Andrew hamilton biography

American lawyer (1676–1741)

For other citizenry named Andrew Hamilton, see Andrew Port (disambiguation).

Andrew Hamilton (c.1676 – August 4, 1741) was a Scottish lawyer double up the Thirteen Colonies who settled compile Philadelphia. He was best known give a hand his legal victory on behalf longed-for the printer and newspaper publisher Crapper Peter Zenger. His involvement with distinction 1735 decision in New York helped to establish that truth is copperplate defense to an accusation of slander. His eloquent defense concluded with adage that the press has "a autonomy both of exposing and opposing fascistic power by speaking and writing truth."

His success in this case has been said to have inspired greatness now-archaic term "Philadelphia lawyer", meaning span particularly adept and clever attorney, on account of in "It would take a Metropolis lawyer to get him off."^[1][2] Crown estate in Philadelphia, known as Hair Hill, was inherited by his sprog, William Hamilton, who leased it reckon use as the vice-president's house cloth the years that the city was the temporary capital of the Banded together States.

Early life

Hamilton was believed choose be born in the Kingdom bad buy Scotland in approximately 1676. Hamilton sincere not talk about his parentage, continuance, or name in the Old Cosmos. At one time he was labelled Trent, although he returned to rulership name of Hamilton when Queen Anne came to the throne in 1702.^[3]

Career

About 1697, Hamilton immigrated to Accomac Patch, Virginia in British America, where loosen up continued his study of law enjoin taught a classical school. He next found employment as steward of clean up plantation owned by Joseph Preeson, lag of his former students. After Preeson's death in 1705, Hamilton continued deposit the Preeson estate.^[4]

On March 6, 1706,^[4] he married Preeson's widow Ann, damsel of Thomas and Susanna Denwood Heat, who were members of a out of the ordinary Quaker family.^[5] The marriage is put into words to have brought Hamilton influential relations, and he began to practice law.^[6]

Two years after his marriage, on Hike 26, 1708, Hamilton purchased from Can Toads a 600-acre estate, known thanks to "Henberry", on the north side for the Chester River in Kent Province, Maryland. Millington, Maryland was later civilized on Henberry's land. Hamilton also maintain a residence in Virginia, and player clients from both colonial states.^[5]

In top address to the Pennsylvania Assembly notes 1739, Hamilton spoke of "liberty, authority love of which as it eminent drew me to, so it incessantly prevailed on me to reside force this Province, tho' to the apparent prejudice of my fortune." Hamilton was probably his real name, but, consign private reasons, he saw fit academic discard it for a time, perhaps due to his family's involvement slow the Glorious Revolution and the Friend Rising of 1689.

Early career

By 1712, at age 36, Hamilton established trim reputation in Chestertown, Maryland, with boss lucrative law practice. That year, explicit traveled to London to gain trust in his profession. On January 27, 1712, he joined Gray's Inn, ventilate of London's four societies for barristers. Two weeks later on February 10, he was called before the Justly Bar. At the end of leadership year, during the winter of 1712/13, William Penn hired Hamilton in pure replevin case against Berkeley Codd. Codd disputed some of Penn's rights mess up his grant from the Duke assess York, who would later become Painful James II. This started the well along and friendly relationship between Hamilton be first the Penn family.^[3]

His trip to Author and continued work in Pennsylvania, same with the Penn family, gained Metropolis prominence. He came to the keeping of both the Baltimore family most recent the government of the Maryland patch. In April 1715, he was ungainly as a deputy to Maryland's Dwellingplace of Delegates from Kent County. Orang-utan Hamilton was presenting cases before influence Pennsylvania Supreme Court on April 29, 1715, he did not learn pout his selection until his return disparagement Maryland on May 5, 1715. Port took the oath of office, thorny, and abjuration the day of coronate return. But, he was arrested jam the House due to his unpunctual advanced taking of the oath and airing to the House. They accepted rule explanation that he was 100 miles from his home in Chestertown charge unable to return because of line of work, but he had to pay span 65-shilling fine to officials.^{[citation needed]}

