James A. Hamill

James Alphonsus Hamill (March 30, 1877 – December 15, 1941) was an attorney and American Democratic Party politician. He served as U.S. Representative from New Jersey's 10th (1907–1913) and 12th (1913–1921) Congressional Districts. At the Paris Peace conference of 1919 he served as counsel to the unrecognized Ukrainian delegation. At the time of his death he had been Corporation Counsel of Jersey City for 14 years[1].

James A. Hamill
From The Master, Mate and Pilot magazine, November 1908
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 12th district
In office March 4, 1913 – March 3, 1921
Preceded by	District created
Succeeded by	Charles F. X. O'Brien
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 10th district
In office March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1913
Preceded by	Allan Langdon McDermott
Succeeded by	Edward W. Townsend
Personal details
Born	(1877-03-30)March 30, 1877 Jersey City, New Jersey
Died	December 15, 1941(1941-12-15) (aged 64) Jersey City, New Jersey
Political party	Democratic

Biography

Hamill was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. He attended Saint Peter's College receiving his Bachelor's degree in 1897, and graduated from New York Law School in 1899; He was admitted to the bar of the State of New Jersey in 1900. Hamill served for four years in the New Jersey General Assembly (1902-1905), two of them as Minority Leader.[2] At the Paris Peace Conference of 1919 he served as counsel to the unrecognized Ukrainian Delegation; He was considered one of the best linguists in Congress, having at his command Greek, Latin, Russian,German and French and was decorated as a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor for his work in French literature[1]. During Eamon de Valera's visit to the United States in 1919, Hamill introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives calling on President Wilson to refuse to receive Auckland Geddes as Ambassador of both Britain and Ireland, but to receive Dr, Patrick McCartan, who had been sent by the Provisional government of Ireland as the Irish ambassador[3]. Hamill represented Mayor Frank Hague in the free speech case which was instituted in July 1938 by the C.I.O. and the American Civil Liberties Union. He also led Jersey City's fight to recover $14,000,000 in taxes from the railroads[1]. He was married to the former Mary Josephine Mylotte. They had six children[1].

Hamill is interred in Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City, New Jersey.

References

1. New York Times Obituary, December 16, 1941
2. Manual of the Legislature of New Jersey. J.A. Fitzgerald. 1915. p. 319.
3. Dave Hannigan, De Valera in America, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, Hampshire, England, 2008

External links

• United States Congress. "James A. Hamill (id: H000099)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Allan L. McDermott	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 10th congressional district 1907 – 1913	Succeeded by Edward W. Townsend
Preceded by District created	Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New Jersey's 12th congressional district 1913 – 1921	Succeeded by Charles F.X. O'Brien