Robert Hamilton (congressman)

Robert Hamilton (December 9, 1809 – March 14, 1878) was an American lawyer, bank president and Democratic Party politician who represented New Jersey's 4th congressional district in the United States House of Representatives from 1873 to 1877.

For other people with the same name, see Robert Hamilton (disambiguation).
Robert Hamilton
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 4th district
In office
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877
Preceded byJohn Hill
Succeeded byAlvah A. Clark
Personal details
BornDecember 9, 1809
Hamburg, New Jersey, USA
DiedMarch 14, 1878(1878-03-14) (aged 68)
Newton, New Jersey, USA
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse(s)Sarah E. Edsall Hamilton
ProfessionPolitician, Lawyer, Bank President

Early life and career

Born in Hamburg, New Jersey, Hamilton attended common schools as a child. He moved Newton, New Jersey in 1831, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1836, commencing practice in Newton.

He was prosecutor of plea for Sussex County, New Jersey from 1848 to 1858, 1868 and 1869, was a delegate to the 1860 Democratic National Convention, was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly in 1863 and 1864, serving as Speaker of the House, and was president of Merchant’s National Bank from 1865 to 1878.

Congress

Hamilton was elected a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1872, serving from 1873 to 1877. Afterward, he resumed practicing law and was director of the Morris and Essex Railroad. He died in Newton, New Jersey on March 14, 1878 and was interred in Newton Cemetery in Newton.

Private life

Hamilton and his wife were parishioners at Christ Church, Newton, the town's episcopal parish, and provided substantial financial support for the construction of the church's current house of worship completed in 1869.[1]

References
  1. Merrit Ierley, An Inheritance of the Faithful: A 225th Anniversary History of Christ Episcopal Church, Newton, New Jersey (Newton, NJ: Christ Episcopal Church, 1993), 33.
  • United States Congress. "Robert Hamilton (id: H000117)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
  • Robert Hamilton at The Political Graveyard
  • Robert Hamilton at Find a Grave
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
John Hill		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from New Jersey's 4th congressional district
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1877		 Succeeded by
Alvah A. Clark
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