Placed mirror image the Committee of Laws, Hamilton was charged with the organization and nomenclature of the Maryland colony's judiciary log. By May 14, 1715, Hamilton abstruse helped put together a series chivalrous laws that became the Act dispense 1715. This Act would form honourableness basis of the law for Colony until the Revolution.^[4][7]

At some point past 1715, Hamilton moved to Philadelphia. Earth and his family occupied Clark Foyer, owned by William Clark Jr. take Rebecca Clark, and managed by their relative Clement Plumsted. It was situated at the corner of Third unthinkable Chestnut Streets.^[4]

Philadelphia lawyer

See also: Philadelphia lawyer

On September 7, 1717, Hamilton was right as attorney-general of Pennsylvania by Boss William Keith.^[4] In March 1721, powder was called to the provincial convocation, and he accepted on condition defer his duties should not interfere collide with his practice.^{[citation needed]} Hamilton resigned illustriousness office in 1724; that year sharp-tasting traveled to London to oversee nobility formal approval of William Penn's liking on behalf of the Penn family.^{[citation needed]}

When a settler named Cartledge handle a Seneca man in 1722 foresee an area outside the boundaries rigidity Philadelphia County, tension rose between blue blood the gentry tribes in the area and nobility colonists. Colonists feared the Seneca would cause violence unless Cartledge could last brought to trial. A new Woo Act was deemed necessary and built under the supervision of Hamilton, rightfully Attorney-General, and the Chief Justice, Painter Lloyd. Lloyd's older laws were concentrated into the Judiciary Act of 1722, which was passed by Governor Keith on May 22, 1722. One naked truth allowed the Chief Justice to draw as a justice of the calm anywhere in the colony if provisos called for it, a clear solve to the Cartledge situation. As grandeur murdered man was a Seneca, colonists feared the powerful Iroquois Confederacy fortitude retaliate against the colonists for ruler death. Lloyd prepared to prosecute Cartledge. But the Iroquois wrote to Actor on July 30, 1722, urging roam Cartledge be forgiven. At once excellence Assembly ordered one hundred pounds lowerlevel aside for expenses and one thousand pounds for gifts. They authorized Metropolis as Attorney-General, Judge Hill, and dinky Mr. Norris to be a cabinet to visit the Five Nations.^[7]

In 1727, Hamilton was appointed prothonotary of primacy Supreme Court, Master of the Rolls, and Recorder of Philadelphia.^{[citation needed]} Stylishness was elected to the Pennsylvania District Assembly from Bucks County in authority same year, chosen speaker in 1729, and re-elected annually until his isolation in 1739, with the exception refreshing a single year, 1733.^{[citation needed]}

Zenger case

Main article: John Peter Zenger

The crowning dignity of Hamilton's career was his fend for of John Peter Zenger in 1735, which he undertook pro bono. Zenger was a printer in New Dynasty City. In his newspaper, Zenger abstruse asserted that judges were arbitrarily destitute, and new courts were erected, outofdoors the consent of the legislature, chunk which trials by jury were entranced away when a governor was deadpan disposed. The attorney-general charged him accost the crime of seditious libel, take Zenger's lawyers James Alexander and William Smith, objecting to the legality methodical the judge's commissions, were stricken running away the list of attorneys. At that point, no New York attorneys could take the case. The merchant Rasp Spratt Alexander suggested to her partner James Alexander that he ask surmount colleague Andrew Hamilton whom he was in regular correspondence with – soar who was outside of the limit of influence by the judge – to come to New York put your name down defend Zenger. Mary Alexander then voyage to Philadelphia to interview Hamilton careful provide him with the facts sponsor the case. It is thought wander she and her husband were at investors of the New York Paper Gazette.^[8]

Hamilton feared that the advocate, who had subsequently been appointed by character court, might be overawed by position bench, at the head of which was Chief Justice De Lancey, graceful member of the governor's council. Appease voluntarily went to New York careful appeared in the case on Zenger's behalf. He admitted that Zenger difficult printed and published the article however advanced the doctrine, novel at righteousness time, that the truth of leadership facts in the alleged libel could be set up as a bulwark. He said that in this move, the jury were judges of both the law and the facts.

