Duke of Hamilton is a title in the
Peerage of Scotland
The Peerage of Scotland ( gd, Moraireachd na h-Alba, sco, Peerage o Scotland) is one of the five divisions of peerages in the United Kingdom and for those peers created by the King of Scots before 1707. Following that year's Treaty of Union, ...
, created in April 1643. It is the senior
duke
Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ran ...
dom in that peerage (except for the
Dukedom of Rothesay held by the Sovereign's eldest son), and as such its holder is the premier peer of Scotland, as well as being head of both the
House of Hamilton
Duke of Hamilton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created in April 1643. It is the senior dukedom in that peerage (except for the Dukedom of Rothesay held by the Sovereign's eldest son), and as such its holder is the premier peer of Sc ...
and the
House of Douglas
Clan Douglas is an ancient clan or noble house from the Scottish Lowlands.
Taking their name from Douglas in Lanarkshire, their leaders gained vast territories throughout the Borders, Angus, Lothian, Moray, and also in France and Sweden. The fa ...
. The title, the town of
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to:
People
* Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname
** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland
** Lord Hamilt ...
in
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire, also called the County of Lanark ( gd, Siorrachd Lannraig; sco, Lanrikshire), is a historic county, lieutenancy area and registration county in the central Lowlands of Scotland.
Lanarkshire is the most populous county in Scotlan ...
, and many places around the world are named after members of the
Hamilton family
The Hamiltons of the United States are a family of Scottish origin, whose most prominent member was Alexander Hamilton (1755/57–1804), one of the Founding Fathers of the United States. Their ancestors and relations in Scotland included the Lai ...
. The ducal family's surname, originally "
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to:
People
* Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname
** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland
** Lord Hamilt ...
", is now "
Douglas-Hamilton
Douglas-Hamilton is the family surname of the Dukes of Hamilton and Earls of Selkirk. The name originates from the marriage of Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton to William Douglas, 1st Earl of Selkirk in 1656. Anne was Duchess in her own r ...
". Since 1711, the Dukedom has been held together with the Dukedom of Brandon in the
Peerage of Great Britain
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain between the Acts of Union 1707 and the Acts of Union 1800. It replaced the Peerage of England and the Peerage of Scotland, but was itself r ...
, and the Dukes since that time have been styled Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, along with several other subsidiary titles.
Overview
![The Duke and Duchess of Hamilton cropped](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/The_Duke_and_Duchess_of_Hamilton_cropped.jpg)
The titles held by the current Duke of Hamilton and Brandon are:
Peerage of Scotland
* 16th Duke of Hamilton (created 1643)
* 13th Marquess of Douglas (created 1633)
* 16th Marquess of Clydesdale (created 1643)
* 23rd Earl of Angus (created 1389)
* 13th Earl of Angus (created 1633)
* 15th Earl of Lanark (created 1639)
* 16th Earl of Arran and Cambridge (created 1643)
* 13th Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest (created 1633)
* 15th Lord Machanshyre and Polmont (created 1639)
* 16th Lord Aven and Innerdale (created 1643)
Peerage of Great Britain
* 13th Duke of Brandon, in the County of Suffolk (created 1711)
* 13th Baron Dutton, in the County of Chester (created 1711)
Other offices and duties
The Duke of Hamilton and Brandon is Hereditary Keeper of the
Palace of Holyroodhouse
The Palace of Holyroodhouse ( or ), commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace or Holyroodhouse, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinburgh ...
, the official royal residence in Scotland, where he maintains large private quarters. He is also, as Lord Abernethy and in this respect successor to the Gaelic
Earls of Fife
The Earl of Fife or Mormaer of Fife was the ruler of the province of Fife in medieval Scotland, which encompassed the modern counties of Fife and Kinross. Due to their royal ancestry, the earls of Fife were the highest ranking nobles in the r ...
, the Hereditary Bearer of the
Crown of Scotland
The Crown of Scotland ( gd, Crùn na h-Alba) is the crown that was used at the coronation of the monarchs of Scotland. It is the oldest surviving crown in the British Isles and dates from at least 1503, although it has been claimed that the cir ...
, a role which the 15th Duke performed at the inauguration of the
Scottish Parliament
The Scottish Parliament ( gd, Pàrlamaid na h-Alba ; sco, Scots Pairlament) is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Scotland. Located in the Holyrood area of the capital city, Edinburgh, it is frequently referred to by the metonym Holyro ...
in 1999, as did the 16th Duke at the State Opening of Parliament, 30 June 2011. Traditionally, the Duke of Hamilton enjoys the exclusive right to remove the
Scottish Crown Jewels from the City of
Edinburgh
Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...
. He also regularly attends sittings in the
Court of Lord Lyon as an hereditary
assessor, sitting on the bench beside
Lord Lyon
The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grant ...
.
Courtesy titles
The
courtesy titles
A courtesy title is a title that does not have legal significance but rather is used through custom or courtesy, particularly, in the context of nobility, the titles used by children of members of the nobility (cf. substantive title).
In some con ...
used by
heirs apparent
An heir apparent, often shortened to heir, is a person who is first in an order of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting by the birth of another person; a person who is first in the order of succession but can be displaced by the b ...
are "Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale" (the eldest son of the Duke) and "Earl of Angus" (the eldest son of a Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale). No Duke has had a great-grandson in direct line to the titles, but it is likely that such an heir would be styled "Lord Abernethy" (the Lordship of Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest being the most senior available title).
Before the Dukes succeeded to the Marquessate of Douglas and its subsidiary titles, the heirs apparent were styled initially "
Earl of Arran" (which had previously been used as a courtesy title by the Marquesses of Hamilton) and later "Marquess of Clydesdale" (the former style then being adopted for a grandson in direct line). The heir apparent to the Earldom of Lanark (before that title merged with the Dukedom) was styled "Lord Polmont".
Multiple dukedoms
The Duke of Hamilton and Brandon is one of only five British peers to hold more than one dukedom, the others being:
* the
Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers ...
(who is
Duke of Cornwall
Duke of Cornwall is a title in the Peerage of England, traditionally held by the eldest son of the reigning British monarch, previously the English monarch. The duchy of Cornwall was the first duchy created in England and was established by a ro ...
,
Duke of Rothesay
Duke of Rothesay ( ; gd, Diùc Baile Bhòid; sco, Duik o Rothesay) is a dynastic title of the heir apparent to the British throne, currently William, Prince of Wales. William's wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, is the current Duchess of R ...
, and
Duke of Cambridge
Duke of Cambridge, one of several current royal dukedoms in the United Kingdom , is a hereditary title of specific rank of nobility in the British royal family. The title (named after the city of Cambridge in England) is heritable by male des ...
);
* the
Duke of Buccleuch
Duke of Buccleuch (pronounced ), formerly also spelt Duke of Buccleugh, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland created twice on 20 April 1663, first for James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth and second suo jure for his wife Anne Scott, 4th Cou ...
and
Queensberry;
* the
Duke of Argyll
Duke of Argyll ( gd, Diùc Earraghàidheil) is a title created in the peerage of Scotland in 1701 and in the peerage of the United Kingdom in 1892. The earls, marquesses, and dukes of Argyll were for several centuries among the most powerful ...
(who holds two Dukedoms of Argyll); and
* the
Duke of Richmond
Duke of Richmond is a title in the Peerage of England that has been created four times in British history. It has been held by members of the royal Tudor dynasty, Tudor and House of Stuart, Stuart families.
The current dukedom of Richmond was ...
,
Lennox and
Gordon
Gordon may refer to:
People
* Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters
* Gordon (surname), the surname
* Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War
* Clan Gordon, ...
Historically, several other peers have held multiple dukedoms, including the
Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne and Newcastle-under-Lyne, the
Duke of Argyll and Greenwich, the
Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch and the two
Dukes of Queensberry and Dover and some other mainly Royal Dukes.
House of Hamilton
Lairds of Cadzow
Gilbert de Hameldun is recorded as witnessing a charter confirming the gift of the church at Cragyn to the
Abbey of Paisley in 1271. His ancestry is uncertain but he may have been the son of William de Hamilton (third son of
Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester
Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester Born in 1121 (died 1190) was an English nobleman, one of the principal followers of Henry the Young King in the Revolt of 1173–1174 against his father King Henry II. He is also called Robert Blanchemai ...
) and Mary of Strathearn. Gilbert de Hameldun married Isabella Randolph, daughter of
Thomas Randolph of Strathdon
Thomas may refer to:
People
* List of people with given name Thomas
* Thomas (name)
* Thomas (surname)
* Saint Thomas (disambiguation)
* Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church
* Thomas the Ap ...
,
Chamberlain of Scotland
Holders of the office of Lord Chamberlain of Scotland are known from about 1124.
It was ranked by King Malcolm as the third great Officer of State, called ''Camerarius Domini Regis'', and had a salary of £200 per annum allotted to him. He ancien ...
. His heir was
Walter fitz Gilbert
Knight Bachelor, Sir Walter fitz Gilbert of Cadzow, 1st Laird (Lord) of Cadzow (died ca. 1346) was a Kingdom of Scotland, Scottish nobleman. The husband to Mary Gordon of Huntly, they wed in 1308 in Cadzcow, Lanarkshire, Scotland (the exact date i ...
. He was governor of
Bothwell Castle
Bothwell Castle is a large medieval castle, sited on a high, steep bank, above a bend in the River Clyde in South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is located between Bothwell and Uddingston, about south-east of Glasgow. Construction of the castle wa ...
for the English Crown during the
First War of Scottish Independence
The First War of Scottish Independence was the first of a series of wars between English and Scottish forces. It lasted from the English invasion of Scotland in 1296 until the ''de jure'' restoration of Scottish independence with the Treaty o ...
. Following the
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn ( gd, Blàr Allt nam Bànag or ) fought on June 23–24, 1314, was a victory of the army of King of Scots Robert the Bruce over the army of King Edward II of England in the First War of Scottish Independence. It was ...
in 1314, he gave refuge to the
Earl of Hertford
Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. The title originates in the Old English word ''eorl'', meaning "a man of noble birth or rank". The word is cognate with the Scandinavian form ''jarl'', and meant "chieftain", particular ...
and other escapees, only to deliver them and Bothwell up to
Edward Bruce
Edward Bruce, Earl of Carrick ( Norman French: ; mga, Edubard a Briuis; Modern Scottish Gaelic: gd, Eideard or ; – 14 October 1318), was a younger brother of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots. He supported his brother in the 1306–1314 st ...
. He then became a Bruce partisan. Sometime between 1315 and 1329,
Robert the Bruce
Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventual ...
knighted him and granted him lands in
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire () ( sco, Renfrewshire; gd, Siorrachd Rinn Friù) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland.
Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfr ...
and the
Lothian
Lothian (; sco, Lowden, Loudan, -en, -o(u)n; gd, Lodainn ) is a region of the Scottish Lowlands, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills and the Moorfoot Hills. The principal settlement is the Sco ...
s and Cadzow (present day
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to:
People
* Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname
** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland
** Lord Hamilt ...
in
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire, also called the County of Lanark ( gd, Siorrachd Lannraig; sco, Lanrikshire), is a historic county, lieutenancy area and registration county in the central Lowlands of Scotland.
Lanarkshire is the most populous county in Scotlan ...
), including
Cadzow Castle. The lands had previously belonged to
John Comyn
John Comyn III of Badenoch, nicknamed the Red (c. 1274 – 10 February 1306), was a leading Scottish baron and magnate who played an important role in the First War of Scottish Independence. He served as Guardian of Scotland after the forced ...
, who was murdered by Robert the Bruce.
The 1st laird of Cadzow was succeeded as 2nd laird by his son
Sir David fitz Walter. He was a supporter of
King David II
David II (5 March 1324 – 22 February 1371) was King of Scots from 1329 until his death in 1371. Upon the death of his father, Robert the Bruce, David succeeded to the throne at the age of five, and was crowned at Scone in November 1331, becom ...
and fought at the
Battle of Neville's Cross
The Battle of Neville's Cross took place during the Second War of Scottish Independence on 17 October 1346, half a mile (800 m) to the west of Durham, England. An invading Scottish army of 12,000 led by King David II was defeated with heavy loss ...
(Battle of Durham) where he was captured along with the King. His son
David Hamilton, the 3rd laird, was the first to establish Hamilton as the family name. David Hamilton's son
Sir John Hamilton became the 4th laird and was in turn succeeded as 5th laird by his son
James Hamilton.
Lords Hamilton and Earls of Arran
The 5th laird was succeeded as 6th laird by his son,
Sir James Hamilton, who was created a
Lord of Parliament
A Lord of Parliament ( sco, Laird o Pairlament) was the holder of the lowest form of peerage, entitled as of right to take part in sessions of the pre-Union Parliament of Scotland. Since that Union in 1707, it has been the lowest rank of the P ...
as Lord Hamilton on 3 July 1445. In early 1474, he married
Princess Mary, Countess of Arran, daughter of
King James II
James VII and II (14 October 1633 16 September 1701) was King of England and King of Ireland as James II, and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II, on 6 February 1685. He was deposed in the Glorious Re ...
and widow of
Thomas Boyd, 1st Earl of Arran
Thomas Boyd, Earl of Arran (died c. 1473) was a Scottish nobleman.
Thomas was the son of Robert, 1st Lord Boyd, who was a regent during the minority of King James III of Scotland. His father was able to have Thomas created Earl of Arran and Ba ...
. He was succeeded by his only legitimate son,
James, 2nd Lord Hamilton. In 1490, then aged 15, he married the 13-year-old Elizabeth, Lady Hay, daughter of
Alexander Home, 2nd Lord Home
Alexander Home, 2nd Lord Home (c.1450s – 5 September 1506) was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, Lord Chamberlain of Scotland and Warden of the Eastern March.
Life
Lord Home was the son of Alexander Home, Master of Home and Agnes Hepburn, ...
and widow of Sir Thomas Hay, Master of Yester, son and heir of
John Hay, 1st Lord Hay of Yester
John Hay, 1st Lord Hay of Yester (c. 1450 – after October 1508) is the ancestor of the Marquesses of Tweeddale. He was created a Lord of Parliament on 29 January 1488 by James III of Scotland.
He was born in Peebleshire, the son of Sir David Hay ...
. However, it was later discovered that Sir Thomas Hay was still alive and the marriage was annulled. The 2nd Lord married secondly Janet, Lady Livingstone, daughter of Sir David Beaton of Creich and widow of Sir Robert Livingstone of Easter Wemyss and Drumry. He became a
Privy Counsellor
The Privy Council (PC), officially His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, is a privy council, formal body of advisers to the British monarchy, sovereign of the United Kingdom. Its membership mainly comprises Politics of the United King ...
to
King James IV
James IV (17 March 1473 – 9 September 1513) was King of Scotland from 11 June 1488 until his death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. He inherited the throne at the age of fifteen on the death of his father, James III, at the Battle of Sauchi ...
, and helped to arrange his marriage to
Princess Margaret
Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon, (Margaret Rose; 21 August 1930 – 9 February 2002) was the younger daughter of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and the younger sister and only sibling of Queen Elizabeth ...
, daughter of
King Henry VII
Henry VII (28 January 1457 – 21 April 1509) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizure of the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death in 1509. He was the first monarch of the House of Tudor.
Henry's mother, Margaret Beaufo ...
of
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
. As a reward he was created Earl of Arran on 8 August 1503. He was succeeded by his elder son from his second marriage,
James, 2nd Earl of Arran. He was Regent of Scotland between 1542 and 1554, and guardian of the young
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567.
The only surviving legitimate child of James V of Scot ...
. He was created
Duc de Châtellerault in the
Peerage of France
The Peerage of France (french: Pairie de France) was a hereditary distinction within the French nobility which appeared in 1180 in the Middle Ages.
The prestigious title and position of Peer of France (french: Pair de France, links=no) was ...
in 1548 for his part in arranging the marriage of Queen Mary to
Francis, Dauphin of France. This French Dukedom was forfeit when he switched allegiances in 1559.
Emperor Napoleon III
Napoleon III (Charles Louis Napoléon Bonaparte; 20 April 18089 January 1873) was the first President of France (as Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte) from 1848 to 1852 and the last monarch of France as Emperor of the French from 1852 to 1870. A nephew ...
"confirmed" this title for the
12th Duke of Hamilton
1 (one, unit, unity) is a number representing a single or the only entity. 1 is also a numerical digit and represents a single unit of counting or measurement. For example, a line segment of ''unit length'' is a line segment of length 1. I ...
in the 19th century, but although the 12th Duke was heir male of the 2nd Earl, the legal effect of this "confirmation" is doubtful.
![Duke of Hamilton Coat of Arms](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cb/Duke_of_Hamilton_Coat_of_Arms.jpg)
The 2nd Earl was succeeded by his eldest son,
James, 3rd Earl of Arran, who had been proposed as a husband to Queen
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I (7 September 153324 March 1603) was List of English monarchs, Queen of England and List of Irish monarchs, Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death in 1603. Elizabeth was the last of the five House of Tudor monarchs and is ...
in 1561. In 1562 he was declared insane, and in 1581 he resigned the Earldom to
James Stewart of Bothwellhaugh. However, in 1586 his resignation was ruled by the
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland and constitutes part of the College of Justice; the supreme criminal court of Scotland is the High Court of Justiciary. The Court of Session sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh ...
to be the act of a madman and his honours were restored.
Marquesses and Dukes of Hamilton
The 3rd Earl's younger brother
John Hamilton (who was styled Lord Hamilton as is traditional for the younger sons of Earls) was appointed to administer his brother's estates. He was created Marquess of Hamilton, Earl of Arran and Lord Aven on 17 April 1599.
His son,
James, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton (who had been created Lord Aberbrothwick (or Arbroath) on 5 May 1608, before he succeeded) moved to England with
King James VI
James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until ...
, and invested into the
Somers Isles Company
The Somers Isles Company (fully, the Company of the City of London for the Plantacion of The Somers Isles or the Company of The Somers Isles) was formed in 1615 to operate the English colony of the Somers Isles, also known as Bermuda, as a commer ...
, an offshoot of the
Virginia Company
The Virginia Company was an English trading company chartered by King James I on 10 April 1606 with the object of colonizing the eastern coast of America. The coast was named Virginia, after Elizabeth I, and it stretched from present-day Main ...
, buying the shares of
Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford
Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford ( Harington; 1580–1627) was a major aristocratic patron of the arts and literature in the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras, the primary non-royal performer in contemporary court masques, a letter-writer, and a ...
. The Parish of
Hamilton Hamilton may refer to:
People
* Hamilton (name), a common British surname and occasional given name, usually of Scottish origin, including a list of persons with the surname
** The Duke of Hamilton, the premier peer of Scotland
** Lord Hamilt ...
in the Somers Isles (now
Bermuda
)
, anthem = "God Save the King"
, song_type = National song
, song = " Hail to Bermuda"
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, image_map2 =
, mapsize2 =
, map_caption2 =
, subdivision_type = Sovereign state
, subdivision_name =
, e ...
) is named for him. Upon the death of his uncle in 1609 he succeeded as 4th Earl of Arran (of the 1503 creation) and 5th Lord Hamilton. He was also created Earl of Cambridge and Baron Innerdale in the
Peerage of England
The Peerage of England comprises all peerages created in the Kingdom of England before the Act of Union in 1707. In that year, the Peerages of England and Scotland were replaced by one Peerage of Great Britain. There are five peerages in t ...
on 16 June 1619.
His son,
James, 3rd Marquess of Hamilton, was created Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge and Lord Aven and Innerdale on 12 April 1643,
with a special remainder allowing succession through the female line should his and his brother's heirs male fail. His son, Charles, Earl of Arran, died young and the 1st Duke's titles passed to his younger brother,
William, 2nd Duke of Hamilton, who had already been created Earl of Lanark and Lord Machanshire and Polmont on 31 March 1639.
A surrender and regrant in 1650 allowed these also to be inherited by the 1st Duke's elder daughter. Upon his death in 1651, with no further heirs in the immediate male line, the Dukedom (and the titles created with it), as well as the Earldom of Lanark (and the title created with it), passed to that daughter,
Anne, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton. The 1503 Earldom of Arran and the Lordship of Hamilton became dormant, and all the other titles (the Marquessate of Hamilton, the 1599 Earldom of Arran and the Lordships of Hamilton, Aven and Aberbrothwick in the Peerage of Scotland, and the Earldom of Cambridge and the Barony of Innerdale in the Peerage of England) became extinct.
In 1656, the 3rd Duchess married
William Douglas, 1st Earl of Selkirk, third son of
William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas
William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas and 11th Earl of Angus (1589–1660) was a Scottish nobleman.
Life
Master of Angus
William Douglas was the eldest son of William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus and his Countess, Elizabeth Oliphant, eldes ...
. He had been created Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch on 4 August 1646.
He changed his surname to "Hamilton", and on 20 September 1660 was created Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran, Lanark and Selkirk and Lord Aven, Machanshire, Polmont and Daer
for life.
In 1688, he resigned the Earldom of Selkirk and the Lordship of Daer and Shortcleuch, and those titles were regranted to his second son, with a special remainder designed to prevent them becoming merged with the Dukedom. (See
Earl of Selkirk for the subsequent history of those titles, which were eventually inherited by the 12th Duke of Hamilton, becoming separated again from the Dukedom on the death of the 13th Duke in 1940).
