James Inglis Hamilton
Encyclopedia
General
James Inglis Hamilton, (before 1742 – 27 July 1803) was a Scottish soldier. He enlisted the British Army in 1755 and he commanded several regiment
s. He was the only colonel of the 113th Regiment of Foot
. During the Seven Years' War
(1756–1763), Hamilton fought in the Siege of Fort St Philip, the Raid on St Malo
, and the Capture of Belle Île
.
In the American War of Independence (1775–1783), Hamilton fought in the Invasion of Canada
and the Battle of Freeman's Farm, commanding the middle column during the latter. He was in the Convention Army
, imprisoned in Cambridge, Massachusetts
after its surrender following the Battle of Bemis Heights. While a prisoner of war, he adopted James Hamilton, the son of a non-commissioned officer in the British Army.
After his brother's death, Hamilton took over Murdostoun
, where he renovated the castle extensively. He died on 27 July 1803 at Murdostoun and is buried at Kirk
O’ Shotts graveyard. His adopted son took over Murdostoun before dying at the Battle of Waterloo
.
Hamilton (1723–1798), the latter a painter and archeologist in Rome. Inglis was added to the family name in 1719 as a condition of the will by which Alexander Inglis bequeathed Murdostoun to his nephew Alexander Hamilton, James's father.
on 28 February 1755 and was stationed at Portsmouth
. He first saw action in June 1756 at the Siege of Fort St Philip, part of the Seven Years' War
. Assigned to the 34th Regiment of Foot, he was one of the 2,800 British soldiers fighting under the command of William Blakeney
against 15,000 Frenchmen under the Duke de Richelieu and Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière
. The French sailed to Fort St. Philip and forced the British to surrender. During the siege, Admiral John Byng sailed there with a relief group, hoping to save the island for the British, but was unsuccessful. The French killed or wounded 400 British in the French victory.
Hamilton fought in the Raid on St Malo
in June 1758. The British landed near St Malo, at first planning to attack the town. However, they decided to destroy shipping first and attack the town later. Finding that to occupy the town would require a full siege, for which they had insufficient troops, they occupied St Servan, where they burned over one hundred vessels including thirty privateers. British ships retreated after seeing a large French force, but sailed around the coast for a few weeks seeking another place to attack. Even though the Raid on St Malo was small and little damage was done, it is considered a British victory.
In 1761, Hamilton took part in the Capture of Belle Île
as one of the 5,000 British troops led by Studholme Hodgson
. The first attempt by the British was unsuccessful and lost approximately 500 troops. With reinforcements, a second attempt succeeded on 7 June 1761.
On 17 October 1761, while holding the rank of major, Hamilton became major commandant (colonel) of the 113th Regiment of Foot
. It was formed from independent companies and served as a depot for sending drafts to Highland regiments serving overseas. The regiment disbanded in 1763, and Hamilton retired on half pay. He became a lieutenant-colonel on 25 May 1772.
in the American War of Independence; General John Burgoyne
said that he "was the whole time engaged and acquitted himself with great honor, activity, and good conduct." Early in 1776, while in the 21st Regiment, Hamilton accompanied General Guy Carleton
in the British response to the Continental Army
's 1775 invasion
of Quebec
. On 15 September 1776 he was appointed temporary commander of the 1st Brigade when Brigadier General Nesbit fell ill. Upon Nesbit's death, Hamilton was promoted to brigadier
. He was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, which consisted of the 34th
, 53rd
, 62nd
, and 20th Regiments of Foot. It was originally intended to include Hamilton's 21st Regiment of Foot in the brigade, but it was replaced by the 53rd.
. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade, comprising the 9th
, 47th
, and 53rd Regiments of Foot. Later, when Henry Watson Powell
transported the 62nd Regiment to Fort Ticonderoga
, the 1st and 2nd Brigades were amalgamated.
On 19 September 1777, in Stillwater, New York
, Hamilton commanded 1,100 men of the centre column, consisting of the 9th, 20th, 21st, and 62nd Regiments of Foot, which attacked the heights at the Battle of Freeman's Farm. His column was arrayed with the 21st on the right, the 20th on the left, the 62nd in the middle, and the 9th in reserve. To his left, Friedrich Adolf Riedesel commanded the 47th Regiment of Foot and some German troops. To Hamilton's right, Simon Fraser commanded the 24th Regiment of Foot along with light infantry
and grenadiers. Even though Hamilton was considered the commander, Burgoyne led the attack.
