e The House of Hamilton is a lowland Scottish family with auspicious connections. Numerous members throughout history have held high office, titles and substantial territories thoughout Scotland.
The Hamiltons are descended from Anglo-Norman nobleman Sir Walter fitz Gilbert of Hameldone (1st Laird of Cadzow, d. c. 1346). Hameldone was the name of Sir Walter’s English estate which may have been in Northumberland or Leicestershire. He had lands in Renfrewshire, and was rewarded by Robert Bruce with lands in Lanarkshire.
The Hamiltons are connected to the House of Stewart. James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton (c.1415 - 79) married Mary Stewart, Countess of Arran (1453 - 88), elder daughter of James II of Scotland. The 2nd Earl of Arran, James Hamilton, Duke of Chatellerault was regent of Scotland while Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots was a baby.
James, 1st Duke of Hamilton (1606 - 49), an heir to the throne himself, was King Charles I’s Commissioner in Scotland. He is charged with having contributed to the downfall of the king. He was found guilty of treason and beheaded at Westminster on the 9th of March, 1649. James, 4th Duke of Hamilton (1658 - 1712), despite being head of the anti-union party and himself having a claim to the throne of Scotland, abstained on the vote on the Act of Union of 1707. The Act was passed, securing the Duke immense profit but losing the Scottish succession for his family.
Hamilton Palace in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire was the family’s seat from 1695. It was condemned in 1921 due to subsidence caused by mines. Lennoxlove House in East Lothian is the present Duke’s current residence.
The Hamiltons are descended from Anglo-Norman nobleman Sir Walter fitz Gilbert of Hameldone (1st Laird of Cadzow, d. c. 1346). Hameldone was the name of Sir Walter’s English estate which may have been in Northumberland or Leicestershire. He had lands in Renfrewshire, and was rewarded by Robert Bruce with lands in Lanarkshire.
The Hamiltons are connected to the House of Stewart. James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton (c.1415 - 79) married Mary Stewart, Countess of Arran (1453 - 88), elder daughter of James II of Scotland. The 2nd Earl of Arran, James Hamilton, Duke of Chatellerault was regent of Scotland while Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots was a baby.
James, 1st Duke of Hamilton (1606 - 49), an heir to the throne himself, was King Charles I’s Commissioner in Scotland. He is charged with having contributed to the downfall of the king. He was found guilty of treason and beheaded at Westminster on the 9th of March, 1649. James, 4th Duke of Hamilton (1658 - 1712), despite being head of the anti-union party and himself having a claim to the throne of Scotland, abstained on the vote on the Act of Union of 1707. The Act was passed, securing the Duke immense profit but losing the Scottish succession for his family.
Hamilton Palace in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire was the family’s seat from 1695. It was condemned in 1921 due to subsidence caused by mines. Lennoxlove House in East Lothian is the present Duke’s current residence.