deen, strongly recommending Hamilton as his successor. The see was, however, first offered to John James Blunt [q. v.], who refused it. Thereupon it was offered to Hamilton, who, after an interval of painful deliberation, accepted it, and was consecrated by Archbishop Sumner on 14 May 1854 at Lambeth. Hamilton continued all his predecessor's episcopal reforms, and improved upon them. He increased the number of confirmations, and raised the standard in his ordinations, both of theological attainments and also of spiritual preparation. The idea of establishing at Salisbury a theological college had been suggested to him by his predecessor in 1841 ; but it was not till twenty years afterwards that the plan was carried out. Till his death he always took the greatest interest in its welfare. He was never absent from Salisbury except upon diocesan business, or for a short holiday in the late autumn of the year, and very seldom appeared in the House of Lords. When at home he almost always attended the daily services in the cathedral, and his life was marked by great regularity and incessant occupation to a late hour of the night. In the administration of his diocese he secured the respect and affection both of the clergy and the laity, even of those who differed from his decided high church opinions. He delivered episcopal charges in 1855, 1858, 1861, 1864, and 1867, all of which have been published. The last of these excited much attention on account of the fearless clearness with which he asserted the doctrines of the real presence in the holy communion, of the eucharistic sacrifice, and of priestly absolution. He was the more outspoken on these subjects, because he had been accused of holding doctrines to which he dared not give public utterance. The charge was the subject of a discussion in the House of Lords, where Lord Portman presented a condemnatory petition. Hamilton never expressed or felt any bitterness towards his opponents. It is, however, probable that the anxiety caused by the opposition to this charge, added to his strenuous episcopal work, shortened his life. The first symptoms of heart disease showed themselves early in 1868. He continued his duties till October in that year. After spending seven months in London, he returned to Salisbury on 29 July, and died three days afterwards, 1 Aug. 1869. He was a tall, portly man, with a pleasant, open countenance and winning manners. On 9 Jan. 1845 he married Isabel Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Lear, dean of Salisbury, who survived him, with eight of their children.
Besides his charges and pamphlet on (Cathedral Reform' (1853), he published a book of 'Morning and Evening Services for every Day in the Week,' Oxford, 1842, intended specially for his former parishioners at Oxford, and compiled chiefly from early sources. It was afterwards printed in Dr. Hook's 'Devotional Library.' He also printed various single sermons.
[Canon Liddon's Life in Death, a Sermon preached in Salisbury Cathedral on 8 Aug. 1869, and three papers in the Guardian, 11, 18, and 25 Aug.,reprinted, with additions and corrections, under the title ' Walter Kerr Hamilton, Bishop of Salisbury;' personal recollections and inquiries.]
HAMILTON, WILLIAM de (d. 1307), chancellor, was a landowner in Cambridgeshire, and an ecclesiastic. In 1280 he was a justice in itinere for Hampshire and Wiltshire, but for pleas of forest only. In 1282 he was custos of the bishopric of Winchester and of the abbey of Hide (Abbr. Rot. Orig. i. 40, 42). He then became a clerk in chancery, and in 1286 vice-chancellor to the king, having occasional custody of the great seal (Public Records Commission, 7th Rep. App. xii. 242-51). On the death of Bishop Burnel on 25 Oct. 1292, the great seal was delivered into the wardrobe under his seal, and until he set out as the bishop's executor with his corpse for the funeral at Wells he sealed writs (Close Roll 20 Edw. I ; Cal. Rot. Pat. p. 55 ; Rot. Parl. i. 117). During absences of the next chancellor, John de Langton, from 4 to 30 March, and 22 to 27 Aug. 1297, and from 20 Feb. to 16 June 1299, he also had charge of the great seal. Meantime he had received ecclesiastical preferment of various kinds. In 1287 he received the prebend of Warthill, York, and in 1288 was appointed archdeacon of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and in December 1298 dean of York. He also held the deanery of the church of St. Burian in Cornwall (Rot. Parl. i. 421 a ; Le Neve, iii. 122, 132, 220 ; Cole, Documents, p. 421). He is mentioned in the Year-Book as engaged in a lawsuit with Robert le Veyl in 1303. In December 1304 the then chancellor, Grenefield, resigned the seals in order to proceed to Rome and induce the pope to permit his consecration as archbishop of York. Hamilton, though absent, was nominated his successor by the king at Lincoln on 29 Dec., and until his arrival the seal was placed in the wardrobe under the seal of Sir Adam de Osgodebey, the master of the rolls. On 16 Jan. 1305 Hamilton returned and received the seal from the treasurer, the Bishop of Coventry (Rot. Pat. 33 Edw. I, p. 1. m. 29). Shortly after his appointment on 6 April he was admonished by the king in full parliament against granting letters of protection from suits brought