The centre column migrated toward the southwest to meet up with the right column. During the battle, Colonel Daniel Morgan
of the United States led a charge, but Hamilton's men turned it back and the British won the battle. Burgoyne had gained the field of battle, but suffered nearly 600 casualties, mostly in Hamilton's centre column, where the 62nd was reduced to the size of a single company and three quarters of the artillery men were killed or wounded. American losses were nearly 300 killed and seriously wounded.
In the next battle, the Battle of Bemis Heights, Hamilton was not as engaged as he was at Freeman's Farm: he was the guard of the camp near the heights. He was in the Convention Army
that surrendered after the battle, among about 5,900 troops that surrendered at Saratoga. The prisoners arrived at Cambridge, Massachusetts
on 8 November 1777. William Phillips commanded the Convention Army until he was exchanged for American General Benjamin Lincoln
in 1780; then Hamilton became the commander. While a prisoner of war, Hamilton adopted a boy named Jamie Anderson (1777–1815), the son of Sergeant Major
William Anderson of the 21st Foot. Hamilton name was "signed to the parole given by the officers ... in December". The Convention Army had to move to Charlottesville, Virginia
and arrived around January 1779. Hamilton was released on 3 September 1781, subject to the condition that he could not travel to America until the war was over.
in 1792. The boy changed his name to James Hamilton when he enlisted in the British Army.
Around 1790, Hamilton made various renovations to Murdostoun: filling the turret staircase and the old dungeons, adding a parapet running round the roof-line, and changing the original courtyard. On his brother Galvin's death in 1798, Hamilton took over Murdostoun. He came to be considered as one of the most influential freeholders in Lanarkshire.
Hamilton was the colonel of the 15th Regiment of Foot
from 22 August 1792 to 1794, during which he took part in the 1790s West Indies Campaign. He was colonel of his old regiment, the 21st Foot, from 1794 to 1803. While with them he was promoted to lieutenant-general on 26 January 1797 and to full general
on 29 April 1802.
Hamilton died on his estate in Scotland on 27 July 1803. On 18 August 1803, his son, who was his only heir, took over Murdostoun. James was killed while commanding the Royal Scots Greys at the Battle of Waterloo
.
|-
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
James Inglis Hamilton, (before 1742 – 27 July 1803) was a Scottish soldier. He enlisted the British Army in 1755 and he commanded several regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
s. He was the only colonel of the 113th Regiment of Foot
113th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highlanders)
The 113th Regiment of Foot, known as the Royal Highlanders, was authorized on 17 October 1761, and raised in Great Britain for service of the British Army under the command of James Inglis Hamilton. The regiment served as a depot for sending drafts to Highland regiments serving overseas. It was...
. During the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
(1756–1763), Hamilton fought in the Siege of Fort St Philip, the Raid on St Malo
Raid on St Malo
The Raid on St Malo took place in June 1758 when an amphibious British naval expedition landed close to the French port of St Malo in Brittany. While the town itself was not attacked, as had been initially planned, the British destroyed large amounts of shipping before re-embarking a week later...
, and the Capture of Belle Île
Capture of Belle Île
The Capture of Belle Île was a British amphibious expedition to capture the French island of Belle Île off the Brittany Coast in 1761, during the Seven Years War. After an initial British attack was repulsed, a second attempt under General Studholme Hodgson forced a beachhead...
.
In the American War of Independence (1775–1783), Hamilton fought in the Invasion of Canada
Invasion of Canada (1775)
The Invasion of Canada in 1775 was the first major military initiative by the newly formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of the British Province of Quebec, and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the...
and the Battle of Freeman's Farm, commanding the middle column during the latter. He was in the Convention Army
Convention Army
The Convention Army was an army of British and allied troops captured after the Battles of Saratoga in the American Revolutionary War.-Convention of Saratoga:...
