaufort on June 30, 1816.
Three Navy destroyer
s have been named USS Paul Hamilton
in his honor along with the USS Hamilton and one Liberty ship named SS Paul Hamilton
.
United States Secretary of the Navy
The Secretary of the Navy of the United States of America is the head of the Department of the Navy, a component organization of the Department of Defense...
, from 1809 to 1813.
Paul Hamilton was born in Saint Paul's Parish, South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
, on October 16, 1762. He left school at the age of sixteen due to financial problems. During the American War of Independence he served actively in military roles in the southern states, fighting under General Francis Marion
Francis Marion
Francis Marion was a military officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. Acting with Continental Army and South Carolina militia commissions, he was a persistent adversary of the British in their occupation of South Carolina in 1780 and 1781, even after the Continental Army was driven...
. He participated with Colonel William Harden in the capture of Fort Balfour.
Following the war, he was a planter and public figure. Hamilton served South Carolina in many public offices including state Representative (1787), State Senator (1794), Comptroller (1800), and the 42nd Governor
Governor of South Carolina
The Governor of the State of South Carolina is the head of state for the State of South Carolina. Under the South Carolina Constitution, the Governor is also the head of government, serving as the chief executive of the South Carolina executive branch. The Governor is the ex officio...
(1804).
In 1809, President James Madison
James Madison
James Madison, Jr. was an American statesman and political theorist. He was the fourth President of the United States and is hailed as the “Father of the Constitution” for being the primary author of the United States Constitution and at first an opponent of, and then a key author of the United...
selected Hamilton to become the third Secretary of the Navy. His term in office included the first months of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, during which time the small United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
achieved several remarkable victories over British warships.
Hamilton was a proponent of military preparedness, especially sea fortifications. Although he wanted to strengthen the Navy, he found the Congress hostile and the President indifferent to his ideas. However, he was responsible for the Naval Hospitals Act of 1811. Secretary Hamilton resigned at the end of 1812 and returned to South Carolina, where he died in Beaufort on June 30, 1816.
Three Navy destroyer
Destroyer
In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet, convoy or battle group and defend them against smaller, powerful, short-range attackers. Destroyers, originally called torpedo-boat destroyers in 1892, evolved from...
s have been named USS Paul Hamilton
USS Paul Hamilton
Three ships of the United States Navy have borne the name USS Paul Hamilton, named in honor of Paul Hamilton, , a veteran of the American War of Independence and the third Secretary of the Navy....
in his honor along with the USS Hamilton and one Liberty ship named SS Paul Hamilton
SS Paul Hamilton
The SS Paul Hamilton was a Liberty ship built in the United States during World War II. She was named after Paul Hamilton, the third United States Secretary of the Navy....
.
External links
- SCIway Biography of Paul Hamilton
- NGA Biography of Paul Hamilton
- Paul Hamilton Papers at the University of South Carolina Library's Digital Collections Page (letters from 1802–1812)