Thomas Hamilton (writer)

For several months in 1803, he was with Dr. Sommers at Mid Calder, Midlothian, preparatory to entering Glasgow University, where he matriculated the following November.

[2] Hamilton's bias was towards the army, and in 1810, after fully showing his incapacity for business in Glasgow and Liverpool, he got a commission in the 29th regiment.

James Hogg in his Autobiography credits him with a considerable share in some of the "ploys" led by John Gibson Lockhart.

Marrying a second time, the widow of Sir Robert Townsend Farquhar, bart., governor of the Mauritius, he settled at John Wilson's former house, Elleray, and saw much of Wordsworth, whom he was one of the first Scotsmen to appreciate.

Visiting the continent with his wife, Hamilton was seized with paralysis at Florence, and he died at Pisa of a second attack 7 December 1842.

It is partly autobiographical, with Hamilton's early impressions of Scottish university life and Glasgow citizens when he could call Govan "a pretty and rural village", and his military experiences.

[2] Craig Lamont has placed Thomas Hamilton within a "Glasgow School" of early nineteenth century Scottish novelists, along with John Galt and Michael Scott.