Sir William Rowan Hamilton (1805-1865) is generally regarded as having been an unhappily married alcoholic. The aim of this essay is to show that, contrary to this widespread belief, Hamilton had a good marriage, that in fact large parts of his marriage were fairly happy. It is discussed where the idea of his marriage as having been an unhappy one came from, and it is shown that according to current standards he was by no means an alcoholic.

For a biographical sketch about Catherine Disney, Hamilton’s ‘first love’, see Catherine Disney : a biographical sketch.

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