William Hamilton was born in Philadelphia. Following a printer's apprenticeship, he moved to Lancaster in 1794. There he published The Lancaster Journal, a newspaper he would edit until 1820. A Federalist, Hamilton sat in the state legislature (1811–12, 1813–14), served as a militia officer during the War of 1812, and was treasurer of Lancaster County (1816–18). He died on 10 April 1820.