John Hamilton

John Hamilton was British Consul at Norfolk, Virginia from 1790 until the outbreak of the War of 1812. Born in Scotland, Hamilton emigrated to Virginia and then North Carolina where he worked in his family's mercantile firm. A loyalist, Hamilton suffered great financial losses as a result of the American Revolution. During the war, he left North Carolina for British controlled New York City. He raised a regiment of North Carolina loyalists for the British military campagin in the South. Hamilton was transferred to East Florida with his regiment, the Royal North Carolina Regiment, after the British evacuated Charles Town. From there he travelled to Nova Scotia and then to London where he lobbied the government on behalf of former southern merchants. After serving as British Consul in Norfolk, Virginia, Hamilton returned to England after the outbreak of the war of 1812. He died there on December 12, 1816.