Gustavus Hamilton, 1st Viscount Boyne
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Gustavus Hamilton, 1st Viscount Boyne PC (Ire)
(1642 – 16 September 1723) was an Irish
peer, soldier and politician.
, and his wife Sidney Vaughan, daughter of Sir John Vaughan. Hamilton was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
and was awarded the degree of a Doctor of Civil Law
in 1677.
on the accession of King James II of England in 1685. Shortly after this he quit his service and therefore was attained. In the Glorious Revolution
, he was appointed colonel of the 20th Foot by William of Orange
in 1689 and fought with his regiment in the Siege of Derry
and then in the Storming of Athlone, becoming the town's governor. In the Battle of the Boyne
in the following year, his horse was shot under him and he almost killed. He was promoted to brigadier-general in 1696 and major-general in 1704. Boyne served as Vice-Admiral of Ulster from 1691 until 1710 and again from 1716 until his death in 1723.
From 1692 to 1713, Hamilton sat in the Irish House of Commons
for Donegal County. Subsequently he was returned for Strabane
until 1715, when he was elevated to the Peerage of Ireland
as Baron Hamilton of Stackallan, in the County of Meath. On 20 August 1717, Hamilton was further honoured, when he was created Viscount Boyne, in the Province of Leinster, also in the Irish Peerage. In 1710, he was invested to the Privy Council of Ireland
.
. His oldest son Frederick
having predeceased him in 1715, Hamilton was succeeded in his titles by his grandson Gustavus
. Hamilton's second son Gustavus
, the father of the 3rd Viscount Boyne and 4th Viscount Boyne
, represented Donegal County as well as Boyne's third son Henry
.
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(1642 – 16 September 1723) was an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
peer, soldier and politician.
Background
He was the third son of Hon. Frederick Hamilton, fifth and youngest son of the 1st Lord PaisleyClaud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley
Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley was a Scottish politician. He was a younger son of James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran. In 1553, he received the lands of the abbey of Paisley...
, and his wife Sidney Vaughan, daughter of Sir John Vaughan. Hamilton was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
and was awarded the degree of a Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws degrees....
in 1677.
Career
Hamilton was captain in the English Army and was sworn of the Privy Council of EnglandPrivy Council of England
The Privy Council of England, also known as His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, was a body of advisers to the sovereign of the Kingdom of England...
on the accession of King James II of England in 1685. Shortly after this he quit his service and therefore was attained. In the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
, he was appointed colonel of the 20th Foot by William of Orange
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
in 1689 and fought with his regiment in the Siege of Derry
Siege of Derry
The Siege of Derry took place in Ireland from 18 April to 28 July 1689, during the Williamite War in Ireland. The city, a Williamite stronghold, was besieged by a Jacobite army until it was relieved by Royal Navy ships...
and then in the Storming of Athlone, becoming the town's governor. In the Battle of the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
in the following year, his horse was shot under him and he almost killed. He was promoted to brigadier-general in 1696 and major-general in 1704. Boyne served as Vice-Admiral of Ulster from 1691 until 1710 and again from 1716 until his death in 1723.
From 1692 to 1713, Hamilton sat in the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
for Donegal County. Subsequently he was returned for Strabane
Strabane (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Strabane was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-1692–1801:...
until 1715, when he was elevated to the Peerage of Ireland
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
as Baron Hamilton of Stackallan, in the County of Meath. On 20 August 1717, Hamilton was further honoured, when he was created Viscount Boyne, in the Province of Leinster, also in the Irish Peerage. In 1710, he was invested to the Privy Council of Ireland
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
.
Family
He married Elizabeth Brooke, second daughter of Sir Henry Brooke. They had three sons and a daughter. Hamilton died and was buried at Stackallen in County MeathCounty Meath
County Meath 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 ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
. His oldest son Frederick
Frederick Hamilton (Donegal politician)
The Honourable Frederick Hamilton , was an Irish politician.He was the oldest son of Gustavus Hamilton, 1st Viscount Boyne and his wife Elizabeth Brooke, daughter of Sir Henry Brooke. His younger brothers were Gustavus Hamilton and Henry Hamilton...
having predeceased him in 1715, Hamilton was succeeded in his titles by his grandson Gustavus
Gustavus Hamilton, 2nd Viscount Boyne
Gustavus Hamilton, 2nd Viscount Boyne PC was an Irish peer and politician.He was the oldest son of Hon. Frederick Hamilton, oldest son of Gustavus Hamilton, 1st Viscount Boyne, and his wife Sophia Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton. His uncles were Gustavus Hamilton and Henry Hamilton...
. Hamilton's second son Gustavus
Gustavus Hamilton (politician)
Gustavus Hamilton , styled The Honourable from 1715, was an Irish politician.He was the second son of Gustavus Hamilton, 1st Viscount Boyne and his wife Elizabeth Brooke, daughter of Sir Henry Brooke. His younger brother was Henry Hamilton...
, the father of the 3rd Viscount Boyne and 4th Viscount Boyne
Richard Hamilton, 4th Viscount Boyne
Richard Hamilton, 4th Viscount Boyne was an Irish peer and politician.He was the younger son of Hon. Gustavus Hamilton, second of Gustavus Hamilton, 1st Viscount Boyne, and his wife Hon. Dorothea Bellew, daughter of Richard Bellew, 3rd Baron Bellew of Duleek. His uncles were Frederick Hamilton and...
, represented Donegal County as well as Boyne's third son Henry
Henry Hamilton (politician)
Henry Hamilton , styled The Honourable from 1715, was an Irish politician.He was the youngest son of Gustavus Hamilton, 1st Viscount Boyne and his wife Elizabeth Brooke, daughter of Sir Henry Brooke. In 1725, he entered the Irish House of Commons for St Johnstown , a seat he held until 1727...
.