Sir William Alexander Baillie-Hamilton, KCMG, was born on September 6, 1844, in Sussex, England, the son of Admiral William Alexander Baillie-Hamilton and Lady Harriet Hamilton.
 
He was a Scottish civil servant who graduated from Harrow in 1863. He joined the Colonial Office in 1864 and rose to the rank of First-Class Clerk in 1879. Between 1886 and 1892, he served as Private Secretary to the Chief Secretary for Ireland and the Secretary of State for the Colonies. He also served as Secretary to the Colonial Conference in 1887 and was Chief Clerk of the Colonial Office from 1896 to 1909, when he retired. He was also a qualified barrister and was admitted to the Inner Temple in 1871. In 1884, Baillie-Hamilton published a novel titled "Mr. Montenello: A Romance of the Civil Service". He was also a keen sportsman in his youth and played for the Scottish side in the first football match against England in 1870. Baillie-Hamilton received several honors during his career. He was invested as a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George in 1887 and as a Companion of the Order of the Bath (C.B.) in 1892. He was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (K.C.M.G.) in the 1897 Diamond Jubilee Honours. In 1901, he was appointed an Officer of Arms of the Order of St. Michael and St. George by King Edward VII. In 1911, the title was changed to Gentleman Usher of the Blue Rod, a position he held until his death.
 
In 1871, he married Mary Aynscombe Mossop (1844-1919). He died on July 6, 1920, in Middlesex, England.