Paul Hamilton was born in Saint Paul's Parish, South Carolina, on 16 October 1762. During the American War of Independence he served actively in military roles in the southern states. Following the war, he was a planter and public figure, being elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 1787, to the state Senate in 1794 and to the office of state Governor in 1804.

In 1809, President James Madison selected Governor Hamilton to become the Nation's third Secretary of the Navy. His term in office included the first months of the War of 1812, during which time the small United States Navy achieved several remarkable victories over British warships. Secretary Hamilton resigned at the end of 1812 and returned to South Carolina, where he died on 30 June 1816.

Three Navy ships have been named in honor of Secretary of the Navy Paul Hamilton: USS Paul Hamilton (DD-307), 1920-1931, USS Paul Hamilton (DD-590), 1943-1970, and USS Paul Hamilton (DDG-60), 1995-present.