John Hamilton (16 December 1827 – 3 April 1888) was one of the founding members of the Senate of Canada.

The Hon.
John Hamilton
Senator for Inkerman, Quebec
In office
October 23, 1867 – May 1, 1887
Appointed byRoyal Proclamation
Succeeded byJohn Abbott
Personal details
Born(1827-12-16)16 December 1827
Hawkesbury, Upper Canada
Died3 April 1888(1888-04-03) (aged 60)
Montreal, Quebec
Political partyConservative
ResidenceMontreal

He was born in Hawkesbury in Upper Canada in 1827, the son of George Hamilton. John and his brothers continued to expand their father's lumber business from its base on the lower Ottawa River. He served as reeve of Hawkesbury from 1858 to 1864. In 1860, he was elected to the Legislative Council of the Province of Canada for the Inkerman division in Canada East. A Conservative, he was appointed to the senate on 23 October 1867 by royal proclamation following the Canadian Confederation of 1867. He served in that capacity, representing the province of Quebec until his resignation on 1 May 1887.

He died at Montreal in 1888.

The Hamilton Memorial Prize was instituted at the University of Trinity College by Hamilton's family in his honour. It is given each year to the Divinity student with the top Honours Thesis.

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  • "Biography". Dictionnaire des parlementaires du Québec de 1792 à nos jours (in French). National Assembly of Quebec.
  • "John Hamilton". Dictionary of Canadian Biography (online ed.). University of Toronto Press. 1979–2016.
  • John Hamilton – Parliament of Canada biography