, imprisoned in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
after its surrender following the Battle of Bemis Heights. While a prisoner of war, he adopted James Hamilton, the son of a non-commissioned officer in the British Army.
After his brother's death, Hamilton took over Murdostoun
Murdostoun
Murdostoun is or was a vast estate in Lanarkshire, Scotland, which includes a castle, , which lies on the South Calder Water near the village of Bonkle in the parish of Shotts, Lanarkshire, Scotland. The name MURDOSTOUN was derived from the words MURTHOCK and TON which meant dwelling of Murthock...
, where he renovated the castle extensively. He died on 27 July 1803 at Murdostoun and is buried at Kirk
Kirk
Kirk can mean "church" in general or the Church of Scotland in particular. Many place names and personal names are also derived from it.-Basic meaning and etymology:...
O’ Shotts graveyard. His adopted son took over Murdostoun before dying at the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
.
Early life
Very little is known of Hamilton's early life. He was the third son of Alexander (died 1768) and Margaret Hamilton (died 1742). His two older brothers were Alexander (died 1783) and GavinGavin Hamilton (artist)
Gavin Hamilton was a Scottish neoclassical history painterwho is more widely remembered for his hunts for antiquities in the neighborhood of Rome...
Hamilton (1723–1798), the latter a painter and archeologist in Rome. Inglis was added to the family name in 1719 as a condition of the will by which Alexander Inglis bequeathed Murdostoun to his nephew Alexander Hamilton, James's father.
Seven Years' War
Hamilton enlisted in the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
on 28 February 1755 and was stationed at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
. He first saw action in June 1756 at the Siege of Fort St Philip, part of the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
. Assigned to the 34th Regiment of Foot, he was one of the 2,800 British soldiers fighting under the command of William Blakeney
William Blakeney, 1st Baron Blakeney
William Blakeney, 1st Baron Blakeney KB was an Irish soldier known for his unsuccessful defence of the Spanish island of Minorca following the Battle of Minorca in 1756.-Early life:...
against 15,000 Frenchmen under the Duke de Richelieu and Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière
Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière
Roland-Michel Barrin de La Galissonière, Marquis de La Galissonière, sometimes spelled Galissonnière, was the French governor of New France from 1747 to 1749 and the victor in the Battle of Minorca in 1756.- New France :...
. The French sailed to Fort St. Philip and forced the British to surrender. During the siege, Admiral John Byng sailed there with a relief group, hoping to save the island for the British, but was unsuccessful. The French killed or wounded 400 British in the French victory.
Hamilton fought in the Raid on St Malo
Raid on St Malo
The Raid on St Malo took place in June 1758 when an amphibious British naval expedition landed close to the French port of St Malo in Brittany. While the town itself was not attacked, as had been initially planned, the British destroyed large amounts of shipping before re-embarking a week later...
in June 1758. The British landed near St Malo, at first planning to attack the town. However, they decided to destroy shipping first and attack the town later. Finding that to occupy the town would require a full siege, for which they had insufficient troops, they occupied St Servan, where they burned over one hundred vessels including thirty privateers. British ships retreated after seeing a large French force, but sailed around the coast for a few weeks seeking another place to attack. Even though the Raid on St Malo was small and little damage was done, it is considered a British victory.
In 1761, Hamilton took part in the Capture of Belle Île
Capture of Belle Île
The Capture of Belle Île was a British amphibious expedition to capture the French island of Belle Île off the Brittany Coast in 1761, during the Seven Years War. After an initial British attack was repulsed, a second attempt under General Studholme Hodgson forced a beachhead...
as one of the 5,000 British troops led by Studholme Hodgson
Studholme Hodgson
Field Marshal Studholme Hodgson was a British Commander during the 18th century. He is best known for commanding the 1761 British expedition which captured Belle Île.-Military career:...
. The first attempt by the British was unsuccessful and lost approximately 500 troops. With reinforcements, a second attempt succeeded on 7 June 1761.
On 17 October 1761, while holding the rank of major, Hamilton became major commandant (colonel) of the 113th Regiment of Foot
113th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highlanders)
The 113th Regiment of Foot, known as the Royal Highlanders, was authorized on 17 October 1761, and raised in Great Britain for service of the British Army under the command of James Inglis Hamilton. The regiment served as a depot for sending drafts to Highland regiments serving overseas. It was...
