 U.S. Navy collection portrait of Paul Hamilton. Paul Hamilton (1762-1816) was the 3rd United States Secretary of the Navy, from 15 May 1809 - 31 December 1812.
Paul Hamilton was born in Saint Paul's Parish, South Carolina, on 16 October 1762. During the American War of Independence he served actively in military roles in the southern states, fighting under Gen. Marion. He participated with Col. Harden in the capture of Fort Balfour.
Following the war, he was a planter and public figure. Hamilton served South Carolina in many public offices including state Representative (1787), state Senator (1794), Comptroller (1800), and Governor (1804).
In 1809, President James Madison selected Hamilton to become the third Secretary of the Navy. His term in office included the first months of the War of 1812, during which time the small United States Navy achieved several remarkable victories over British warships.
Hamilton was a proponent of military preparedness, especially sea fortifications. Although he wanted to strengthen the Navy, he found the Congress hostile and the President indifferent to his ideas. However, he was responsible for the Naval Hospitals Act of 1811. Secretary Hamilton resigned at the end of 1812 and returned to South Carolina, where he died in Beaufort on 30 June 1816.
Three Navy ships have been named in honor of Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton: USS Paul Hamilton (DD-307), 1920-1931, USS Paul Hamilton (DD-590), 1943-1970, and USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60), 1995-present.
This article includes public domain text from the Naval Historical Center.
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