Michael Hamilton

Michael Hamilton was an early pioneer of the clinical research into effective management of essential hypertension, demonstrating for the efficacy of trials based within a community rather than a teaching hospital setting.

Michael was born in Bradford, Yorkshire, to Archibald and Silvia (née Wolf). Archibald was a general practitioner with a distinguished first world war record as a captain in the Royal Army Medical Corps. A family friend was the physician Charles Wilson, who later became Baron Moran.

Michael was educated at a primary school in Bradford, where a fellow pupil and future lifetime friend was Stanley Peart. His secondary education at the Royal Medical Benevolent College, Epsom (now Epsom College), followed the premature death of his father and the encouragement of Charles Wilson to seek a scholarship.

Michael graduated with distinction in pathology and obstetrics, and undertook house officer posts at Amersham Hospital. He met Jane, a nurse, at the hospital, and they married in 1946.

After national service, Michael returned to St Mary’s Hospital as a medical registrar and senior registrar …