c.1842 Born in Ardrossan son of John and Elizabeth Hamilton; brother of William Hamilton.
1862 Robert Duncan, Junior decided to strike out on his own. With John McGregor and John Hamilton and using his father's company name, he took over the East Yard in Port Glasgow from John Reid and Co.
1867 William Hamilton was in business with his brother John Hamilton.
1870 Retired from Robert Duncan and Co
1877 John Hamilton, James Hamilton and Alexander Carnegie Kirk purchased the shipyard and engine works of Robert Napier and Sons for the sum of £270,000 and carried on the business under the old title[1].
1881 John Hamilton 39, Shipbuilder & Coal Master, living in Port Glasgow with Thomas W Hamilton 17, Elizabeth Hamilton 16, John Hamilton 74, Mary Harvey 45, Robert Harvey 21, commercial clerk ship builder, John H Harvey 19[2]
1891 Shipbuilder Ship Owner & Coal Master
1910 Partner in Robert Napier and Sons[3]