. It was formed from independent companies and served as a depot for sending drafts to Highland regiments serving overseas. The regiment disbanded in 1763, and Hamilton retired on half pay. He became a lieutenant-colonel on 25 May 1772.
American War of Independence
In 1774, Hamilton commanded the 21st Regiment of FootRoyal Scots Fusiliers
-The Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot :The regiment was raised in Scotland in 1678 by Stuart loyalist Charles Erskine, de jure 5th Earl of Mar for service against the rebel covenanting forces during the Second Whig Revolt . They were used to keep the peace and put down brigands, mercenaries, and...
in the American War of Independence; General John Burgoyne
John Burgoyne
General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist. He first saw action during the Seven Years' War when he participated in several battles, mostly notably during the Portugal Campaign of 1762....
said that he "was the whole time engaged and acquitted himself with great honor, activity, and good conduct." Early in 1776, while in the 21st Regiment, Hamilton accompanied General Guy Carleton
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester
Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester, KB , known between 1776 and 1786 as Sir Guy Carleton, was an Irish-British soldier and administrator...
in the British response to the Continental Army
Continental Army
The Continental Army was formed after the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War by the colonies that became the United States of America. Established by a resolution of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1775, it was created to coordinate the military efforts of the Thirteen Colonies in...
's 1775 invasion
Invasion of Canada (1775)
The Invasion of Canada in 1775 was the first major military initiative by the newly formed Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The objective of the campaign was to gain military control of the British Province of Quebec, and convince the French-speaking Canadiens to join the...
of Quebec
Province of Quebec (1763-1791)
The Province of Quebec was a colony in North America created by Great Britain after the Seven Years' War. Great Britain acquired Canada by the Treaty of Paris when King Louis XV of France and his advisors chose to keep the territory of Guadeloupe for its valuable sugar crops instead of New France...
. On 15 September 1776 he was appointed temporary commander of the 1st Brigade when Brigadier General Nesbit fell ill. Upon Nesbit's death, Hamilton was promoted to brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
. He was assigned to the 2nd Brigade, which consisted of the 34th
34th (Cumberland) Regiment of Foot
The 34th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, formed in 1702 and amalgamated with the 55th Regiment of Foot, into The Border Regiment in 1881.-Early 18th century :...
, 53rd
53rd Regiment of Foot
The 53rd Regiment of Foot was a British Army regiment founded in 1755. In 1881, as part of the Childers Reforms, it became The King's Shropshire Light Infantry Regiment. Its traditions are currently held by the 3rd battalion of The Light Infantry....
, 62nd
62nd Regiment of Foot
The 62nd Regiment of Foot may refer to:*60th Regiment of Foot, later the King's Royal Rifle Corps, known as the 62nd Regiment of Foot between 1755 and 1757...
, and 20th Regiments of Foot. It was originally intended to include Hamilton's 21st Regiment of Foot in the brigade, but it was replaced by the 53rd.
Saratoga campaign
Hamilton helped General Burgoyne organize troops for his campaign to divide the rebellious provincesSaratoga campaign
The Saratoga Campaign was an attempt by Great Britain to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War...
. He was assigned to the 1st Brigade, comprising the 9th
9th Regiment of Foot
The 9th Regiment of Foot was a infantry line regiment of the British Army from 1751 to 1881. It became the Norfolk Regiment following the Army reforms of 1881.-Early history:...
, 47th
47th Regiment of Foot
The 47th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army. First raised in 1741 in Scotland, the regiment saw service over a period of 140 years, before it was amalgamated with another regiment to become The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in 1881...
, and 53rd Regiments of Foot. Later, when Henry Watson Powell
Henry Watson Powell
General Henry Watson Powell was a British officer during the Seven Years' War and American Revolutionary War.Powell was born in England in 1733. He commissioned as a Lieutenant on 10 March 1753, with the 46th Regiment of Foot. He was promoted to Captain on 2 September 1756 and given command of...
transported the 62nd Regiment to Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga
Fort Ticonderoga, formerly Fort Carillon, is a large 18th-century fort built by the Canadians and the French at a narrows near the south end of Lake Champlain in upstate New York in the United States...
