James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn
Encyclopedia
James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn KG
PC (21 January 1811 – 31 October 1885), 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 hold peerages in all three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland.
, Abercorn was the son of James Hamilton, Viscount Hamilton
, who died when his son was only three, eldest son of John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn
. His mother was Harriet Douglas, second daughter of the Hon. John Douglas, himself the son of James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton
. He was educated at Harrow School
and Christ Church, Oxford
. In 1818 he succeeded his grandfather in his titles. He received a Honorary Doctorate of Civil Laws by the University of Oxford
in 1856.
. Two years later he was appointed a Privy Counsellor and Groom of the Stole
to Prince Albert, and remained a prominent figure in the royal court for the next two decades. In 1866, he was appointed Viceroy of Ireland
, and two years later was created Marquess of Hamilton (in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
) and Duke of Abercorn (in the Peerage of Ireland
), resigning shortly after Gladstone
won the 1868 general election
. He was reappointed to the post in 1874, and the Duke served as Viceroy until his resignation in 1876, partly on account of his wife's ill health. In 1874, he was chosen Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland
, a post hel held until his death. Abercorn was Envoy-Extraordinary for the investiture of King Umberto I of Italy with the Order of the Garter on 2 March 1878. He was elected Chancellor
of the University of Ireland
in 1881, and died four years later at his home of Baronscourt, County Tyrone
.
, second daughter of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
, in 1832. They had fourteen children, thirteen of whom survived infancy:
Abercorn died in October 1885, aged 74, and was succeeded by his eldest son, James. The Duchess of Abercorn died in March 1905, aged 92. Through his son, the 2nd Duke, Abercorn is a great-great-great grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales
. Through his daughter, Lady Louisa, Abercorn is a great-grandfather of HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
and a great-great grandfather of Sarah, Duchess of York
.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
PC (21 January 1811 – 31 October 1885), styled Viscount Hamilton from 1814 to 1818 and the Marquess of Abercorn from 1818 to 1868, 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...
Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician and statesman who twice served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
.
In 1860, The Times
The Times
The Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
noted that Hamilton was one of only three to hold peerages in all three Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland.
Background and education
Born at Seymour Place, MayfairMayfair
Mayfair is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster.-History:Mayfair is named after the annual fortnight-long May Fair that took place on the site that is Shepherd Market today...
, Abercorn was the son of James Hamilton, Viscount Hamilton
James Hamilton, Viscount Hamilton
James Hamilton, Viscount Hamilton was a British nobleman and politician, the eldest son of John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn....
, who died when his son was only three, eldest son of 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...
. His mother was Harriet Douglas, second daughter of the Hon. John Douglas, himself the son of James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton
James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton
James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton KT FRS was a Scottish astronomer and representative peer who was President of the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh from its foundation in 1737 until his death...
. He was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church, Oxford
Christ Church or house of Christ, and thus sometimes known as The House), is one of the largest constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England...
. In 1818 he succeeded his grandfather in his titles. He received a Honorary Doctorate of Civil Laws by the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1856.
Political career
In 1844, Lord Abercorn was made a Knight of the Garter at the relatively young age of 33, becoming that same year Lord Lieutenant of DonegalLord Lieutenant of Donegal
This is a list of people who served as Lord Lieutenant of County Donegal. The office was created on 23 August 1831.*George Augustus Chichester, 2nd Marquess of Donegall 17 October 1831 – 5 October 1844...
. Two years later he was appointed a Privy Counsellor and Groom of the Stole
Groom of the Stole
Groom of the Stole in the British Royal Household is a position dating from the Stuart era but which evolved from the earlier Groom of the Stool, an office in existence until the accession of Elizabeth I. The original nomenclature derived from the chair used in the performance of the function...
to Prince Albert, and remained a prominent figure in the royal court for the next two decades. In 1866, he was appointed Viceroy of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
, and two years later was created Marquess of Hamilton (in the Peerage of the United Kingdom
Peerage of the United Kingdom
The Peerage of the United Kingdom comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Act of Union in 1801, when it replaced the Peerage of Great Britain...
) and Duke of Abercorn (in 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,...
), resigning shortly after Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
won the 1868 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1868
The 1868 United Kingdom general election was the first after passage of the Reform Act 1867, which enfranchised many male householders, thus greatly increasing the number of men who could vote in elections in the United Kingdom...
. He was reappointed to the post in 1874, and the Duke served as Viceroy until his resignation in 1876, partly on account of his wife's ill health. In 1874, he was chosen Grandmaster of the Grand Lodge of Ireland
Grand Lodge of Ireland
The Grand Lodge of Ireland is the second most senior Grand Lodge of Freemasons in the world, and the oldest in continuous existence. Since no specific record of its foundation exists, 1725 is the year celebrated in Grand Lodge anniversaries, as the oldest reference to Grand Lodge of Ireland comes...
