William Hamilton (diplomat)

The Right Honourable Sir William Hamilton KB PC FRS FRSE
Envoy Extraordinary to the Kingdom of Naples
In office 1764–1800
Monarch	George III
Preceded by	Sir James Gray
Succeeded by	Sir Arthur Paget
Member of Parliament for Midhurst
In office 1761–1764
Preceded by	Sir John Peachey
Succeeded by	Bamber Gascoyne
Personal details
Born	(1730-12-13)13 December 1730 London or Park Place, Berkshire, England
Died	6 April 1803(1803-04-06) (aged 72) London, England
Resting place	Slebech, Wales
Spouses	Catherine Barlow ​ ​ (m. 1758⁠–⁠1782)​ Emma Lyon ​ (m. 1791)​
Education	Westminster School
Occupation	Diplomat politician

Sir William Hamilton, KB, PC, FRS, FRSE (13 December 1730 – 6 April 1803) was a British diplomat, politician, antiquarian and vulcanologist who served as the Envoy Extraordinary to the Kingdom of Naples from 1764 to 1800. After sitting in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1761 to 1764, he began working as a diplomat, succeeding Sir James Gray as the British ambassador to the Kingdom of Naples. While in Italy, Hamilton became involved in studying local volcanoes and collecting antiquities, becoming a fellow of the Royal Society and being given the Copley Medal. His second wife was Emma Hamilton, who was famed as the mistress of Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson.