 Still identified as being the school's Rector in the "Handbook of Hamilton" published in 1862, Dickson died in 1863 and James Blacklock previously a teacher at Dundyvan Academy, Coatbridge, was appointed Rector, a position he held to 1897.In memory of Rector Blacklock pupils founded Gold Medals awarded annually for general scholarship to the Dux (boy and girl) of the school and the (James) Blacklock Bursary for pupils of Hamilton Academy to study in the Faculty of the Arts, University of Glasgow.Donald McLeod (who was later to become the first Director of Studies at the Jordanhill Teacher Training College) followed as Rector (1897–1908); succeeded in the Rectorship (1908–1924) by David M. Andrew (an Exhibitioner of Christ Church, Oxford) who planned the organisation, equipping and the move to the 'new' Academy building of 1913 and steered the school through World War I, and who was subsequently appointed Rector of Aberdeen Grammar School.