James Hamilton (1814-67)
Scottish Presbyterian minister and botanist
James Hamilton, D.D. (1814-67) was a Scottish Presbyterian minister and author of biographies, tracts, hymns, memoirs, and bible studies. He earned an M.A. from Glasgow University, D.D. from the University of Edinburgh, was a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London (F.L.S.) and was a lecturer and journalist. He edited the Presbyterian Messenger and Evangelical Christendom and was also a respected botanist. He ministered at the National Scotch Church in Regent Square, London for most of his life.
Books published by The Greater Heritage
Timeline:
1814: James is born in Paisley on November 27th.
1827: James begins his Journal of the literary occupations of James Hamilton at the young age of 13.
1828: James enters Glasgow University at age 14.
1836: The Hamilton family moves to Edinburgh after the death of James’ father. James becomes acquainted with Thomas Chalmers while attending Edinburgh University.
1837: James travels over one-thousand miles throughout Scotland looking for botanical specimens.
1838: James becomes the assistant to Dr. Robert Smith Candlish at St. George’s Church, Edinburgh.
1841: James is ordained at Roxburgh Church in Edinburgh and soon thereafter is called to preach at the National Scotch Church in Regent Square, London.
1847: James marries Annie Moore, daughter of John Moore of Calcutta.
1849: James begins work on the Presbyterian Messenger.
1851: James visits The Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All Nations in Hyde Park, London.
1854: James begins editing the YMCA magazine Excelsior.
1864: James delivers a lecture entitled “Books and Reading” to the crowds at Charles Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle. That same year he becomes editor of Evangelical Christendom.
1867: James dies on November 24th.
Fun facts:
- James wrote all the botanical articles in Patrick Fairbairn’s Imperial Bible Dictionary.
- He held to an extremely regimented academic lifestyle and was incredibly well read yet was often sickly.
- He was friends with Robert Murray M’Cheyne.