William John Hamilton (1805-1867) English geologist and eldest son of the famed antiquarian and purchaser of the Rosetta Stone, William Richard Hamilton (1777-1859), studied at the University of Goettingen from 1825-1827. The Hamilton Papers consists principally of correspondence written by William John Hamilton to his parents, reflecting the young geologist's intellectual development, his course of study, student life, and holiday travels. Arranged chronologically, the letters mirror the political and cultural events of the period.