William J. Hamilton

William J. Hamilton, Jr. (born December 26, 1932) is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served in both houses of the New Jersey Legislature, where he represented the 17th Legislative District. He was Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly for the 1977 session.

Hamilton was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey to William J. Hamilton and May V. Mulligan. After receiving a B.A. degree from Rutgers University in 1954, he served in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Lieutenant, Junior Grade. In 1960 he received a J.D. from Georgetown University. He moved to Florida, where he was a law clerk for a U.S. District Court judge (1960–1961) and an assistant U.S. attorney (1962–67).

Hamilton returned to New Brunswick, becoming a partner in the law firm of Hamilton and Mulligan. He served as New Brunswick director of municipal civil defense and disaster control in 1970. The following year he was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly from the 17th Legislative District in Middlesex and Somerset Counties. Hamilton served three terms, becoming assistant majority leader in 1974 and majority leader for the 1976 session. He was named Speaker in January 1977, following the election of incumbent Joseph A. LeFante to the United States House of Representatives.

Hamilton's term as Speaker ended after his election to the New Jersey Senate, replacing John A. Lynch, Sr., in 1977. In 1981, rather than run for reelection, he sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of New Jersey. However his candidacy was hurt in its early stages when key Municipal Chairs in his home county of Middlesex declined to endorse him. He stayed in the race and finished tenth in a field of thirteen. When his Senate term ended in 1982, he was succeeded in the 17th District senate seat by John A. Lynch, Jr. and he returned to his New Brunswick law practice. He is now city attorney of New Brunswick.

Hamilton married Barbara Brown in 1958, and the couple had four children. He continues to reside in New Brunswick.