William Hamilton (diplomat)

Sir William Hamilton
Envoy Extraordinary to the Kingdom of Naples
In office
1764–1800
MonarchGeorge III
Preceded bySir James Gray
Succeeded bySir Arthur Paget
Member of Parliament
for Midhurst
In office
1761–1764
Preceded bySir John Peachey
Succeeded byBamber Gascoyne
Personal details
Born(1730-12-13)13 December 1730
London or Park Place, Berkshire, England
Died6 April 1803(1803-04-06) (aged 72)
London, England
Resting placeSlebech, Wales
Spouses
Catherine Barlow
(m. 1758⁠–⁠1782)
(m. 1791)
EducationWestminster School
Occupation
  • Diplomat
  • politician

Sir William Hamilton, KB, PC, FRS, FRSE (13 December 1730 – 6 April 1803) was a British diplomat, politician, antiquarian and vulcanologist who served as the Envoy Extraordinary to the Kingdom of Naples from 1764 to 1800. After sitting in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1761 to 1764, he began working as a diplomat, succeeding Sir James Gray as the British ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples. While in Italy, Hamilton became involved in studying local volcanoes and collecting antiquities, becoming a fellow of the Royal Society and being given the Copley Medal. His second wife was Emma Hamilton, who was famed as the mistress of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson.