Hamilton Smith

American microbiologist (1931–2025)
Person human Q108896
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Hamilton Smith (August 23, 1931 – October 25, 2025) was an American biotechnologist, biochemist, biologist, and microbiologist[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. He was educated at University Laboratory High School, the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, the University of California, Berkeley, and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine[11]. His fields included microbiology, molecular biology, biochemistry, and genomics[12].

Smith was employed by the Johns Hopkins University, the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and the J. Craig Venter Institute[11]. He was a member of the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences[13]. His awards included the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, a Guggenheim Fellowship, the Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research, an honorary doctorate of the University of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, and an honorary doctorate of the University of Florida[14][15][16][17].

Hamilton Smith

Summary

Hamilton Smith is a human[1]. His place of birth was New York City[2]. He was born on August 23, 1931[3]. He passed away in Ellicott City[4]. He died on October 25, 2025[5]. He worked as a biotechnologist[6], biochemist[7], biologist[8], and microbiologist[9]. He ranks in the top 0.72% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (105 views/month, #7,202 of 1,000,298).[10]

Key Facts

  • Born in New York City[2], Hamilton Smith…
  • Hamilton Smith passed away in Ellicott City[4].
  • Hamilton Smith was born on August 23, 1931[3].
  • Hamilton Smith died on October 25, 2025[5].
  • Hamilton Smith held citizenship in United States[11].
  • Hamilton Smith's professions included biotechnologist[6].
  • Hamilton Smith's professions included biochemist[7].
  • Hamilton Smith's professions included biologist[8].
  • Hamilton Smith's professions included microbiologist[9].
  • Hamilton Smith's field of work was microbiology[12].
  • Hamilton Smith's field of work was molecular biology[13].
  • Hamilton Smith's field of work was biochemistry[14].
  • Hamilton Smith's field of work was genomics[15].
  • Hamilton Smith was employed by Johns Hopkins University[16].
  • Among Hamilton Smith's employers was Johns Hopkins School of Medicine[17].
  • Hamilton Smith was employed by J. Craig Venter Institute[18].
  • Hamilton Smith's education included a stint at University of California, Berkeley[19].
  • Hamilton Smith was educated at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine[20].
  • Hamilton Smith was educated at University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign[21].
  • Hamilton Smith's education included a stint at University Laboratory High School[22].
  • Hamilton Smith's education included a stint at Johns Hopkins University[23].
  • Hamilton Smith received the Guggenheim Fellowship[24].
  • Hamilton Smith received the Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research[25].
  • Hamilton Smith received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine[26].
  • Hamilton Smith received the honorary doctorate of the University of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria[27].

Body

Origins and Family

Born in New York City[2], Hamilton Smith… he was born on August 23, 1931[3].

Education

Educated at University of California, Berkeley[19], a public research university[28], in United States[29], founded in 1868[30], headquartered in Berkeley[31]; Johns Hopkins School of Medicine[20], a medical school[32], in United States[33], founded in 1893[34]; University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign[21], a public research university[35], in United States[36], founded in 1867[37]; University Laboratory High School[22], a high school[38], in United States[39], founded in 1921[40], headquartered in Urbana[41]; and Johns Hopkins University[23], a private university[42], in United States[43], founded in 1876[44], headquartered in Baltimore[45].

Career and Affiliations

Recorded occupations include biotechnologist[6], biochemist[7], biologist[8], and microbiologist[9]. Fields of work include microbiology[12], a branch of biology[46]; molecular biology[13], a branch of biology[47]; biochemistry[14], an interdisciplinary science[48]; and genomics[15], a branch of biology[49]. Employers include Johns Hopkins University[16], a private university[50], in United States[51], founded in 1876[52], headquartered in Baltimore[53]; Johns Hopkins School of Medicine[17], a medical school[54], in United States[55], founded in 1893[56]; and J. Craig Venter Institute[18], a biological research institute[57], in United States[58], founded in 1992[59], headquartered in Rockville[60].

Recognition

Awards received include Guggenheim Fellowship[24], a fellowship grant[61], in United States[62], founded in 1925[63]; Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research[25], a science award[64], in Spain[65]; Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine[26], a science award[66], in Sweden[67], founded in 1901[68]; honorary doctorate of the University of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria[27], an award[69], in Spain[70]; and Honorary doctorate of the University of Florida[71], an award[72], in United States[73].

Death and Burial

Hamilton Smith died on October 25, 2025[5]. He died in Ellicott City[4].

