Biography

11/25/1754 - 08/22/1837

Major General John Hamilton (Democratic-Republicans11) Allegheny and Washington Counties 1796-1801 (Democratic-Republicans11) Washington County 1801-1802

Early Life:

Major General John Hamilton, born November 25, 1754, York County, Province of Pennsylvania, British America (now Adams County, Pennsylvania); son of John and Florence Hamilton; relocated, Washington County, Pennsylvania, 1783; commissioned, Lieutenant Colonel, Mingo Creek Militia, 1786; Colonel, Mingo Creek Militia, Whiskey Insurrection, 1793; appointed, high sheriff, Washington County, Governor Mifflin, 1793-1796; elected, Brigadier General, Pennsylvania State Militia, 1800; Major General, Fourteenth Division, Washington-Greene Militia; 1807; elected, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1796-1802; appointed, Associate Judge, Washington County, Governor McKean, 1802-1805; elected, Democratic-Republicans, United States House of Representatives, 1805-1807, unsuccessful reelection, 1806; unsuccessful campaign, United States House of Representatives, 1808; trustee, Jefferson College 1802-1831; elected, Democratic Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1815-1816; appointed, associate judge, Washington County, 1820-1837; died, August 22, 1837 (aged 82), at home, Ginger Hill, Washington County, Pennsylvania; interment, Mingo Cemetery, Mingo Cemetery, Finleyville, Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Commissioned, Lieutenant Colonel, Mingo Creek Militia, 1786; Colonel, Mingo Creek Militia, Whiskey Insurrection, 1793. Wrongly accused of helping rioters burn the Neville home, consequently suffering trials, Philadelphia and Washington County, with no meaningful evidence pointing to his participation, acquitted; elected, Brigadier General, Pennsylvania State Militia, 1800; Major General, Fourteenth Division, Washington-Greene Militia; 1807. 

Professional titles; business ownership; board memberships; local government; club memberships:

Member, first board of trustees, Jefferson College (now, Washington and Jefferson College), Washington, Pennsylvania, 1802-1837. 

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Democratic-Republicans, Pennsylvania State Senate, 11th district, Allegheny and Washington Counties, 1796-1801. 

Elected, Democratic-Republicans, Pennsylvania State Senate, 11th district, Washington County, 1801-1802. 

Appointed, Associate Judge, Washington County, Governor Thomas McKean, 1802-1805. 

Presidential Elector, Thomas Jefferson, 1804. 

Unsuccessful campaigns, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Washington County, 1811, 1812.

Elected, Democratic Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, Washington County, 1815-1816.

Presidential Elector, James Monroe, 1820

Appointed, associate judge, Governor William Findlay, 1820-1837.   

Continued Government Service/National Politics:

Elected, Democratic-Republicans, United States House of Representatives, Nineth Congress, 1805-1807, unsuccessful reelection, 1806.

Unsuccessful campaign, United States House of Representatives, 1808.

Pennsylvania State House of Representatives Biography:

Not currently available. 

Legacy:

Inscription: IN Memory of Genl John Hamilton Who departed this life August 22d, 1837 In the 83rd year of his age.

Though he is gone, our consolation is that what is our loss is his unspeakable gain then let us not sorrow as those without hope.

Cited:

Cox, Harold. "Senate Members H". Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

A New Nation Votes (tufts.edu)

Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County (Chicago: J.H. Beers, 1893), pages 60-61.

John Hamilton (1754-1837) - Find a Grave Memorial