William A. Baillie-Hamilton

Sir William Alexander Baillie-Hamilton was born on 6 September 1844 in Brighton, Scotland. He was the son of Admiral William Alexander Baillie-Hamilton, who served as Second Secretary to the Admiralty from 1845 to 1855, and Lady Harriet Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton, Viscount Hamilton, Member of Parliament. Baillie-Hamilton was educated at Harrow School, where he completed his studies in 1863.

On 21 June 1871, he married Mary Aynscombe Mossop, daughter of Reverend John Mossop, the rector at Hothfield, Kent. The couple had two sons: George Douglas Baillie-Hamilton (1875–1934) and Walter Stuart Baillie-Hamilton (1880–1953).

In his youth, Baillie-Hamilton was active in sports, notably playing for the Scottish national team in the first football match against England held at Kennington Oval on 5 March 1870. The match ended in a 1–1 draw, with the Scottish goal scored by Robert Crawford. He also played cricket for Harrow School and later represented the Marylebone Cricket Club (M.C.C.) between 1877 and 1881. Additionally, he was selected by fellow civil servant James Kirkpatrick, along with his younger brother Charles Baillie-Hamilton, to represent Scotland in the same 1870 football match against England.

Baillie-Hamilton served in the military as a member of the East Lothians and Berwickshire Imperial Yeomanry. He was promoted to the rank of captain in June 1878 and ultimately attained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and Honorary Colonel of the regiment.

His civil service career began upon leaving Harrow when he joined the Colonial Office in 1864. He rose through the ranks, becoming a First Class Clerk in 1879. He served as secretary to the Colonial Conference in 1887 and was Private Secretary to both the Chief Secretary for Ireland and the Secretary of State for the Colonies from 1886 to 1892. In 1894, he became a Principal Clerk, and in 1897, he was appointed Chief Clerk of the Colonial Office, a position he held until his retirement in 1909. He also qualified as a barrister, being admitted to the Inner Temple in 1871.

In 1884, Baillie-Hamilton published a novel titled "Mr. Montenello: a romance of the civil service."

Throughout his career, Baillie-Hamilton received several honors. In May 1887, he was invested as a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG). In August 1892, he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). He was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (K.C.M.G.) during the 1897 Diamond Jubilee Honours, with the investiture taking place at Windsor Castle on 9 December 1897. In November 1901, he was appointed an Officer of Arms of the Order of St. Michael and St. George by King Edward VII. His title was later changed in May 1911 to Gentleman Usher of the Blue Rod, a position he maintained until his death.

Sir William Alexander Baillie-Hamilton died on 6 July 1920 at the age of 75.