HAMILTON, a municipal and parliamentary borough and market-town of Scotland, county of Lanark, about a mile from the junction of the Avon with the Clyde, and 10 miles S.W. of Glasgow. The town originated in the fifteenth century, under the protecting influence of the lords of Hamilton, who constituted a place called the Orchard, between this point and the Clyde, the principal messuage of the barony, and which is still the chief seat of the Hamilton family. In 1451, a collegiate church was founded in the vicinity; but in 1732, the new church was built.
The town of Hamilton occupies a rising ground, commanding fine views of a rich and highly picturesque country, and consists of several streets of well-built houses, somewhat irregularly dispersed. The proprietors, alive to the value of their grounds for feuing purposes, have published various competing plans for villas. This, together with its ready access with Glasgow by railway (half-an-hour's ride), and the amenity of the locality, are rapidly converting Hamilton into a suburb of Glasgow. The staples of trade are silks and cambrics. Many of the females are engaged in tambour or sewed muslin work. Both coal and ironstone are found in the parish, and are largely wrought. It is governed by a provost, two bailies, and twelve councillors; and unites with Airdrie, Linlithgow, Falkirk, and Lanark, in returning a member to parliament. Dr Cullen, Professor Millar of Glasgow, Dr Matthew Baillie, and his sister Joanna Baillie, were natives of Hamilton. Pop. (1851) 9630; registered electors 300. Market-day, Friday.
Immediately east of the town is Hamilton Palace, the seat of the Duke of Hamilton, premier peer of Scotland. The pleasure-grounds around the mansion comprise nearly 1500 acres. The present palace was commenced in 1822, and consists of a large elegant building in the style of the Temple of Jupiter Stator at Rome. The interior is highly decorated; and contains one of the most valuable collections of paintings in Scotland. Within the policies, on the summit of a precipitous rock, 200 feet in height, the foot of which is washed by the Avon, stand the ruins of Cadzow Castle, the original seat of the Hamilton family. It was conferred on the chief of that family immediately after the battle of Bannockburn, having been previously a royal residence for at least two centuries. In the park attached to the castle are still preserved some of the old Scotch breed of wild cattle; they are milk-white in colour, excepting their muzzles, horns, and hoofs, which are black.