Hamilton, Andrew

Hamilton, Andrew, colonial American lawyer

Hamilton, Andrew, 1676?–1741, colonial American lawyer, defender of John Peter Zenger, b. Scotland. He practiced law in Maryland and then Pennsylvania, where he became (1717) attorney general and held other offices. When the governing party in New York had disbarred all local lawyers who ventured to defend Zenger, Hamilton was brought in and by his brilliant defense secured Zenger's acquittal (1735), establishing truth as a defense against libel charges.

Bibliography

See biography by A. B. Konkle (1941).

---

Hamilton, Andrew, colonial governor of New Jersey

Hamilton, Andrew, d. 1703, colonial governor of New Jersey, b. Scotland. Becoming deputy governor of East Jersey in 1687, Hamilton defended the proprietors against popular opposition and shortly had to leave the colony. In 1692 he was commissioned governor of East and West Jersey, but after five years of effective administration he was removed by the proprietors to please the crown. When he was recalled he could not restore authority. Appointed deputy postmaster general for the colonies in 1692, Hamilton induced several colonies to set up uniform postal rates. In 1701, William Penn appointed him deputy governor of Pennsylvania, a post he held until his death.

---

Hamilton, Andrew (?1676–1741) lawyer, legislator; probably born in Scotland. He immigrated to Virginia about 1700. After serving as the steward of an estate, he married the widow of its owner; she seems to have backed him in buying a large property in Maryland, where he took up the practice of law and served in the assembly. After visiting England (1712–13), he returned to settle in Philadelphia, where he became attorney general, did valuable work for the colony's proprietors, and served in its general assembly (1727–39). A man of many talents, he helped design Province House in Philadelphia (now known as Independence Hall). His greatest moment came when in 1735 he was asked to come to New York City to defend John Peter Zenger against the charge of seditious libel; Hamilton's legal techniques and eloquent speech won this landmark case in the history of the freedom of speech.