Lawyer and jurist. Born in Philadelphia, he came to St. Louis in 1835 and began a career in law that lasted for nearly fifty years. Among his contemporaries in the legal field were Edward Bates, Hamilton Gamble and Henry Geyer. The latter two were participants in the Dred Scott trials.Hamilton was first appointed a judge of the Circuit Court of St. Louis by Governor John Edwards and again by Governor Austin King. Later he was elected to that office by the people, serving fifteen years on the bench. His integrity was never questioned and his fame grew as he ruled on many important cases.The most famous of his decisions was his ruling in the Dred Scott trial in 1846. Although it was overturned in a later trial, it was ultimately reaffirmed by the Supreme Court in the controversial decision of Chief Justice Roger Taney. (bio by: Connie Nisinger)  Family links:  Spouse:  Julianna Keen Hamilton (1790 – 1880)* *Calculated relationship