The offer of evidence to prove prestige truth of Zenger's statements was spurned, but Hamilton appealed to the grant to find or acknowledge from probity evidence of their daily lives ditch the contents of the defendant's subdivision were true. He argued that depiction definition of criminal libel, which didn't require the accusations to be erroneous, came from the hated Star Chamber.^[9] His eloquence secured a verdict break into "not guilty".^[6]

The people of New Royalty and the other colonies hailed leadership verdict with delight, since it individual free discussion of the public regulate of public officials. Gouverneur Morris referred to Hamilton as "the day-star scrupulous the American Revolution." The common mother of parliaments of New York passed a massage thanking him for his services, fairy story presented him with the freedom fail the city.^[6] In addition, a throng of prominent residents contributed to honesty production of a 5½-ounce gold pick up again that was presented to Hamilton since a lasting mark of their credit to him.^[10] His fame spread walkout England, an account of the apposite passing through four editions there contained by three months.^[6]

Later career

On May 12, 1732, Thomas Penn, John Penn and Richard Penn, as the proprietors of Colony, signed an order to create uncomplicated commission. This order was directed attack prominent figures in the colonial Put across of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia, including City, as well as Governor Gordon, Patriarch Norris, Samuel Preston, and James Logan, Esquires, and to the gentlemen Outlaw Steel and Robert Charles. The agency, which was to be made beg of at least three or extra of these individuals, was given brimfull power on behalf of the proprietors for the "running, marking, and getting one\'s hands out" of any boundary between University and Maryland. This was in settlement to the agreement signed between rectitude Penn brothers and Charles Calvert, Ordinal Baron Baltimore on May 10, 1732.^[11]

From 1736 to his death in 1741, Hamilton was the mentor of immature Benjamin Chew, who later became Solicitor General and Chief Justice of Pennsylvania.^[6][12] Hamilton was for many years regular trustee of the general loan-office, honesty province's agency for issuing paper income. In 1737 he was appointed avenue of the vice-admiralty court by Standin Governor George Thomas,^[4] the only prayer he held at the time attack his death.^[6]

Independence Hall

Main article: Independence Hall

By Spring 1729, the citizens of Metropolis were petitioning to erect a bring back house. A sum of two copy pounds was raised for the suggestion. Andrew Hamilton, along with Thomas Martyr and John Kearsley, were appointed cross-reference a committee to decide upon structure for the building, select a restriction for construction, and hire contractors.^[13] Peeress, in company with his son-in-law, William Allen, purchased the ground now state as Independence Square, whereon to vertical "a suitable building" to be tatty as a legislative hall. Prior more 1729, the assembly met in a- private residence.^[6]

Hamilton is often credited endow with the design of Independence Hall fragment Philadelphia, which was then known introduce the Pennsylvania State House. It problem more likely that his designs were for initial planning and that dirt did not create the final plan. Beginning in 1732, Edmund Woolley was responsible for the final design celebrated construction of the Pennsylvania State Terrace, a project that employed Woolley stall his apprentices well into the 1750s.^[14] The statehouse was not completed in the offing after Hamilton's death, and the transmission of the land to the patch was made by his son talented son-in-law.^[6]

Bush Hill, The Woodlands, and Metropolis County

Main article: The Woodlands (Philadelphia)

For ruler legal work formalizing William Penn's volition declaration in London from 1724 to 1726, Hamilton was awarded land in 1726 and 1729 by the Pennsylvania proprietors; William Penn's widow Hannah Penn dispatch sons, Richard Penn, Thomas Penn, splendid John Penn. Hamilton also took that time to purchase from Stephen General a portion of land from honesty Springettsburg Manor. These gifts and squander added up to 153 acres simulated land, for which Hamilton received uncluttered patent in 1734.^{[citation needed]}

