Sir William Hamilton (1730-1803) was a diplomat and archaeologist. He was an officer in the 3rd Regiment of the Foot Guards, 1747-58, and British envoy extraordinary and plenipotentiary at the court of Naples, 1764-1800. Details are given in the Dictionary of National Biography.

Notebooks of Sir William Hamilton consisting of:

• Orderly books of the 4rd Regiment of Foot Guards in Holland, 1747-8
• Notebooks of extracts made by Hamilton in 1764 from Sir James Gray's correspondence with secretaries of state when envoy to Naples, 1754-64
• Deciphered copies of letters to Hamilton as envoy to Naples, 1765-8
• Hamilton's memoranda on his correspondence as envoy, 1783, 1789-93
• Notebook containing lists of subjects of works of art, not in Sir William's hand

The notebooks were bought from P.J. & A.E. Dobell in 1921.

Entry to read in the Library is permitted only on presentation of a valid reader's card (for admissions procedures see http://www.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/services/admissions/).

M. Clapinson and T.D. Rogers, Summary Catalogue of Post-Medieval Western Manuscripts in the Bodleian Library Oxford. Acquisitions 1916-1975. (Oxford, 1991), vol. I, nos. 40359-73.

Diplomatic and consular service, British

Gray | James | c 1708-1773 | Sir | Knight, Diplomat, and Antiquary

Hamilton | William | 1730-1803 | Sir | Knight, Diplomat, and Archaeologist

Scots Guards (3rd Regiment of Foot Guards)

Naples (Italy)