Lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

James Inglis Hamilton (born Jamie Anderson, 4 July 1777 – 18 June 1815) was a Colonel in the British Army killed at the Battle of Waterloo.

Early life

He was born as Jamie Anderson on 4 July 1777 at a camp of the

Saratoga Campaign The Saratoga campaign in 1777 was an attempt by the British high command for North America to gain military control of the strategically important Hudson River valley during the American Revolutionary War. It ended in the surrender of the British ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. He was the second son of William Anderson, a Sergeant-Major of the 21st Foot. Summerville, pp. 189–193 Hamilton was

baptized Baptism (from grc-x-koine, βάπτισμα, váptisma) is a form of ritual purification—a characteristic of many religions throughout time and geography. In Christianity, it is a Christian sacrament of initiation and adoption, almost ...

on 28 August 1777. Dalton, p. 59 General James Inglis Hamilton adopted him following the

Battle of Bemis Heights The Battles of Saratoga (September 19 and October 7, 1777) marked the climax of the Saratoga campaign, giving a decisive victory to the Americans over the British in the American Revolutionary War. British General John Burgoyne led an invasion ...

, and funded his education at Glasgow Grammar School and the University of Glasgow .

Military career

Hamilton's adopted father opened a spot in the British Army and Hamilton became a

cornet The cornet (, ) is a brass instrument similar to the trumpet but distinguished from it by its conical bore, more compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B, though there is also a sopr ...

in the

Royal Scots Greys The Royal Scots Greys was a Cavalry regiments of the British Army, cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1707 until 1971, when they amalgamated with the 3rd Carabiniers (Prince of Wales's Dragoon Guards) to form the Royal Scots Dragoon Guard ...

in 1792. This is when he changed his name to James Hamilton. Hamilton was promoted to lieutenant on 4October 1793. On 15April 1794, he was promoted to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

. Hamilton became a

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

on 17February 1803. He was promoted to

lieutenant colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...

on 16June 1807, and he commanded the

. On 4 June 1814, Hamilton was promoted to Colonel. Almack, p. 200

Battle of Waterloo

By the time of the Battle of Waterloo he was a Lt. Colonel, commanding the

. While leading a charge on horseback, he lost his left arm. He put the reins in his mouth and continued the charge, even after his right arm was severed by a French lancer. Moments later he was shot and killed. He was found with a bullet wound through his heart, as well as other injuries; Hamilton's scabbard and silken sash were sent to his brother, Lieutenant Jno. Anderson, who died in Glasgow on 3December 1816 from wounds received at the Battle of Salamanca.

Personal life

Hamilton married Mary Inglis Payne. Estimates, p. 59 Upon Hamilton's death, Payne was compensated £200. He inherited Murdostoun Castle from his father on 18 August 1803. Dunbar, p. 3

Notes

References

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton, James Inglis 1777 births 1815 deaths Royal Scots Greys officers British military personnel killed in action in the Napoleonic Wars British Army commanders of the Napoleonic Wars British adoptees