John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton
Encyclopedia
John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton (c. 1535– 26 April 1604) was a Scottish nobleman.
by his wife Margaret Douglas, a daughter of James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton
. His elder brother, was James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran
and younger was Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley
.
In 1547, at an early age he was made Commendator of Inchaffray Abbey
, a position he held until 1551, when he was made Commendator of Arbroath
. He had the benefit of Arbroath until 1579, although he had previously had struggles with George Douglas
(later Bishop of Moray
and son of the Earl of Angus
) over tenure.
Hamilton's older brother Lord James succeeded to the Earldom of Arran in 1575, but for reasons of his insanity, the care of the Hamilton estates was entrusted to Lord John. Hamilton was, like his family, a supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, and for that in 1579 he and his family were forfeited, by the government of James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
, regent for the underage James VI of Scotland. Hamilton fled to England , then France. He returned to England and there stayed with his brother Claude in the North. While in England he reconciled himself with Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus
who was also in exile there following the Raid of Ruthven
. King James had by now come under the influence of James Stewart of Bothwellmuir
, to whom the King had granted Hamilton's brother's earldom of Arran. Hamilton with his brother, Angus and others including the Earl of Mar
and the Master of Glamis
, with the connivance of Elizabeth I of England
raised an army and entered Scotland and reached Stirling in October 1585. King James capitulated on the 4th of November and received the banished lords into his prescence.
King James had not previously met Lord John, but greeted him warmly as an especially faithful servant to his mother. At a parliament convened at Linlithgow
on the 1st of December 1585, King James rescinded Hamilton's forfeiture and restored he and the other lords to their previously held lands. Further Hamilton was raised to the Privy Council of Scotland|Privy Council]] and made captain of Dumbarton Castle
Hamilton continued to rise in the King's favour, and on the 15th April 1599, following the baptism of Princess Margaret at Holyroodhouse, he was created Marquess of Hamilton, Earl of Arran and Lord Aven
In 1588 Hamilton founded a grammar school that became known as Hamilton Academy
.
before 10 February 1578 on 30 December 1557.
They produced three children:
Hamilton also had two illegitimate children:
Life
Hamilton was the third son of James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of ArranJames Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault and 2nd Earl of Arran was a Scottish nobleman.-Biography:He was the eldest legitimate son of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran....
by his wife Margaret Douglas, a daughter of James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton
James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton
James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton was a son of John Douglas, 2nd Earl of Morton and a grandson of James Douglas, 1st Earl of Morton and Joan of Scotland, a daughter of James I of Scotland. He married Catherine Stewart, an illegitimate daughter of King James IV of Scotland by his mistress Marion...
. His elder brother, was James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran was a Scottish nobleman and soldier who fought against French troops during the Scottish Reformation....
and younger was Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley
Claud 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...
.
In 1547, at an early age he was made Commendator of Inchaffray Abbey
Inchaffray Abbey
Inchaffray Abbey was situated by the village of Madderty, midway between Perth and Crieff in Strathearn, Scotland. The only trace now visible is an earth mound and some walls on the island where the abbey once stood.-History:...
, a position he held until 1551, when he was made Commendator of Arbroath
Abbot of Arbroath
Abbot of Arbroath was the head of the Tironensian Benedictine monastic community of Arbroath Abbey, Angus, Scotland, founded under the patronage of King William of Scotland from Kelso Abbey and dedicated to St Thomas of Canterbury. The abbot, John Gedy, was granted the mitre on 26 June 1396...
. He had the benefit of Arbroath until 1579, although he had previously had struggles with George Douglas
George Douglas (bishop)
George Douglas was a late medieval Scottish nobleman and prelate. A son of Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, he was elected by the chapter of the diocese of Moray by 22 December 1573 several months after the death of Patrick Hepburn, the previous Bishop of Moray. He held the bishopric for 16...
(later Bishop of Moray
Bishop of Moray
The Bishop of Moray or Bishop of Elgin was the ecclesiastical head of the Diocese of Moray in northern Scotland, one of Scotland's 13 medieval bishoprics...
and son of the Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus was a Scottish nobleman active during the reigns of James V and Mary, Queen of Scots...
) over tenure.
Hamilton's older brother Lord James succeeded to the Earldom of Arran in 1575, but for reasons of his insanity, the care of the Hamilton estates was entrusted to Lord John. Hamilton was, like his family, a supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, and for that in 1579 he and his family were forfeited, by the government of James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton
James Douglas, jure uxoris 4th Earl of Morton was the last of the four regents of Scotland during the minority of King James VI. He was in some ways the most successful of the four, since he did manage to win the civil war which had been dragging on with the supporters of the exiled Mary, Queen of...
