Biography:

Dr. George Harold “Ross” Hamilton was born in Chesterville (Dundas County), Ontario on the 3rd of March 3, 1889.  Dr. Hamilton was the eldest of 3 children born to George H. Hamilton and the former Lundie Parker.  His parents were farmers and his siblings were;  Andrew Grant Hamilton and Lillie N. Hamilton.  Dr. Hamilton was schooled in Chesterville until he was 14 years old.  His parents moved to Guelph and he graduated high school from Guelph Collegiate Institute.

Dr. Hamilton attended The University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine and graduated in 1910 when he was 21 years old. Dr. Hamilton interned at St Mary’s Hospital in Detroit, Michigan.  He did post graduate work at Edinburgh University where he achieved a F.R.C.S. designation.  For a short period of time, Dr. Hamilton practiced medicine in Athens, Ontario.

On the 30th of June 1915, Dr. Hamilton married Anne Windsor in York County, Ontario.  Mrs. Hamilton was born in Stouffville, Ontario on the 21st of January 1886.  She was the youngest of 6 children born to Robert Windsor and the former Annie Pouche.  Her father was a labourer and her siblings were; Daniel, Lucy, John, Elizabeth and Pleasant.  Mrs. Hamilton was a high school teacher.

The same year that he was married, Dr. Hamilton continued his medical studies in Edinburgh, Scotland and he received his Fellowship of Royal College of Surgeons (F.R.C.S.) in 1917.

Dr. and Mrs. Hamilton were the parents of a daughter, Jean (Hamilton) Scott, who was born in Scotland.

Dr. Hamilton joined the French Medical Service as a Major during World War I. The long hours and heavy workload, took its toll and his health suffered. He returned to Canada to convalesce and he worked in Ottawa for the Pension Board.

After the war ended, Dr. Hamilton practiced medicine in Petrolia (Lambton County), Ontario for 12 years. He took a little more than a year off to study in Paris, London and Vienna and when he returned to Canada he set up a medical practice in Chatham.  In 1934 Dr. Hamilton’s office was located at 57 Sixth Street in Chatham.

In 1940, Dr. Hamilton was the Chairman of the medical staff of Public General Hospital. He served as the President of the Kent County Medical Society in 1942.  According to the 1941 Shepherds City of Chatham Business Directory, Dr. Hamilton’s office was located at 39 Sixth Street.  Dr. and Mrs. Hamilton resided at 294 Victoria Avenue.

Towards the end of his career, he held the position of Examiner in Surgery for the University of Western Ontario. Dr. Hamilton was a member of the Macaulay Club, the Royal Canadian Legion, the Kiwanis Club and a member of the Masonic Lodge. His hobbies included fishing and boating. He was named a Fellow of the International College of Surgeons.

Dr. Hamilton died at the Public General Hospital in Chatham, on the 10th of February, 1951.  At the time of his death, he resided at 294 Victoria Ave. in Chatham.   His wife Anne died at the Public General Hospital on the 29th of October, 1977.  Dr. and Mrs. Hamilton were buried at Maple Leaf Cemetery in Chatham.