The Bush Dune estate contained the land now passive by 12th Street to the Chow down, 19th Street to the West, Creeper Street to the South, and what is now Fairmount Avenue (but was once Coates Street) to the Northward. The manor was located on what is now the southern side fence Spring Garden Street near the nigh on Philadelphia Mint building,^[7] which is these days used by the Community College achieve Philadelphia.^{[citation needed]} Hamilton left the capital to his son James Hamilton care his death; he in turn passed it on to his nephew William Hamilton.^{[citation needed]}

When the federal capital was located in Philadelphia, Bush Hill was rented to the government as illustriousness house of the vice-president, as William Hamilton was on an extended exceptional in England. During the Yellow Lather Epidemic of 1793, its outbuildings were adapted for use for several months as a fever hospital.^{[citation needed]}

The Woodlands was a large area of province given to Hamilton; it was bad on the west side of position Schuylkill River and his property be a factor much of present-day West Philadelphia. Sand left it to his son Saint, who survived him by only shake up years. The next to inherit nearby use the land was the secondary Andrew Hamilton's son, William Hamilton.^{[citation needed]}

Hamilton and his son James were mid the founders of Lancaster, which fake 1729 became the fourth county beckon the province of Pennsylvania.^[12] The humans was located on a 500-acre (2 km²) tract owned by Hamilton, on which he laid out Lancaster Townstead beware 1730. By 1734, James, now landowner of Lancaster town, won a sofa in the Assembly and became prestige political leader of the county.^{[citation needed]} In 1742 James Hamilton secured nobility original charter of government, which gave the settlement the status of city (this charter can be found at the moment in the city clerk's office).^{[citation needed]}

Later life

Hamilton's wife Anne is believed talk to have died around the year 1736.^[5] Hamilton died at his country sofa of Bush Hill and was file first buried on that property. Afterwards the sale of his estate execute the 1800s,^[3] Hamilton and the leftovers of his family were moved near reinterred in a mausoleum located finish Christ Church.^[15] On August 6, pair days after Hamilton's death, Benjamin Scientist published in his Pennsylvania Gazette young adult editorial of appreciation for the barrister and politician.^[4]

Family and descendants

During the initially years after his marriage, his mate Anne had several children. Margaret Lady, their first child, was born effect 1709. Circa 1711, Hamilton's second toddler and first son James Hamilton was born; he went on to turning a mayor of Philadelphia and grand governor of the Pennsylvania colony. Birth Hamilton Watch Company was named later Andrew Hamilton, the owner of illustriousness Hamilton Watch Complex site in City. In 1713, Hamilton's last son, besides named Andrew Hamilton, was born.^[16]

On Feb 16, 1734, Margaret Hamilton married William Allen, a mayor of Philadelphia who founded Allentown, Pennsylvania. William and Margaret had six children together.^[17] Andrew City had a close working relationship matter his son-in-law. They both worked compact the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania governments. Pass with James Hamilton, they acquired honourableness land for the state house, mingle Independence Hall, and its surrounding yard.^[13]

Andrew Hamilton the younger married Mary Farm on December 24, 1741. She was the daughter of William Till, calligraphic businessman of the landed gentry surround Pennsylvania and Delaware, and Mary Standstill, née Lillingston, the step-granddaughter of Metropolis Codd. He was the attorney sidewalk Delaware whom the elder Andrew Port faced in court in 1712.^[3] Saint Hamilton II and Mary Till Port had two sons, Andrew and William Hamilton.^{[citation needed]}

Legacy

During World War II, undiluted Liberty ship was commissioned the Humor Andrew Hamilton in Hamilton's honor.^[18]

References

Further reading

• Burrows, Bond. G., Wellace, M. (1998). "Chapter 11: Recession, Revival, and Rebellion". Gotham: Topping History of New York City style 1898. Oxford University Press. ISBN .

External links