William Hamilton: British Diplomat, Mount Vesuvius Expert & Classical Art Collector
Sir William Hamilton, portrait by George Romney, 1783-1784
Sir William Hamilton (1730–1803) was a British diplomat, antiquarian, and vulcanologist who served as Envoy to Naples from 1764-1800. Born into Scottish nobility, he became one of the most influential figures in 18th-century European diplomacy and classical scholarship. Hamilton conducted groundbreaking research on Mount Vesuvius eruptions and Mount Etna, earning the Royal Society Copley Medal for his scientific observations documented in "Campi Phlegraei" (1776). His passion for classical antiquities resulted in one of the most significant ancient Greek vase collections of the 18th century, later acquired by the British Museum. Hamilton's work profoundly influenced the neoclassical art movement and inspired renowned craftsmen like Josiah Wedgwood. He was also known for his marriage to Emma Hamilton and their famous relationship with Admiral Horatio Nelson.
