Ross Hamilton

Ross Hamilton
Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from the Mecklenburg district
In office
June 2, 1870 – January ?, 1883
Preceded byJohn Watson
Succeeded byAmos Andre Dodson
In office
November ?, 1889 – January 3rd, 1890
Preceded byBritton Baskerville
Succeeded byJ.N. Hutcheson
Personal details
Bornc. 1843
Mecklenburg County, Virginia
DiedMay 2nd, 1901
Washington, D.C.
SpousePattie Shelton • M. B. Knox
ProfessionCarpenter, storekeeper, politician

Ross Hamilton (c. 1843-1901) was a carpenter, storekeeper, federal employee and Republican Party politician who represented Mecklenburg County in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1870 to 1883, and 1889–1890.[1][2][3] Hamilton had the longest legislative career of any African American in 19th century Virginia.[4]

  1. ^ Forsythe, Harold S. (1997). ""But My Friends Are Poor": Ross Hamilton and Freedpeople's Politics in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, 1869–1901". The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography. 105 (4): 409–438. JSTOR 4249674.
  2. ^ Luther Porter Jackson, Negro Office-Holder in Virginia 1865-1895 (Norfolk; Guide Quality Press 1945) p.19 at hathitrust.org or reprinted by UMI books on demand
  3. ^ Brown, Douglas Summers (1975). "Chase City and Its Environs: The Southside Virginia Experience, 1765-1975".
  4. ^ Tarter, Brent. "Ross Hamilton (1843–1901)". Encyclopedia Virginia. Retrieved 26 August 2023.