Robert George Crookshank Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert George Crookshank Hamilton KCB
, (30 August 1836 – 22 April 1895) was the sixth Governor
, and the Commander-in-Chief
of the then British colony of Tasmania
from 11 March 1887, until 30 November 1892, during which time he oversaw the ministries of two Tasmanian Premiers. Sir Philip Fysh
(30 March 1887 to 17 August 1892) and Henry Dobson
(17 August 1892 to 14 April 1894), both of whom, he curiously insisted on incorrectly referring to as Prime Minister
.
Born in Bressay
, Shetland, Scotland
, Sir Robert Hamilton was the son of Rev. Zachary Macaulay Hamilton and his first wife Anne Irvine (née 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 18 August 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 4 July 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 The Earl of Carnarvon
's royal commission
on colonial defences. In 1882, 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 12 January 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 11 March 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 22 April 1895 and was buried at Richmond, Surrey
.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, (30 August 1836 – 22 April 1895) was the sixth Governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
, and the Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the then British colony of Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
from 11 March 1887, until 30 November 1892, during which time he oversaw the ministries of two Tasmanian Premiers. Sir Philip Fysh
Philip Fysh
Sir Philip Oakley Fysh, KCMG was an Australian politician, Premier of Tasmania and a member of the first federal ministry....
(30 March 1887 to 17 August 1892) and Henry Dobson
Henry Dobson
Henry Dobson , was an Australian politician, who served as a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly and later of the Australian Senate...
(17 August 1892 to 14 April 1894), both of whom, he curiously insisted on incorrectly referring to as Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
.
Born in Bressay
Bressay
-Geography and geology:Bressay lies due south of Whalsay, west of Noss, and north of Mousa. At , it is the fifth largest island in Shetland. The population is around 400 people, concentrated in the middle of the west coast, around Glebe, Fullaburn and Maryfield....
, Shetland, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, Sir Robert Hamilton was the son of Rev. Zachary Macaulay Hamilton and his first wife Anne Irvine (née Croockshank). He was educated at Grammar School
Aberdeen Grammar School
Aberdeen Grammar School, known to students as The Grammar is a state secondary school in the City of Aberdeen, Scotland. It is one of twelve secondary schools run by the Aberdeen City Council educational department...
, before attending university at the King's College
King's College, Aberdeen
King's College in Old Aberdeen, Scotland is a formerly independent university founded in 1495 and an integral part of the University of Aberdeen...
in Aberdeen
Aberdeen
Aberdeen is Scotland's third most populous city, one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas and the United Kingdom's 25th most populous city, with an official population estimate of ....
, where he obtained his Masters Degree in 1857, and then his Doctor of Laws in 1885. On 18 August 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
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
as a commissariat
Commissariat
A commissariat is the department of an army charged with the provision of supplies, both food and forage, for the troops. The supply of military stores such as ammunition is not included in the duties of a commissariat. In almost every army the duties of transport and supply are performed by the...
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
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
. In 1878 he was appointed as accountant-general of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
and was most famous for making naval book-keeping more easily digestible to the general public.
On 4 July 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 The Earl of Carnarvon
Henry Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon
Henry Howard Molyneux Herbert, 4th Earl of Carnarvon, PC, DL, FSA, FRS , known as Lord Porchester from 1833 to 1849, was a British politician and a leading member of the Conservative Party...
's royal commission
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
on colonial defences. In 1882, Hamilton became the permanent secretary of the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
.
After the Phoenix Park Murders
Phoenix Park Murders
The Phoenix Park Murders were the fatal stabbings on 6 May 1882 in the Phoenix Park in Dublin of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke. Cavendish was the newly appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland, and Burke was the Permanent Undersecretary, the most senior Irish civil servant...
he became under-secretary to the Irish administration, and received his Companion to the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights 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
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(KCB) on 12 January 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 11 March 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
Federal Council of Australasia
The Federal Council of Australasia was a forerunner to the current Commonwealth of Australia, though its structure and members were different. It consisted of the then British colonies of New Zealand, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Fiji, and others. However, the largest colony in the region,...
held in Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
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
Royal Society of Tasmania
The Royal Society of Tasmania was formed in 1844.The RST was the first Royal Society outside the United Kingdom. It started as the "Tasmanian Society" formed by Sir John Franklin assisted by Ronald Campbell Gunn....
. He helped to found the University of Tasmania
University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania is a medium-sized public Australian university based in Tasmania, Australia. Officially founded on 1 January 1890, it was the fourth university to be established in nineteenth-century Australia...
, 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
South Kensington
South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is a built-up area located 2.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross....
on 22 April 1895 and was buried at Richmond, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.