On 9 July 1698, the 3rd Duchess resigned all her titles in favour of her eldest son,
James, Earl of Arran, who thereby succeeded as 4th Duke in his mother's lifetime (his father had died in 1694). During the lead up to the
Acts of Union 1707
The Acts of Union ( gd, Achd an Aonaidh) were two Acts of Parliament: the Union with Scotland Act 1706 passed by the Parliament of England, and the Union with England Act 1707 passed by the Parliament of Scotland. They put into effect the te ...
, the 4th Duke was the leader of the anti-union party. He was created Duke of Brandon, in the
County of Suffolk
Suffolk () is a ceremonial county of England in East Anglia. It borders Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south; the North Sea lies to the east. The county town is Ipswich; other important towns include Lowestof ...
, and Baron Dutton, in the
County of Chester
Cheshire ( ) is a ceremonial and historic county in North West England, bordered by Wales to the west, Merseyside and Greater Manchester to the north, Derbyshire to the east, and Staffordshire and Shropshire to the south. Cheshire's county town ...
, in the
Peerage of Great Britain
The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain between the Acts of Union 1707 and the Acts of Union 1800. It replaced the Peerage of England and the Peerage of Scotland, but was itself r ...
on 10 September 1711,
but was wrongfully refused a summons to the
Parliament of Great Britain
The Parliament of Great Britain was formed in May 1707 following the ratification of the Acts of Union by both the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Scotland. The Acts ratified the treaty of Union which created a new unified Kingdo ...
under that title (although he continued to sit as a
representative peer
In the United Kingdom, representative peers were those peers elected by the members of the Peerage of Scotland and the Peerage of Ireland to sit in the British House of Lords. Until 1999, all members of the Peerage of England held the right to ...
). He was killed in
a celebrated duel with
Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun
Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun (c. 1675 – 15 November 1712) was an English politician best known for his frequent participation in duels and for his reputation as a rake. He was killed in the celebrated Hamilton–Mohun Duel in Hyde Park ...
(who also died) in
Hyde Park
Hyde Park may refer to:
Places
England
* Hyde Park, London, a Royal Park in Central London
* Hyde Park, Leeds, an inner-city area of north-west Leeds
* Hyde Park, Sheffield, district of Sheffield
* Hyde Park, in Hyde, Greater Manchester
Austra ...
in
London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
on 15 November 1712.
The 4th Duke's son
James, 5th Duke of Hamilton was succeeded by his son
James, 6th Duke of Hamilton and he by his son
James, 7th Duke of Hamilton. In 1761, the 7th Duke's second cousin twice removed,
Archibald Douglas, 1st Duke of Douglas
Archibald is a masculine given name, composed of the Germanic elements '' erchan'' (with an original meaning of "genuine" or "precious") and ''bald'' meaning "bold".
Medieval forms include Old High German and Anglo-Saxon .
Erkanbald, bishop o ...
, died without an heir. As the Duke of Hamilton, though still using the surname "Hamilton", was patrilineally a "Douglas" (through the 3rd Duchess's husband), the 7th Duke became heir male of the
House of Douglas
Clan Douglas is an ancient clan or noble house from the Scottish Lowlands.
Taking their name from Douglas in Lanarkshire, their leaders gained vast territories throughout the Borders, Angus, Lothian, Moray, and also in France and Sweden. The fa ...
and inherited the Duke of Douglas's subsidiary titles (although not the Dukedom), succeeding as 4th Marquess of Douglas, 14th and 4th Earl of Angus and 4th Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest. He died without issue and was succeeded by his brother
Douglas, 8th Duke of Hamilton. He left no sons and the title passed back to his uncle, the 6th Duke's brother,
Archibald, 9th Duke of Hamilton. He was succeeded by his son
Alexander, 10th Duke of Hamilton
Alexander Hamilton, 10th Duke of Hamilton, 7th Duke of Brandon KG PC FRS FSA (3 October 1767 – 18 August 1852) was a Scottish politician and art collector.
Life
Born on 3 October 1767 at St. James's Square, London, a son of Archibald Ha ...
and then by his son
William, 11th Duke of Hamilton. The 11th Duke's son
William, 12th Duke of Hamilton (who changed his surname to "Hamilton Douglas") died without a male heir and the Dukedom passed to his fourth cousin
Alfred, 13th Duke of Hamilton, who was descended from the 4th Duke of Hamilton and whose line of the family had adopted the surname "Douglas-Hamilton".
His son was
Douglas, 14th Duke of Hamilton, who was succeeded by his son
Angus, 15th Duke of Hamilton. He died in 2010, and was succeeded by his son, the current Duke,
Alexander, 16th Duke of Hamilton.
Succession to the Dukedom of Hamilton
The letters patent that created the Dukedom of Hamilton contained a special remainder. It stipulated that the Dukedom should descend to:
#
heirs male
In inheritance, a hereditary successor is a person who inherits an indivisible title or office after the death of the previous title holder. The hereditary line of succession may be limited to heirs of the body, or may pass also to collateral l ...
of the body of the
grantee
A grant, in law, is a transfer of property, generally from a person or other entity giving the property (the grantor) to a person or entity receiving the property (the grantee).
Historically, a grant was a transfer by deed of that which could not ...
