George Ernest Hamilton (1855 – ?) was an alumnus of Georgetown University, a lawyer, and faculty member of the Law School. He received four degrees from Georgetown: an A.B. in 1872, an LL. B in 1874, an A.M. in 1882, and an honorary LL. D. in 1889.
Hamilton was born on March 5, 1855 to John and Mary Emily (née Hawkins) Hamilton in Charles County, Maryland. After receiving his first degree from Georgetown he became a teacher at Gonzaga College while studying law. After receiving his LL. B. degree in 1874 he joined the law firm of Merrick & Morris, which became Morris & Hamilton in 1886. He eventually became the senior partner of that firm. In 1892 he married Louise F. Merrick, the daughter of firm founder Richard Thomas Merrick. They had seven children: Richard Merrick Hamilton, Elizabeth Hamilton, Louise F. Hamilton, George Ernest Hamilton, Jr., Nannie Hamilton, Mary Emily Hamilton, and Frederick McGuire Hamilton.1 George Ernest Hamilton, Jr., was also an alumnus of Georgetown and a contributing editor to the Georgetown College Journal. He graduated in 1917.2
Hamilton, Sr. was president of the Alumni Association from 1907 - 1913.3 In 1908 he founded the Hamilton Medal, given annually to the best extemporaneous speaker of the Philodemic Society.4 He was also the dean of the Law School.5
- 1James S. Easby-Smith, Georgetown University in the District of Columbia, 1789-1907, its founders, benefactors, officers, instructors and alumni. Vol. 2, New York: Lewis, 1907, pp. 325 - 326. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/nyp.33433076015860?urlappend=%3Bseq=342
- 2"Contributing Editors," Georgetown College Journal, December 1915, Vol. XLIV No. 3, masthead. http://hdl.handle.net/10822/1049892
- 3"Past Presidents and Executive Directors," https://alumni.georgetown.edu/alumni-association/past-presidents
- 4"The Hamilton Debate," Georgetown College Journal, December 1911, Vol. XL No. 3., p. 122. http://hdl.handle.net/10822/1049856
- 5Robert M. McGauley, "Law Notes," Georgetown College Journal, October 1917, Vol. XLVI No. 1, p. 24. http://hdl.handle.net/10822/1049907
