William Hamilton (educator)
Introduction
Very Rev William Hamilton (1669–1732) was a Scottish Presbyterian theologian and minister of the Church of Scotland. He was Professor of Divinity at the University of Edinburgh from 1709 to 1732 and also Principal of the University from 1730 to 1732.
He began in 1694 as a minister of Cramond Kirk. He was also Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland on five occasions.
The elder Hamilton was an influential figure in the growth of “early moderatism”, and several of his students, including Wishart, were prominent Rankenians.
Family
His father was Gavin Hamilton of Airdrie. His sons included the Very Rev Prof Robert Hamilton.
Robert Hamilton, the economist, was a grandson. Sir William Hamilton, 9th Baronet, the philosopher, was a great-grandson, son and grandson of anatomy professors at Glasgow.