Hamilton, Richard Winter, D.D.

an English Independent minister, was born in London July 6,1794 and died in 1848. His mother had been a member of one of John Wesley's societies, and is mentioned (as Miss Hesketh) in Wesley's Journal. At sixteen-he entered the theological college at Hoxton, and even while he was a student his talent for preaching and the remarkable exuberance of his style attracted great attention. Soon after leaving the college (1812 or 1813) he was called to the charge of an Independent congregation at Leeds, and he held this position during the remainder of his life. He attained great eminence as a preacher, and still greater as a platform speaker. With great excellences he combined grave defects: he was deficient in taste, and his style was often extravagant and pompous; but there was a wide sweep in his thoughts, and he was sometimes eloquent even to sublimity. During his life he was a diligent student. He was president of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Leeds, and contributed for it many valuable papers, some of which were published in his Nugae Literariae (1841, sm. 8vo). His other writings are, The little Sanctuary (domestic prayers and offices; Lond. 1838, 8vo): Sermons, first series (1837, 8vo; republished by Carlton and Lanahan, N. York, 1869); second series, 1846, 8vo: The Institutions of popular Education (2nd ed. 1846, post 8vo): — The revealed Doctrine of Rewards ad Punishments (Lond. 1847, 8vo; N. Y., Carlton and Lanahan, 1869, 12mo): — Horce et Vindiciae Sabbaticae (1848,12mo): Missions, their Authority, Scope, and Encouragement, a prize essay, second after Harris's Mammon (2nd ed. 1846, post 8vo): — Pastoral Appeals on Personal, Domestic. cad Social Devotion (2nd ed. 1848; also Carlton and Lanahan, N. York, 1869, 12mo); besides occasional sermons, etc. There is a poor biography of him by Stowell (1850, 8vo). (J.B.L.)