TNAG-2232-FCO40-3204-Visits-by-David-Wilson--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-the-UK-and-1991 — Page 110

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The

Hon Archie Hamilton MP

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Minister of State for the Armed Forces

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The Hon Archibald (Gavin) Hamilton was born in 1941. He was educated at Eton and is married and has three daughters. He is a farmer and previously was proprietor of his own small engineering company. From 1960-62 he served in the Coldstream Guards on a short service commission.

Mr Hamilton was a Councillor on the Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council from 1968-71. He served on the Housing and Welfare Committees and was a school governor. Since 1966 he has been a member of the Bow Group, and has contributed to a number of publications. He contested Dagenham in both General Elections of 1974. He was adopted as prospective Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Epsom in September 1977 and was elected Member in the by-election of April 1978 following the elevation to the Peerage of the sitting Member, Sir Peter Rawlinson.

Following the General Election of May 1979, Mr Hamilton was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to Mr David Howell, the Secretary of State for Energy and subsequently Transport.

In May 1982 he was appointed an Assistant Government Whip, and in 1984 was appointed Lord Commissioner to HM Treasury (Whip).

In September 1986 Mr Hamilton was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, Ministry of Defence. Shortly after the General Election in 1987 he was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister. However in July 1988 Mr Hamilton returned to the Ministry of Defence as Minister of State for the Armed Forces.