Sir Hamilton Goold-Adams was born in 1858 in County Cork, Ireland. In 1911 he married Elsie Riordan of Montreal, Canada, and they had two children, Richard and Elizabeth.

In 1878 Goold-Adams joined The Royal Scots Regiment and served in India, Ireland, Malta and the West Indies. In 1884 he travelled to Africa as part of the Bechuanaland Expedition led by Major-General Sir Charles Warren and in 1885 was seconded to the newly formed Bechuanaland Border Police. In 1896 he was appointed Administrator of the Bechuanaland Protectorate and became Resident Commissioner the following year. He saw active service during the South African War (mentioned in despatches) and was Commandant of the Town Guard during the siege of Mafeking. In 1901 he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the Orange River Colony and became Governor in 1907.

Following the formation of the Union of South Africa (1910) Goold-Adams left Africa to take up the post of High Commissioner of Cyprus (1911). In 1914 he moved to Australia as Governor of Queensland, a post he held until retirement in 1920. He died the same year whilst on a visit to South Africa en route back to England.