Thomas Hamilton (university administrator)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Hamilton PC (Ire)
(28 August 1842 – 18 May 1926) was a Northern Ireland
clergyman and academician who served as president of Queen's College, Belfast and subsequently President and Vice-Chancellor of the Queen's University of Belfast
after its creation in 1908.
A native of Belfast
, Hamilton was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
, Queen's College, Belfast and Queen's University of Ireland
. He became president of Queens College, Belfast in 1889 and, after nineteen years in that position, was appointed to the office of vice-chancellor when the expanded institution was granted university status. He served in this post for another fifteen years, until 1923. He was also the author of a number of historical and ecclesiastical studies, including the 1886 History of the Irish Presbyterian Church
, and wrote myriad entries for the Dictionary of National Biography
. As a prominent unionist
, he was appointed, at the age of 78, to the Privy Council of Ireland
in the 1921 New Year Honours, entitling him to the style "The Right Honourable".
He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity
degree by the University of Aberdeen
, and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the Royal University of Ireland
, of which he had been a Senator for many years.
In 1876, Hamilton married Frances Allen (died 4 May 1925) and was the father of a son and two daughters. He died in Belfast at the age of 83.
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(28 August 1842 – 18 May 1926) was a Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
clergyman and academician who served as president of Queen's College, Belfast and subsequently President and Vice-Chancellor of the Queen's University of Belfast
Queen's University of Belfast
Queen's University Belfast is a public research university in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The university's official title, per its charter, is the Queen's University of Belfast. It is often referred to simply as Queen's, or by the abbreviation QUB...
after its creation in 1908.
A native of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Hamilton was educated at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18...
, Queen's College, Belfast and Queen's University of Ireland
Queen's University of Ireland
The Queen's University of Ireland was established formally by Royal Charter on 3 September 1850, as the degree-awarding university of the Queen's Colleges of Belfast, Cork, and Galway that were established in 1845 "to afford a university education to members of all religious denominations" in...
. He became president of Queens College, Belfast in 1889 and, after nineteen years in that position, was appointed to the office of vice-chancellor when the expanded institution was granted university status. He served in this post for another fifteen years, until 1923. He was also the author of a number of historical and ecclesiastical studies, including the 1886 History of the Irish Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church in Ireland
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland , is the largest Presbyterian denomination in Ireland, and the largest Protestant denomination in Northern Ireland...
, and wrote myriad entries for the Dictionary of National Biography
Dictionary of National Biography
The Dictionary of National Biography is a standard work of reference on notable figures from British history, published from 1885...
. As a prominent unionist
Unionism in Ireland
Unionism in Ireland is an ideology that favours the continuation of some form of political union between the islands of Ireland and Great Britain...
, he was appointed, at the age of 78, to the Privy Council of Ireland
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
in the 1921 New Year Honours, entitling him to the style "The Right Honourable".
He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
degree by the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, and an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by the Royal University of Ireland
Royal University of Ireland
The Royal University of Ireland was founded in accordance with the University Education Act 1879 as an examining and degree-awarding university based on the model of the University of London. A Royal Charter was issued on April 27, 1880 and examinations were opened to candidates irrespective of...
, of which he had been a Senator for many years.
In 1876, Hamilton married Frances Allen (died 4 May 1925) and was the father of a son and two daughters. He died in Belfast at the age of 83.
External links
- Thomas Hamilton entry in the Dictionary of Ulster Biography
- McMahon, Timothy G. "'All creeda and all classes'? Just who made up the Gaelic League?", Journal of Irish Studies, Fall-Winter, 2002
- Description of the institutional archive of Queen's College Belfast which includes collections of papers and memorabilia of the Rev. Thomas Hamilton (the year of death is erroneously indicated as 1925)
- "Gregson joins distinguished list of academics − a history of Queen's Vice-Chancellors" (9 January 2004 Queen's University Belfast press release)