Ross Hamilton (c. 1843-1901) was a carpenter, storekeeper, federal employee and Republican Party politician who represented Mecklenburg County in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1870 to 1883, and 1889–1890.

Reportedly, he also enjoyed "drinking in bars and talking politics with his friends on Saturday nights and rising early on Sunday mornings to attend church with their families.

"[4] A much more capable party leader than legislator, in 1882, Hamilton unsuccessfully sponsored a bill which prevented people who did not live in Virginia from attending the county's tax-payer-supported public schools.

[4] Unlike most African American political leaders in Virginia during his time, he did not initially support the Readjuster party, and remained a "straightout" Republican.

This ended up costing him his seat in the Legislature, as the Readjusters who were at the height of their political power, ran an African American man (Amos Andre Dodson) to challenge Hamilton for the nomination.

[4][9] After losing his legislative seat in 1890, Hamilton moved permanently to Washington D.C., where he had begun working at patronage jobs as early as 1879 (and commuted to Boydton for years).