Richard Hamilton, 4th Viscount Boyne

Hamilton was born on 24 March 1724.[1] He was the younger son of Gustavus Hamilton (second of Gustavus Hamilton, 1st Viscount Boyne), and his wife the Dorothea Bellew (a daughter of Richard Bellew, 3rd Baron Bellew of Duleek).[2] His uncles were Frederick Hamilton and Henry Hamilton.[2]

Hamilton joined the Royal Navy, and was promoted to lieutenant on 2 June 1748.[3] Two days after this he was appointed to the 80-gun ship of the line HMS Russell as her third lieutenant, in the Mediterranean Sea.[1]

Hamilton entered the Irish House of Commons in 1755 and sat as Member of Parliament (MP) for Navan until 1761.[4] He was High Sheriff of Meath in 1766.[5] On 8 June 1757 he joined the 74-gun ship of the line HMS Magnanime as her third lieutenant; he served in her until 11 July and did not receive any further appointments in the navy.[1] On 2 January 1772 he succeeded his older brother Frederick Hamilton, 3rd Viscount Boyne as viscount.[6]

Hamilton married Georgiana Bury, second daughter of William Bury and his wife Jane Moore. Her maternal grandfather was John Moore, 1st Baron Moore,[7] and her mother was the sister and heiress of Charles Moore, 1st Earl of Charleville. Together, they were the parents of seventeen children, seven sons and ten daughters, including:[7]

• Gustavus Hamilton, 5th Viscount Boyne (1749–1816), who married Martha Somerville, only daughter of Sir Quaile Somerville, 2nd Baronet, in 1773.[8]
• Charles Hamilton (1750–1794), who married Ms. Lister, daughter of Christopher Kirwan Lister, in 1785.[8]
• Catherine Hamilton (1754–1795), who married Hugh Montgomery Lyons of Belhaval on 2 February 1773.[8]
• Sophia Hamilton (b. 1769), who married William John Lowe and, secondly, Rev. Bigoe Henzell, Rector of Kilwahon.[8]
• Anne Hamilton (1771–1828), who married Thomas Craven.[8]

Lord Boyne died on 30 July 1789.[1]