Hamilton, William
1704-1754
William Hamilton of Bangour was the stepson of the Lord President, John Dalrymple of Stair. After attending university at Edinburgh he turned his back on his Whiggish family, joining the Tory and Jacobite Rankine club. He turned his attentions to poetry and his poems were included in Allen Ramsay's Teatable Miscellany in 1723; The Braes of Yarrow followed in 1730. In 1739 poor health forced him to seek warmer climes. Whilst he was in Rome he met the 'young pretender' to the British throne, Prince Charles Edward Stuart. During Charles' uprising in 1745 William joined the Prince whilst he was resident in the palace of Holyroodhouse. He composed an 'Ode to Gladsmuir' following the Jacobite victory at Prestonpans. He was also present at the victory at Falkirk and final defeat at Culloden in 1746. He escaped via Sweden to France, but retuned to Edinburgh in 1750. His popularity ensured him a pardon from his flirtation with Jacobitism. Continually dogged by worsening health he retired once again to France in 1753, where he later died. His remains were returned and buried at Holyrood Abbey.
Adam Smith edited his first collection, Poems on Several Occasions, which was published by the Foulis press in 1748.
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