Andrew Hamilton (1676?-1741)

Philadelphia lawyer

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Early Career. Andrew Hamilton, although well known in his own day, left little information about his early life. He was born in Scotland around 1676 and for some reason changed his last name from Trent to Hamilton. He came to America in 1697, opening a classical school in Accomac County, Virginia, and acting as a plantation steward. In 1706 he married the estate owner’s widow, and two years later he bought six thousand acres in Maryland. He opened a law practice in Chestertown and was elected a member of the colonial assembly.

Philadelphia. In 1715 Hamilton arrived in Philadelphia after having spent some time in England, where he was admitted to Gray’s Inn, one of the Inns of Court. In 1717 he was appointed attorney general of Pennsylvania. A close friend of the Penn family, the proprietors of the colony, he acted as their agent from 1724 to 1726. His reward, among other things, was 153 acres in the heart of Philadelphia, from which he created his well-known estate, Bush Hill. His associate James Logan described him as “a very able lawyer, very faithful to his client,” who “generally refused to be concerned for any plaintiff who appeared not to have justice on his side.” In 1727 Hamilton became chief clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and recorder of the city. The same year he won election to the Pennsylvania Assembly, serving there as speaker for close to ten years.

Zenger Trial. Hamilton is best known today for his successful defense of John Peter Zenger against the charge of seditious libel in 1735. When Zenger’s lawyers, James Alexander and William Smith, were disbarred, they called upon Hamilton to act in their stead. The eloquent lawyer was able to convince the jury to take into account not only whether Zenger had printed material critical of Gov. William Cosby of New York (he had), but whether or not it was true. For his efforts Hamilton not only received his fees but also a naval salute, the freedom of the city, and a gold box. In 1737 he became a judge of the vice admiralty court, a position he held until his death on 4 August 1741.

Source

Burton Alva Konkle, The Life of Andrew Hamilton, 1676-1741: “The Day-Star of the American Revolution” (Philadelphia: National Publishing Company, 1941).