Douglas Proby
Encyclopedia
Douglas James Proby DL
, JP
(23 September 1856 – 18 November 1931), known as Douglas Hamilton until 1904, was a British
politician and soldier.
. John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn
, was his great-grandfather and James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn
, his uncle. In 1904 he assumed by Royal license the surname of Proby in lieu of his patronymic. He was educated at Eton College
and went then to Christ Church College, Oxford, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1879 and a Master of Arts
in 1912.
. He was exchanged to the Coldstream Guards
in April and when two years later the Anglo-Egyptian War erupted, he fought with the 1st Battalion . He then became involved into the Mahdist War
with the 2nd Battalion and took part in the Battle of Suakin
in 1888. After the end of the war in 1891, he was promoted to captain and transferred to the 5th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. From 1897, he recruited new soldiers around Glasgow
and in the following year, was advanced to major. Proby was attached to the Irish Guards
in 1900 and became lieutenant-colonel after another four years. He was promoted to brevet-colonel in 1907 and retired in the following year. From 1914 Proby commanded a regimental district until 1917.
as Member of Parliament
for Saffron Walden
in the January 1910 general election. However, he lost his seat already in the December general election of the same year, and never returned to Parliament. He was appointed High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire in 1923 and was a Justice of the Peace
for Northamptonshire
and for Hampshire
. Proby represented the latter together with County Wicklow
also as Deputy Lieutenant
. He was invested as an Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (OStJ).
, and had by her four sons and a daughter. Proby died in 1931 at his residence Elton Hall
. His oldest son Granville was a lord lieutenant
and his third son Richard was created a baronet
.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(23 September 1856 – 18 November 1931), known as Douglas Hamilton until 1904, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
politician and soldier.
Background
Born Douglas Hamilton, he was the only son of Lord Claud Hamilton (1813–1884) and his wife Lady Elizabeth Emma, second daughter of Granville Proby, 3rd Earl of CarysfortGranville Proby, 3rd Earl of Carysfort
Granville Leveson Proby, 3rd Earl of Carysfort , known as the Honourable Granville Proby until 1855, was a British naval commander and Whig politician....
. John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn
John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn
John James Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn KG, PC was an Irish peer and politician.-Background:He was the son of Captain Hon. John Hamilton and grandson of James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn. He was educated at Harrow and Pembroke College, Cambridge...
, was his great-grandfather and James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn
James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn
James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn KG PC , styled Viscount Hamilton from 1814 to 1818 and the Marquess of Abercorn from 1818 to 1868, was a British Conservative politician and statesman who twice served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.In 1860, The Times noted that Hamilton was one of only three to...
, his uncle. In 1904 he assumed by Royal license the surname of Proby in lieu of his patronymic. He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and went then to Christ Church College, Oxford, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1879 and a Master of Arts
Master of Arts (Oxbridge)
In the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge and Dublin, Bachelors of Arts of these universities are admitted to the degree of Master of Arts or Master in Arts on application after six or seven years' seniority as members of the university .There is no examination or study required for the degree...
in 1912.
Military career
In January 1880, Proby was commissioned as 2nd lieutenant from the military college into the 109th Regiment of Foot109th Regiment of Foot (Bombay Infantry)
The 109th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1862 to 1881, when it was amalgamated into The Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment ....
. He was exchanged to the Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
in April and when two years later the Anglo-Egyptian War erupted, he fought with the 1st Battalion . He then became involved into the Mahdist War
Mahdist War
The Mahdist War was a colonial war of the late 19th century. It was fought between the Mahdist Sudanese and the Egyptian and later British forces. It has also been called the Anglo-Sudan War or the Sudanese Mahdist Revolt. The British have called their part in the conflict the Sudan Campaign...
with the 2nd Battalion and took part in the Battle of Suakin
Battle of Suakin
The Battle of Suakin occurred on 20 December 1888 when Francis Grenfell defeated the Mahdi forces near Suakin a chief port of Sudan. After one and a half hours of fighting, the casualties were 12 on the side of the British and Egyptians, and 1,000 on the side of the Arabs...
in 1888. After the end of the war in 1891, he was promoted to captain and transferred to the 5th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. From 1897, he recruited new soldiers around Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and in the following year, was advanced to major. Proby was attached to the Irish Guards
Irish Guards
The Irish Guards , part of the Guards Division, is a Foot Guards regiment of the British Army.Along with the Royal Irish Regiment, it is one of the two Irish regiments remaining in the British Army. The Irish Guards recruit in Northern Ireland and the Irish neighbourhoods of major British cities...
in 1900 and became lieutenant-colonel after another four years. He was promoted to brevet-colonel in 1907 and retired in the following year. From 1914 Proby commanded a regimental district until 1917.
Political career
Proby entered the British House of CommonsBritish House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
as Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Saffron Walden
Saffron Walden (UK Parliament constituency)
Saffron Walden is a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
in the January 1910 general election. However, he lost his seat already in the December general election of the same year, and never returned to Parliament. He was appointed High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire in 1923 and was a Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire is a landlocked county in the English East Midlands, with a population of 629,676 as at the 2001 census. It has boundaries with the ceremonial counties of Warwickshire to the west, Leicestershire and Rutland to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshire to the south-east,...
and for Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
. Proby represented the latter together with County Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
also as Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
. He was invested as an Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (OStJ).
Family
On 6 July 1882, Proby married Lady Margaret Frances Hely-Hutchinson, daughter of Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 4th Earl of DonoughmoreRichard Hely-Hutchinson, 4th Earl of Donoughmore
Richard John Hely-Hutchinson, 4th Earl of Donoughmore PC , styled Viscount Suirdale between 1832 and 1851, was a British Conservative politician.-Background:...
, and had by her four sons and a daughter. Proby died in 1931 at his residence Elton Hall
Elton Hall
Elton Hall is a baronial hall in Elton, Cambridgeshire. It has been the ancestral home of the Proby family since 1660.The hall lies in an estate through which the River Nene runs...
. His oldest son Granville was a lord lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
and his third son Richard was created a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
.