Robert Hamilton (congressman)

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 by	John Hill
Succeeded by	Alvah A. Clark
Personal details
Born	December 9, 1809 Hamburg, New Jersey, USA
Died	March 14, 1878(1878-03-14) (aged 68) Newton, New Jersey, USA
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Sarah E. Edsall Hamilton
Profession	Politician, Lawyer, Bank President

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.

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. 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.

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

External links

• 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