, a post hel held until his death. Abercorn was Envoy-Extraordinary for the investiture of King Umberto I of Italy with the Order of the Garter on 2 March 1878. He was elected Chancellor
Chancellor (education)
A chancellor or vice-chancellor is the chief executive of a university. Other titles are sometimes used, such as president or rector....
of the University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
in 1881, and died four years later at his home of Baronscourt, County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
.
Family and children
Abercorn married Lady LouisaLouisa Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn
Lady Louisa Jane Russell was the wife of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, and the daughter of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford, by his second wife Lady Georgiana Gordon...
, second daughter of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford
John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford KG, PC, LLD, FSA , known as Lord John Russell until 1802, was a British Whig politician and notably served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in the Ministry of All the Talents...
, in 1832. They had fourteen children, thirteen of whom survived infancy:
- Lady Harriet Georgiana Louisa Hamilton (1834–1913), married in 1855 to Thomas George Anson, 2nd Earl of Lichfield. They had eight sons and five daughters.
- Lady Beatrix Frances Hamilton (1835–1871), married in 1854 to George Frederick D'Arcy Lambton, 2nd Earl of Durham
- Lady Louisa Jane Hamilton (1836–1912), married in 1859 to William Montagu Douglas Scott, 6th Duke of Buccleuch
- Lady Katherine Elizabeth Hamilton (c. 1838–1874), married in 1858 to William Henry Edgcumbe, 4th Earl of Mount Edgcumbe
- James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of AbercornJames Hamilton, 2nd Duke of AbercornJames Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn KG, CB, PC , styled Viscount Hamilton until 1868 and Marquess of Hamilton from 1868 to 1885, was a British nobleman and diplomat...
(1838–1913) - Lady Georgiana Susan Hamilton (1841–1913), married in 1882 to Edward Turnour, 5th Earl WintertonEdward Turnour, 5th Earl WintertonEdward Turnour, 5th Earl Winterton was an Irish peer and cricketer.He married Lady Georgiana Susan Hamilton , daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, by whom he had one son:*Edward Turnour, 6th Earl Winterton...
- Lord Claud Hamilton (1843–1925)
- Lord George HamiltonLord George HamiltonLord George Francis Hamilton GCSI, PC, JP was a British Conservative Party politician of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.-Background:...
(1845–1927) - Lady Albertha Frances Anne HamiltonAlbertha Spencer-Churchill, Duchess of MarlboroughLady Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Spencer-Churchill, VA , was an English aristocrat. She was the daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn and Lady Louisa Jane Russell....
(1847–1932), married in 1869 to George Charles Spencer-Churchill, 8th Duke of Marlborough. The marriage was annulled in 1883. - Lord Ronald Douglas Hamilton (1849–1867)
- Lady Maud Evelyn HamiltonMaud Petty-FitzMaurice, Marchioness of LansdowneMaud Evelyn Petty-Fitzmaurice, Marchioness of Lansdowne, GBE, CH, VA, CI , née Lady Maud Evelyn Hamilton, was a British courtier. She vice-regal spouce of Canada while her husband was Governor General of Canada from 1883-1888...
(1850–1932), married in 1869 to Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of LansdowneHenry Petty-FitzMaurice, 5th Marquess of LansdowneHenry Charles Keith Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne, KG, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, PC was a British politician and Irish peer who served successively as the fifth Governor General of Canada, Viceroy of India, Secretary of State for War, and Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs... - Lord Cosmo Hamilton (1853–1853, on the same day)
- Lord Frederick Spencer HamiltonLord Frederick Spencer HamiltonLord Frederick Spencer Hamilton was a Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom , the sixth son of James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn and Lady Louisa Jane Russell....
(1856–1928) - Lord Ernest HamiltonLord Ernest HamiltonLord Ernest William Hamilton was a United Kingdom soldier and Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1892....
(1858–1939)
Abercorn died in October 1885, aged 74, and was succeeded by his eldest son, James. The Duchess of Abercorn died in March 1905, aged 92. Through his son, the 2nd Duke, Abercorn is a great-great-great grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
. Through his daughter, Lady Louisa, Abercorn is a great-grandfather of HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester
Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester was a member of the British Royal Family, the wife and then widow of Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, the third son of George V and Queen Mary.The daughter of the 7th Duke of Buccleuch & Queensberry, Scotland’s largest landowner, her brothers Walter and...
and a great-great grandfather of Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York
Sarah, Duchess of York is a British charity patron, spokesperson, writer, film producer, television personality and former member of the British Royal Family. She is the former wife of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, whom she married from 1986 to 1996...
.