, failing which to
# the grantee's
brother
A brother is a man or boy who shares one or more parents with another; a male sibling. The female counterpart is a sister. Although the term typically refers to a familial relationship, it is sometimes used endearingly to refer to non-familia ...
and heirs male of the body of the grantee's brother, failing which to
# the grantee's
eldest daughter and heirs male of her body, failing which to
# nearest heirs whatsoever of the grantee.
As the first Duke and his brother (the second Duke) both died without surviving sons, the succession has since 1651 been governed by the third rule given, with the dukedom going to the grantee's daughter (the third Duchess) and her heirs male.
House of Douglas
George Douglas, an illegitimate son of
William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas
William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas (c. 1323 – 1 May 1384) was a Scottish nobleman, peer, magnate, and head of the Black Douglas family. Under his leadership, the Black Douglases continued their climb to pre-eminence in Scottish politics ...
, was created Earl of Angus on 9 April 1389.
His descendant,
William, 11th Earl of Angus, was created Marquess of Douglas, Earl of Angus and Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest on 14 June 1633.
His great-grandson,
Archibald, 3rd Marquess of Douglas, was created Duke of Douglas, Marquess of Angus and Abernethy, Viscount of Jedburgh Forest and Lord Douglas of Bonkill, Prestoun and Robertoun on 10 April 1703.
He died, married but childless, in 1761, at which point the Dukedom of Douglas (and the titles created with it) became extinct, but the Marquessate of Douglas, both Earldoms of Angus and the Lordship of Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest passed to his second cousin twice removed and heir male,
James Hamilton, 7th Duke of Hamilton
James George Hamilton, 7th Duke of Hamilton and 4th Duke of Brandon (18 February 1755 – 7 July 1769) was a short-lived Scottish peer.
Hamilton was born at Holyrood Palace, the son of the 6th Duke of Hamilton and his wife, Elizabeth. Styled a ...
.
Arms
![Bookplate-Hamilton Duke of Brandon](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Bookplate-Hamilton_Duke_of_Brandon.jpg)
The
arms
Arms or ARMS may refer to:
*Arm or arms, the upper limbs of the body
Arm, Arms, or ARMS may also refer to:
People
* Ida A. T. Arms (1856–1931), American missionary-educator, temperance leader
Coat of arms or weapons
*Armaments or weapons
**Fi ...
of the current Duke of Hamilton and Brandon are: ''quarterly: 1st and 4th grand quarters: quarterly: 1st and 4th, Gules three Cinquefoils Ermine (for Hamilton); 2nd and 3rd, Argent a Lymphad with the sails furled proper flagged Gules (for Arran); 2nd and 3rd grand quarters: Argent a Heart Gules imperially crowned Or on a Chief Azure three Mullets of the first (for Douglas)''.
The achievement has two
crests, namely: ''1st, on a Ducal Coronet an Oak Tree rutted and penetrated transversely in the main stem by a Frame Saw proper the frame Or (for Hamilton); 2nd, on a Chapeau Gules turned up Ermine a Salamander in flames proper (for Douglas)''. The
supporters
In heraldry, supporters, sometimes referred to as ''attendants'', are figures or objects usually placed on either side of the Escutcheon (heraldry), shield and depicted holding it up.
Early forms of supporters are found in medieval seals. H ...
are: ''on either side an Antelope Argent armed unguled ducally gorged and chained Or''. Each crest has a
motto
A motto (derived from the Latin , 'mutter', by way of Italian , 'word' or 'sentence') is a sentence or phrase expressing a belief or purpose, or the general motivation or intention of an individual, family, social group, or organisation. Mot ...
, namely "''Through''" (over the 1st crest) and "''Jamais Arriere''" ("''Never Behind''") (over the 2nd crest).
List of titleholders
Lairds of Cadzow (c. 1315)
*
Sir Walter fitz Gilbert, 1st of Cadzow (c. 1250– bef. 1336)
*
Sir David fitz Walter, 2nd of Cadzow (c. 1310–1374/1378)
*
Sir David Hamilton, 3rd of Cadzow (c. 1333–c. 1392)
*
Sir John Hamilton, 4th of Cadzow (died bef. 1410)
*
Sir James Hamilton, 5th of Cadzow (died bef. 1441)
*
Sir James Hamilton, 6th of Cadzow (died 1479) (created Lord Hamilton in 1445)
Lords Hamilton (1445)
*
James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton
James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton, 6th Laird of Cadzow (c. 1415 – 6 November 1479) was a Scottish nobleman, scholar and politician.
Early life
James Hamilton was the son of James Hamilton of Cadzow, 5th Laird of Cadzow. He was born at Cadz ...
(died 1479)
*
James Hamilton, 2nd Lord Hamilton (c.1475–1529) (created Earl of Arran in 1503)
Earls of Arran, second Creation (1503)
*
James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran and 2nd Lord Hamilton (c. 14751529) was a Scottish nobleman, naval commander and first cousin of James IV of Scotland. He also served as the 9th Lord High Admiral of Scotland.
Early life
He was the eldest of ...
(c. 1475–1529)
*
James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran
James is a common English language surname and given name:
*James (name), the typically masculine first name James
* James (surname), various people with the last name James
James or James City may also refer to:
People
* King James (disambiguat ...
(1515–1575) (also
Duke of Châtellerault
Duke of Châtellerault (french: duc de Châtellerault) is a French noble title that has been created several times, originally in the Peerage of France in 1515. It takes its name from Châtellerault, in the Vienne region.
The first title was cre ...
in the
French nobility
The French nobility (french: la noblesse française) was a privileged social class in France from the Middle Ages until its abolition on June 23, 1790 during the French Revolution.
From 1808 to 1815 during the First Empire the Emperor Napoléo ...
from 1548 until 1559)
*
James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran (1537–1609) was a Scottish nobleman and soldier who opposed the French-dominated regency during the Scottish Reformation. He was the eldest son of James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault, sometime regent of S ...
(1533/1538–1609) (under
attainder
In English criminal law, attainder or attinctura was the metaphorical "stain" or "corruption of blood" which arose from being condemned for a serious capital crime (felony or treason). It entailed losing not only one's life, property and hereditar ...
1579–1585)
*
James Hamilton, 4th Earl of Arran (1589–1625) (had already succeeded as 2nd Marquess of Hamilton)
Marquesses of Hamilton (1599)
*
John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton
John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton (1540–1604) was the founder of the long line of the marquesses and dukes of Hamilton in Scotland.
Birth and origins
John was born about 1540 in Scotland. He was the third son of James Hamilton and ...
(c. 1535–1604) (created Marquess of Hamilton in the lifetime of his elder brother, the 3rd Earl of Arran)
*
James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton, 1st Earl of Cambridge (1589–1625) (succeeded as 4th Earl of Arran in 1609)
*
James Hamilton, 3rd Marquess of Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Cambridge (1606–1649) (created Duke of Hamilton in 1643)
** Charles Hamilton, Earl of Arran (1634–1640) (eldest son of the 3rd Marquess, predeceased his father in childhood)
Dukes of Hamilton (1643)
*
James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Cambridge (1606–1649)
** Charles Hamilton, Earl of Arran (died 1640)
*
William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Cambridge (1616–1651)
** James Hamilton, Lord Polmont (died 1648)
*
Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton
Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton (6 January 1632 – 17 October 1716) was a Scottish peeress.
The daughter of Sir James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton and 3rd Marquess of Hamilton, Scottish General and premier peer of the realm, and La ...
(c. 1631–1716) (resigned the Dukedom in her son's favour in 1698)
:m.
William Douglas ''later'' Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton, 1st Earl of Selkirk (1635–1694) (created Duke of Hamilton for life in 1660)
*
James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton, 1st Duke of Brandon (1658–1712) (created Duke of Brandon in 1711)
*
James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Brandon (1703–1743)
*
James Hamilton, 6th Duke of Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Brandon (1724–1758)
*
James Hamilton, 7th Duke of Hamilton, 4th Duke of Brandon (1755–1769) (succeeded as 4th Marquess of Douglas in 1761)
*
Douglas Hamilton, 8th Duke of Hamilton, 5th Duke of Brandon (1756–1799)
*
Archibald Hamilton, 9th Duke of Hamilton, 6th Duke of Brandon (1740–1819)
*
Alexander Hamilton, 10th Duke of Hamilton, 7th Duke of Brandon (1767–1852)
*
William Hamilton, 11th Duke of Hamilton, 8th Duke of Brandon (1811–1863)
*
William Alexander Louis Stephen Douglas-Hamilton, 12th Duke of Hamilton, 9th Duke of Brandon, 8th Earl of Selkirk (1845–1895)
Complete Peerage
''The Complete Peerage'' (full title: ''The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom Extant, Extinct, or Dormant''; first edition by George Edward Cokayne, Clarenceux King of Arms; 2nd edition revis ...
, Vol. VI, p 275 shows this Duke and his heirs as ''Douglas-Hamilton''s, all previous Dukes as Hamiltons; some other sources show the 10th and 11th Dukes as ''Douglas-Hamilton'' as well. On the other hand
Cracroft's Peerage
shows the 12th Duke as a ''Hamilton''; the 13th Duke's grandfather, of a different branch of the family, as having adopted ''Douglas-Hamilton''
*
Alfred Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 13th Duke of Hamilton, 10th Duke of Brandon, 9th Earl of Selkirk (1862–1940)
*
Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton, 11th Duke of Brandon (1903–1973)
*
Angus Alan Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 15th Duke of Hamilton, 12th Duke of Brandon (1938–2010)
*
Alexander Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of Hamilton, 13th Duke of Brandon (born 1978)
Line of succession
# Douglas Charles Douglas-Hamilton, Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale (born 2012) (son of the 16th Duke)
# Lord William Frederick Douglas-Hamilton (born 2014) (second son of the 16th Duke)
# Lord Basil George Douglas-Hamilton (born 2016) (third son of the 16th Duke)
# Lord John William Douglas-Hamilton (born 1979) (younger brother of the 16th Duke)
#
James Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, Baron Selkirk of Douglas (born 1942) (second son of the 14th Duke)
# John Andrew Douglas-Hamilton, Lord Daer (born 1978) (eldest son of life peer, Baron Selkirk of Douglas (who disclaimed The Earldom of Selkirk for himself))
# The Hon. Charles Douglas Douglas-Hamilton (born 1979) (second son of Baron Selkirk of Douglas)
# The Hon. James Robert Douglas-Hamilton (born 1981) (third son of Baron Selkirk of Douglas) (elder twin)
# The Hon. Harry Alexander Douglas-Hamilton (born 1981) (fourth son of Baron Selkirk of Douglas) (younger twin)
# Brendan Thomas Douglas-Hamilton (born 1974) (only son of Lord Hugh Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton, third son of the 14th Duke)
# Lord Patrick George Douglas-Hamilton (born 1950) (fourth son of the 14th Duke)
# Alasdair Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton (born 1939) (elder son of Lord Malcolm Avondale Douglas-Hamilton, third son of the 13th Duke)
# Angus Gavin Douglas-Hamilton (born 1968) (elder son of Alasdair Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton)
# William Niall Douglas-Hamilton (born 1999) (only son of Angus Gavin Douglas-Hamilton)
# Geordie Fergus Douglas-Hamilton (born 1969) (younger son of Alasdair Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton)
# Diarmaid Hugh Douglas-Hamilton (born 1940) (elder son of Lord David Douglas-Hamilton, fourth son of the 13th Duke)
#
Iain Douglas-Hamilton
Iain Douglas-Hamilton (born 16 August 1942) is a British zoologist known for his study of elephants. He earned both a BSc in biology and a D.Phil. in zoology from Oriel College, Oxford, and he is the recipient of the 2010 Indianapolis Prize f ...
(born 1942) (younger son of Lord David Douglas-Hamilton)
# John Gavin Douglas-Hamilton (born 1957) (a great-great-grandson of Francis Seymour Douglas-Hamilton, a younger brother of the 13th Duke's father)
# Cecil Seymour Douglas-Hamilton (born 1916) (a great-grandson of Francis Seymour Douglas-Hamilton)
The next heir is (under provision 4 of the special remainder) the heir whatsoever of the 3rd Duchess, namely
Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby
Edward Richard William Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby, (born 10 October 1962) is a British hereditary peer and landowner.
He was a member of the House of Lords from 1994 to 1999.
Activities
Edward Stanley (informally "Teddy") otherwise Lord De ...
(born 1962) (a descendant of the 6th Duke through his only daughter, Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, who married
Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby
Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby PC (1 September 1752 ( O.S.) – 21 October 1834), usually styled Lord Stanley from 1771 to 1776, was a British peer and politician of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. He held office a ...
). Lord Derby is not, however, an heir to the Marquessate of Douglas and its subsidiary titles, which would pass to the heir male (a junior-line descendant of one of the Earls of Angus, as the heirs male of the body of the 3rd Duchess are the only remaining heirs male of the body of the 1st Marquess of Douglas). He is also not an heir to the Dukedom of Brandon or the Barony of Dutton, which are limited to the heirs male of the body of the 3rd Duchess.
Family Tree
See also
*
Clan Hamilton
The Clan Hamilton, or House of Hamilton, is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands.Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council o ...
*
Clan Douglas
Clan Douglas is an ancient clan or noble house from the Scottish Lowlands.
Taking their name from Douglas in Lanarkshire, their leaders gained vast territories throughout the Borders, Angus, Lothian, Moray, and also in France and Sweden. The f ...
*
Earl of Angus
The Mormaer or Earl of Angus was the ruler of the medieval Scottish Provinces of Scotland, province of Angus, Scotland, Angus. The title, in the Peerage of Scotland, is held by the Duke of Hamilton, and is used as a courtesy title for the eldes ...
*
Earl of Arran (Scotland)
Earl of Arran is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It is not to be confused with the title Earl of Arran in the Peerage of Ireland. The two titles refer to different places: the Isle of Arran in Scotland, and the Aran Islands in Ireland. The ...
*
Earl of Orkney
Earl of Orkney, historically Jarl of Orkney, is a title of nobility encompassing the archipelagoes of Orkney and Shetland, which comprise the Northern Isles of Scotland. Originally founded by Norse invaders, the status of the rulers of the Nort ...
*
Earl of Selkirk
*
Lord Abernethy
The Lord of Abernethy was from the 12th century to the 14th century the hereditary holder of the church and lands of the Scottish monastery at Abernethy. It gradually evolved alongside the title Abbot of Abernethy, displacing that term in extant ...
*
Hamilton Palace
Hamilton Palace was a country house in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The former seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, it dated from the 14th century and was subsequently much enlarged in the 17th and 19th centuries.[Hamilton Mausoleum
Hamilton Mausoleum is a mausoleum located in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. It was the resting place of the family of the Dukes of Hamilton.][Brodick Castle
Brodick Castle is a castle situated outside the port of Brodick on the Isle of Arran, an island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland. It was previously a seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, but is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. The castle ...]
*
Lennoxlove House
Lennoxlove House is a historic house set in woodlands half a mile south of Haddington in East Lothian, Scotland. The house comprises a 15th-century tower, originally known as Lethington Castle, and has been extended several times, principally in ...
*
Holyrood Palace
The Palace of Holyroodhouse ( or ), commonly referred to as Holyrood Palace or Holyroodhouse, is the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Located at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, at the opposite end to Edinbu ...
*
Duke of Abercorn
The title Duke of Abercorn () is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1868 and bestowed upon James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Abercorn. Although the Dukedom is in the Peerage of Ireland, it refe ...
*
Lord Belhaven and Stenton
Lord Belhaven and Stenton, of the County of Haddington, is a Lordship of Parliament in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1647 for Sir John Hamilton, 2nd Baronet, with remainder to his heirs male.
History
This branch of the prominent H ...
References
Works cited
*
*
* }
*
External links
Hamilton family portraitsLennoxlove HousePalace of Holyroodhouse
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton
Dukedoms in the Peerage of Scotland
Lists of Scottish people
North Lanarkshire
People associated with South Lanarkshire
Peerages created with special remainders
Noble titles created in 1643