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 his wife Margaret Douglas. His father was the 2nd Earl of Arran and Duke of Châtellerault in France.

John's mother was a daughter of James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton. Both parents were Scottish. They had married in September 1532. John was one of nine siblings, who are listed in his father's article.

Early life

On 28 November 1547, John, still a boy, was appointed Commendator of Inchaffray Abbey, a position he held until 1551, when he was made Commendator of Arbroath instead. He had the benefit of Arbroath until 1579, although his right was disputed by George Douglas (a natural son of the Earl of Angus who would later become Bishop of Moray).

His family supported Mary, Queen of Scots, even after her imprisonment at Lochleven Castle, her abdication in favour of her one-year-old son on 24 July 1567, her defeat at Langside in 1568 and her flight to England shortly afterwards. In 1570 Moray, who was regent during part of the minority of King James VI, was assassinated by John Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh, a supporter of Queen Mary, at Linlithgow. John's father (the Duke of Châtellerault and 2nd Earl of Arran) had been imprisoned by Murray at the time and John himself might have had a hand in the murder. His successor, Regent Lennox, died in 1571 from a shot in his back during a skirmish at Stirling with the Queen's party. Finally, on 23 February 1573, his father gave up his support for Mary and recognised Mary's infant son James as King of Scotland.

Head of the family

His father died at Hamilton on 22 January 1575. His older brother James succeeded as the 3rd Earl of Arran, but because of his insanity, he was placed under John's care making John the de facto Earl and head of the family.

Marriage and children

On 30 December 1577 John contracted to marry Margaret Lyon, Countess of Cassilis, the widow of Gilbert Kennedy, 4th Earl of Cassilis, and daughter of John Lyon, 7th Lord Glamis, promising to marry her before 10 February 1578. His wife was a staunch Protestant. She had converted her first husband who had been a Catholic before their marriage.

John and Margaret had three children:
*Edward, who died in infancy
*James (1589–1625), The ambassador William Ashby was a godparent at his christening. He succeeded as the 2nd Marquess of Hamilton
*Margaret, who married John Maxwell, 9th Lord Maxwell There were great preparations at Hamilton Palace

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