, regent for the underage James VI of Scotland. Hamilton fled to England , then France. He returned to England and there stayed with his brother Claude in the North. While in England he reconciled himself with Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus
Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus and 5th Earl of Morton was the son of David, 7th earl. He succeeded to the title and estates in 1558, being brought up by his uncle, James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, a Presbyterian....
who was also in exile there following the Raid of Ruthven
Raid of Ruthven
The Raid of Ruthven was a political conspiracy in Scotland which took place on 22 August 1582. It was composed of several Presbyterian nobles, led by William Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie, who abducted King James VI of Scotland. He was seized while staying at the castle of Ruthven , and kept under...
. King James had by now come under the influence of James Stewart of Bothwellmuir
James Stewart, Earl of Arran
Captain James Stewart, Earl of Arran was created Earl of Arran by the young King James VI, who wrested the title from James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran...
, to whom the King had granted Hamilton's brother's earldom of Arran. Hamilton with his brother, Angus and others including the Earl of Mar
John Erskine, 18th Earl of Mar
John Erskine, 2nd Earl of Mar was a Scottish politician, the only son of John Erskine, 1st Earl of Mar. Together with King James VI of Scotland he was educated by George Buchanan...
and the Master of Glamis
Thomas Lyon (of Auldbar)
Sir Thomas Lyon, Master of Glammis was a Scottish nobleman and official, Lord High Treasurer of Scotland.-Master of Glamis:...
, with the connivance of Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
raised an army and entered Scotland and reached Stirling in October 1585. King James capitulated on the 4th of November and received the banished lords into his prescence.
King James had not previously met Lord John, but greeted him warmly as an especially faithful servant to his mother. At a parliament convened at Linlithgow
Linlithgow
Linlithgow is a Royal Burgh in West Lothian, Scotland. An ancient town, it lies south of its two most prominent landmarks: Linlithgow Palace and Linlithgow Loch, and north of the Union Canal....
on the 1st of December 1585, King James rescinded Hamilton's forfeiture and restored he and the other lords to their previously held lands. Further Hamilton was raised to the Privy Council of Scotland|Privy Council]] and made captain of Dumbarton Castle
Dumbarton Castle
Dumbarton Castle has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Great Britain. It overlooks the Scottish town of Dumbarton, and sits on a plug of volcanic basalt known as Dumbarton Rock which is high.-Iron Age:...
Hamilton continued to rise in the King's favour, and on the 15th April 1599, following the baptism of Princess Margaret at Holyroodhouse, he was created Marquess of Hamilton, Earl of Arran and Lord Aven
In 1588 Hamilton founded a grammar school that became known as Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
.
Marriage and issue
John contracted to marry Margaret Lyon, Countess of Cassilis, the widow of Gilbert Kennedy, 4th Earl of CassilisGilbert Kennedy, 4th Earl of Cassilis
Gilbert Kennedy, 4th Earl of Cassilis, PC was a Scottish peer, the son of Gilbert Kennedy, 3rd Earl of Cassilis. He succeeded to the titles of 6th Lord Kennedy and 4th Earl of Cassillis on 28 November 1558...
before 10 February 1578 on 30 December 1557.
They produced three children:
- Edward Hamilton, died in infancy
- James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of HamiltonJames Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of HamiltonJames Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton and 4th Earl of Arran KG PC , styled Lord Aven from 1599 to 1604, was a Scottish politician. He was the son of John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton....
- Margaret Hamilton, married John Maxwell, 8th Lord Maxwell
Hamilton also had two illegitimate children:
- Margaret Hamilton, married Sir Humphrey Colquhoun of Luss
- Sir John Hamilton of Letterick, from whom descended the Lords BarganyLord BarganyLord Bargeny was a title created in the Scotland on 14 November 1639 for Sir John Hamilton of Carriden, only son of Sir John Hamilton of Letterick, natural son of John, first marquis of Hamilton. This peerage was created with limitation to the heirs male of the first lord’s body...
Sources
- Balfour Paul, Sir JamesJames Balfour PaulSir James Balfour Paul, KCVO was the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the officer responsible for heraldry in Scotland, from 1890 until the end of 1926....
, The Scots Peerage IX vols, Edinburgh 1904