Hamilton worked for the Boardman–Hamilton & Company Insurance company, eventually becoming its chairman. He also followed his father into politics; from 1951 to 1955, he served in the
Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
In 1955, he ran for
Philadelphia City Council from the 8th district and won, the only Republican to win a district seat that year. In 1956, after his brother William Jr. died, he became leader of the 21st ward. He rose through the ranks of the Republican Party hierarchy to become Chairman of the City Committee, the effective boss of the organization. He was a delegate to the
1964 Republican National Convention. ==Death==