, the 1st and 2nd Brigades were amalgamated.
On 19 September 1777, in Stillwater, New York
Stillwater, New York
Stillwater is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 7,522 at the 2000 census. The town contains a village called Stillwater...
, Hamilton commanded 1,100 men of the centre column, consisting of the 9th, 20th, 21st, and 62nd Regiments of Foot, which attacked the heights at the Battle of Freeman's Farm. His column was arrayed with the 21st on the right, the 20th on the left, the 62nd in the middle, and the 9th in reserve. To his left, Friedrich Adolf Riedesel commanded the 47th Regiment of Foot and some German troops. To Hamilton's right, Simon Fraser commanded the 24th Regiment of Foot along with light infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
and grenadiers. Even though Hamilton was considered the commander, Burgoyne led the attack.
Daniel Morgan
Daniel Morgan was an American pioneer, soldier, and United States Representative from Virginia. One of the most gifted battlefield tacticians of the American Revolutionary War, he later commanded troops during the suppression of the Whiskey Rebellion.-Early years:Most authorities believe that...
of the United States led a charge, but Hamilton's men turned it back and the British won the battle. Burgoyne had gained the field of battle, but suffered nearly 600 casualties, mostly in Hamilton's centre column, where the 62nd was reduced to the size of a single company and three quarters of the artillery men were killed or wounded. American losses were nearly 300 killed and seriously wounded.
In the next battle, the Battle of Bemis Heights, Hamilton was not as engaged as he was at Freeman's Farm: he was the guard of the camp near the heights. He was in the Convention Army
Convention Army
The Convention Army was an army of British and allied troops captured after the Battles of Saratoga in the American Revolutionary War.-Convention of Saratoga:...
that surrendered after the battle, among about 5,900 troops that surrendered at Saratoga. The prisoners arrived at Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
on 8 November 1777. William Phillips commanded the Convention Army until he was exchanged for American General Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln
Benjamin Lincoln was an American army officer. He served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War...
in 1780; then Hamilton became the commander. While a prisoner of war, Hamilton adopted a boy named Jamie Anderson (1777–1815), the son of Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
Sergeants major is a senior non-commissioned rank or appointment in many militaries around the world. In Commonwealth countries, Sergeants Major are usually appointments held by senior non-commissioned officers or warrant officers...
William Anderson of the 21st Foot. Hamilton name was "signed to the parole given by the officers ... in December". The Convention Army had to move to Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
and arrived around January 1779. Hamilton was released on 3 September 1781, subject to the condition that he could not travel to America until the war was over.
Later life
After his exchange, Hamilton returned to England, where he funded his adopted son's education at Glasgow University. Because of his high rank, Hamilton was able to obtain a commission for his son, who became a cornetCornet (military rank)
Cornet was originally the third and lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, after captain and lieutenant. A cornet is a new and junior officer.- Traditional duties :The cornet carried the troop standard, also known as a "cornet"....
in 1792. The boy changed his name to James Hamilton when he enlisted in the British Army.
Around 1790, Hamilton made various renovations to Murdostoun: filling the turret staircase and the old dungeons, adding a parapet running round the roof-line, and changing the original courtyard. On his brother Galvin's death in 1798, Hamilton took over Murdostoun. He came to be considered as one of the most influential freeholders in Lanarkshire.
Hamilton was the colonel of the 15th Regiment of Foot
East Yorkshire Regiment
The East Yorkshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, first raised in 1685 as Sir William Clifton's Regiment of Foot. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated with the West Yorkshire Regiment , becoming The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of...
from 22 August 1792 to 1794, during which he took part in the 1790s West Indies Campaign. He was colonel of his old regiment, the 21st Foot, from 1794 to 1803. While with them he was promoted to lieutenant-general on 26 January 1797 and to full general
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
on 29 April 1802.
Hamilton died on his estate in Scotland on 27 July 1803. On 18 August 1803, his son, who was his only heir, took over Murdostoun. James was killed while commanding the Royal Scots Greys at the Battle of Waterloo
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
.
See also
|-