Why It Matters

Hamilton Smith ranks in the top 0.72% of human entities by monthly Wikipedia readership (105 views/month, #7,202 of 1,000,298).[10] He has Wikipedia articles in 26 language editions, a strong signal of global cultural recognition.[74] He is known by 38 alternative names across languages and contexts.[75]

FAQs

Where was Hamilton Smith born?

Born in New York City[2], Hamilton Smith…

Where did Hamilton Smith die?

Hamilton Smith passed away in Ellicott City[4].

What did Hamilton Smith do for work?

Hamilton Smith worked as biotechnologist[6], biochemist[7], biologist[8], and microbiologist[9].

Where did Hamilton Smith go to school?

Hamilton Smith was educated at University of California, Berkeley[19], Johns Hopkins School of Medicine[20], University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign[21], and University Laboratory High School[22].

What awards did Hamilton Smith receive?

Honors received include Guggenheim Fellowship[24], Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research[25], Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine[26], and honorary doctorate of the University of Las Palmas, Gran Canaria[27].

References

Programmatic citations — every numbered marker resolves to a verifiable graph row below.

Direct Wikidata claims

  1. [2] . Timelines of History. timelines.ws. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  2. [4] . wikidata.org.
  3. [11] . Infoplease. infoplease.com. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  4. [19] . wikidata.org.
  5. [20] . Hamilton Smith obituary: molecular biologist who co-discovered precise molecular scissors for cutting DNA. wikidata.org.
  6. [21] . wikidata.org.
  7. [22] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  8. [23] . wikidata.org.
  9. [12] . wikidata.org.
  10. [13] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  11. [14] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  12. [15] . Czech National Authority Database. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  13. [6] . wikidata.org.
  14. [7] . wikidata.org.
  15. [8] . wikidata.org.
  16. [9] . Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  17. [16] . wikidata.org.
  18. [17] . wikidata.org.
  19. [18] . Hamilton Smith obituary: molecular biologist who co-discovered precise molecular scissors for cutting DNA. wikidata.org.
  20. [24] . Guggenheim Fellows database. wikidata.org.
  21. [25] . wikidata.org.
  22. [26] . nobelprize.org. Retrieved . nobelprize.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  23. [27] . ulpgc.es. Retrieved . ulpgc.es. Provenance: wikidata.org.
  24. [71] . wikidata.org.
  25. [3] . Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved . wikidata.org.
  26. [5] . jcvi.org. Retrieved . jcvi.org. Provenance: wikidata.org.

Inline context (facts about related entities)

  1. [28] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  2. [29] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  3. [30] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  4. [31] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  5. [32] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  6. [33] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  7. [34] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  8. [35] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  9. [36] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  10. [37] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  11. [38] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  12. [39] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  13. [40] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  14. [41] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  15. [42] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  16. [43] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  17. [44] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  18. [45] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  19. [46] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  20. [47] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  21. [48] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  22. [49] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  23. [50] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  24. [51] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  25. [52] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  26. [53] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  27. [54] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  28. [55] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  29. [56] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  30. [57] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  31. [58] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  32. [59] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  33. [60] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  34. [61] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  35. [62] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  36. [63] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  37. [64] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  38. [65] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  39. [66] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  40. [67] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  41. [68] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  42. [69] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  43. [70] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  44. [72] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site
  45. [73] . Wikidata. wikidata.org. → on this site

Class ancestry

  1. [1] . Wikidata. wikidata.org.

Aggregate / graph-position facts

  1. [10] . Wikimedia Foundation. dumps.wikimedia.org.
  2. [74] . Wikidata sitelinks. wikidata.org.
  3. [75] . Wikidata aliases. wikidata.org.

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Use these citations when quoting this entity in research, articles, AI prompts, or wherever provenance matters. We aggregate Wikidata + Wikipedia + authoritative open-data sources; the stitched, scored, cross-referenced view is what 4ort.xyz contributes.

APA 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph. (2026). Hamilton Smith. Retrieved April 19, 2026, from https://4ort.xyz/entity/hamilton-smith
MLA “Hamilton Smith.” 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph, 4ort.xyz, 19 Apr. 2026, https://4ort.xyz/entity/hamilton-smith.
BibTeX @misc{4ortxyz_hamilton-smith_2026, author = {{4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph}}, title = {{Hamilton Smith}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://4ort.xyz/entity/hamilton-smith}, note = {Accessed: 2026-04-19}}
LLM prompt According to 4ort.xyz Knowledge Graph (aggregator of Wikidata, Wikipedia, and authoritative open-data sources): Hamilton Smith — https://4ort.xyz/entity/hamilton-smith (retrieved 2026-04-19)

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  1. 6d ago · Epìdosis · 2026-05-15 view diff on Wikidata ↗
    Openalex id A5076771387
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