Robert Ray Hamilton
American politician (1851–1890)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Robert Ray Hamilton (March 18, 1851 – August 1890) was an American politician from New York.
Robert Ray Hamilton | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New York State Assembly from the 11th district | |
| In office January 1, 1886 – December 31, 1889 | |
| Preceded by | Walter Howe |
| Succeeded by | William N. Hoag |
| In office January 1, 1881 – December 31, 1881 | |
| Preceded by | James M. Varnum |
| Succeeded by | J. Hampden Robb |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 18, 1851 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Died | August 1890 (aged 39) Snake River, Idaho, U.S. |
| Party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Evangeline L. Mann (née Steele)
(m. 1889) |
| Parent(s) | Schuyler Hamilton Cornelia Ray |
| Relatives | Hamilton family |
| Alma mater | Columbia College Columbia Law School |
| Occupation |
|
Early life
Robert Ray Hamilton was born on March 18, 1851, to General Schuyler Hamilton.[1] He was the grandson of John Church Hamilton (1792–1882); and great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton (1755/7–1804) and Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton.
Hamilton graduated from Columbia College and Columbia Law School.[1] He was admitted to the bar, and practiced law in New York City.
Career
Hamilton was elected as a Republican to the New York State Assembly (New York Co., 11th D.) in 1881, 1886, 1887, 1888 and 1889.[1] In 1879, he was a Republican candidate for alderman in New York City, but lost. He was a delegate to the 1888 Republican National Convention.[1]
In the summer of 1890, Hamilton bought a half interest in a ranch owned by John Sargent in Idaho on the road into Yellowstone Park where he intended to live permanently.[2][citation needed]
Personal life
In August 1889, it became known that he was married to Evangeline L. Mann (née Steele), a "notorious woman" who had ensnared him by claiming that he was the father of her child Beatrice. Evangeline Mann assaulted her maid, and was sentenced to two years in prison. In October 1889, Hamilton sued for divorce. He stated that the marriage had been performed on January 7, 1889, and told the truth about Beatrice which had been in fact some foundling used for the scheme to get money out of Hamilton (who had an income of about $40,000 a year inherited from his maternal grandfather Robert Ray). It was later proved in court that Eva had been married already to one Joshua L. Mann before she ever knew Hamilton, and Mann sued for divorce in 1893.[1][3][citation needed]
Hamilton left New York City to travel west on May 30, 1890. On August 23, 1890, he was found dead in the Snake River, near the Southern end of Yellowstone Park, apparently having drowned and having been in the water for several days, making identification somewhat difficult.[1][2] An investigation accused John Sargent of murdering Hamilton, but Sargent was found to be legally insane and was never prosecuted for the crime.[4]
