 Hamilton Academy was headed by the Rector and with such a history, a long list of educationalists served as Rector of the school.Compiled by William Munk, the Munk's Roll of former Fellows of the Royal College of Physicians, London, identifies a "Mr. Whale" as being master of the school when Matthew Baillie was a pupil (leaving the school for the University of Glasgow in 1774) and the "Statistical Account of Lanarkshire" of 1835 again mentions Whale, between mention of "Pillans" (or Pillance, Richard) and "Gillies", as among the "eminent teachers (who) have been masters of this school," and giving the Rev.George Shaw as master (rector) of the school at 1835.