James Alexander Greer Hamilton

James Alexander Greer Hamilton was born in January 1854 in Castle Caulfield, Co Tyrone, Ireland, the third son of a family of thirteen of Rev Robert Hamilton and his wife Emily, nee Kinley. He was educated at Trinity College, Dublin with an arts and medical degree in 1870 followed by a licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh.

He came to South Australia and was first registered in Adelaide in 1876 and received an appointment at Walloroo Hospital. He went to Kapunda after two years and stayed there for twelve years as a respected general practitioner and a skilful surgeon.

Whilst at Kapunda he became a foundation member of the newly formed South Australian branch of the BMA and in 1890 was its President, this influenced his decision to come to Adelaide. He joined the practice of Dr Way and was appointed to the Adelaide Hospital where he became a leading gynaecologist and the Head of Gynaecology at the Adelaide Hospital.

He was a member of the University of Adelaide Council from 1897-1911 and at one stage was on the Medical Board of South Australia. He was also appointed Lecturer, Gynaecology at the University of Adelaide from 1902 to 1920.

He took a leave of absence from the University in July 1915 to volunteer for the AIF and was posted to the No2 Hospital Ship.  Hamilton was discharged in December 1915, with his appointment terminated on 30 November 1915 and transferred to the Home Service staff of 7 AGH with the rank of honorary lieutenant colonel.   Hamilton was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Troubled by increasing deafness and declining health in 1920, Hamilton retired to a farm worked by his son in Katanning, Western Australia. After the death of his son Robert, in Katanning in 1922 he and his wife returned to South Australia.  In June 1923 he settled in Glenelg.

James Alexander Greer Hamilton died on the 8th October 1925 at the North Adelaide Sisters’ Private Hospital, aged 72 years. He is buried in the North Road Cemetery.