Richard J. Hamilton
Richard J. Hamilton | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Chicago Common Council | |
| In office 1849–1851 Serving with Samuel McKay (1849–50) and F.C. Hageman (1849–51) | |
| Preceded by | Samuel McKay |
| Succeeded by | Walter Loomis Newberry |
| Constituency | 9th ward |
| In office 1840–1841 | |
| Preceded by | John H. Kinzie |
| Succeeded by | George F. Foster |
| Constituency | 6th ward |
| 2nd Cook County Clerk | |
| In office December 1831 – August 1837 | |
| Appointed by | Cook County Board of Commissioners |
| Preceded by | William Lee |
| Succeeded by | George Davis |
| 1st Cook County Recorder | |
| In office 1831–1839 | |
| Preceded by | office established |
| Succeeded by | Eli R. Williams |
| 1st Probate Judge of Cook County | |
| In office February 1831 – September 1835 | |
| Appointed by | Illinois General Assembly |
| Preceded by | office established |
| Succeeded by | Issac Harmon |
| 1st Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County | |
| In office 1831–1841 | |
| Preceded by | office established |
| Succeeded by | H. G. Hubbard |
| Justice of the Peace of Jackson County, Illinois | |
| In office 1826–1831 | |
| Appointed by | Illinois General Assembly |
| Personal details | |
| Born | August 21, 1799 Mercer County, Kentucky |
| Died | December 26, 1860 (aged 61) Chicago, Illinois |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Diana W. Buckner
(m. 1822; death 1834)Harriette L. Hubbard
(m. 1835; death 1842)Priscilla P. Tuley (m. 1843) |
| Alma mater | Shelbyville College |
| Occupation | Judge, politician, lawyer, clerk |
Richard Jones Hamilton (August 21, 1799 – December 12, 1860) was an American politician and judge. Hamilton was born in Kentucky, but moved to Illinois in his early adulthood where he held numerous public offices. Hamilton was a member of the Democratic Party. In the 1830s, Hamilton moved to Cook County, Illinois, where he served as a county judge, the recorder of deeds, county clerk, clerk of the Circuit Court, clerk of the Cook County Commissions Court, and also held several minor municipal offices in Chicago. In the 1840s, Hamilton twice won election to the Chicago Common Council (city council) as a Democrat. He was a Democratic presidential elector in 1852, and was the Democratic Party's unsuccessful nominee for lieutenant governor of Illinois in 1856