Hamilton is best known for his work in the field of high-energy astrophysics, particularly his studies of black holes, active galactic nuclei, and quasars. He is also known for his work in the history of astronomy, and his popular science writings. He has published over 100 scientific papers and several popular science books, including *The Great Cosmic Cookoff: How Fusion Shapes the Universe* and *Journey Through the Universe*.
Hamilton was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1953. He received his B.Sc. degree in physics from the University of Glasgow in 1975. In 1977, he received a M.Sc. in astrophysics from the University of Oxford. In 1980, he received a Ph.D. in astrophysics from the University of Cambridge.
Hamilton has held a number of research and teaching positions at the University of Cambridge, the University of Waterloo, and the University of Victoria. In 1997, he joined the National Research Council of Canada as a research scientist. In 2002, he was appointed Deputy Director of the Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics.
Hamilton is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the American Astronomical Society, and the International Astronomical Union. He is also a member of the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research. In 2011, he was awarded the Herzberg Medal by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada.