Lady Anna (Anne) Cunningham, Marchioness of Hamilton (died 1646Rosalind K. Marshall, "Cunningham, Anna , marchioness of Hamilton (d. 1647)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 200
accessed 15 Oct 2017
/ref>) led a mixed-sex cavalry troop during the "Battle" of Berwick on 5 June 1639.

Background and family

Lady Anna was the fourth daughter of

James Cunningham, 7th Earl of Glencairn James Cunningham, 7th Earl of Glencairn (1552–1630) was a Scottish peer and member of the Privy Council of Scotland. Early life The eldest son and heir of William Cunningham, 6th Earl of Glencairn by his spouse Janet, daughter of Sir John Gor ...

and Margaret, daughter of Sir

Colin Campbell of Glenorchy Colin Campbell of Glenorchy (1499-1583) was a Scottish courtier and landowner. Life Colin Campbell was the son of Colin Campbell (d. 1523), reckoned 3rd laird of Glenorchy, and Margaret Stewart (d. 1524), daughter of John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Ath ...

, a family noted for its early commitment to

Protestantism Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that follows the theological tenets of the Protestant Reformation, a movement that began seeking to reform the Catholic Church from within in the 16th century against what its followers perceived to b ...

. Her sister was the memoirist Lady Margaret Cunningham. She married

James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton and 4th Earl of Arran KG PC (1589 – 2 March 1625), styled Lord Aven from 1599 to 1604, was a Scottish politician. He was the son of John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton and Margaret Lyon. Career Ha ...

on 30 January 1603. They had two sons,

James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton, KG, PC (19 June 1606 – 9 March 1649), known as The 3rd Marquess of Hamilton from March 1625 until April 1643, was a Scottish nobleman and influential political and military leader during the Thirty Year ...

(1606–1649) and

William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton KG (14 December 161612 September 1651) was a Scottish nobleman who supported both Royalist and Presbyterian causes during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Life Hamilton was born at Hamilton Palace in Decem ...

(1616–1651) and three daughters, Lady Anne Hamilton (married Hugh, 7th Earl of Eglinton), Lady Margaret Hamilton (married John, Earl of Crawford and Lindsay) and Lady Mary Hamilton (died 1633, married James Douglas, 2nd

Earl of Queensberry 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", particula ...

Historical importance

Her historical importance is as a defender of the

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a part of the Reformed tradition within Protestantism that broke from the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland by John Knox, who was a priest at St. Giles Cathedral (Church of Scotland). Presbyterian churches derive their nam ...

Church in Scotland against

Charles I Charles I may refer to: Kings and emperors * Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings * Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily * Charles I of ...

attempts to convert the whole of Scotland to Anglicanism and her active leadership in the National Covenant resistance movement. Her son,

, had sided with Charles I. When he attempted to land an army on the Scottish Coast in 1639, she organised the defences, raised a cavalry troop, and "came forth with pistol which she vowed to discharge upon her son if he offered to come ashore." A correspondent of the time, Edward Norgate, wrote, "She goeth in armour and with a pistoll by her side readie charged, and wishes him there, saying shee would burie the bullets in his bowells."''HMC 6th Report: Hood'' (London, 1877), p. 347. The cavalry rode under a banner showing a hand repelling a prayer book with the motto ''For God, the King, Religion and the Covenant''. This was at the time of the Battle of Berwick on 5 June 1639. The struggle with Charles I led to the Scots' right to a free church assembly and a free parliament. Her great-great-grandson was Sir William Hamilton the husband of

Emma, Lady Hamilton Dame Emma Hamilton (born Amy Lyon; 26 April 176515 January 1815), generally known as Lady Hamilton, was an English maid, model, dancer and actress. She began her career in London's demi-monde, becoming the mistress of a series of wealthy me ...

who is best known as the mistress of

Lord Nelson Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was a British flag officer in the Royal Navy. His inspirational leadership, grasp of strategy, and unconventional tactics brought a ...

References

External links

Portrait of Lady Anne Cunningham, Marchioness of Hamilton
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Ann Births circa 1580 1646 deaths Scottish military personnel Women in the English Civil War 17th-century Scottish women 17th-century Scottish people

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 ...

Daughters of Scottish earls