19 June 1606 : Birth of James Hamilton
James Hamilton was born on 19 June 1606 at Hamilton Palace in
Lanarkshire in Scotland.
Family
His parents were James, 1st. Marquis of Hamilton and Lady Ann
Cunningham.
Lady Ann Cunningham was the daughter of James, Earl of Glencairn.
In 1609 James' insane great uncle, also called James (What's in a name?!)
Earl of Arran died, so the little James was styled Earl of Arran.
Heir to the throne
The Young James's close ancestor was Princess Mary, daughter of
King James II of Scotland and Mary of Guelders. After the death, in 1612,
of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, the young James became third in line
to the Scottish throne, after Charles, Duke of Rothesay and his sister
Elizabeth (who later became Queen of Bohemia). Later the Young James
was sent to Exeter College in Oxford.
Art
From a very young age, James was interested in art. He collected
Venetian painting through an agent: Viscount Basil Feilding. Nowadays
this collection can be seen at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna,
Austria.
Love and marriage
On 16 June 1622, the 15-year old James, married to the 9-year old
Mary Feilding, daughter of William, Viscount of Feilding.
Marquis of Hamilton
In 1625 the 2nd. Marquis died at the age of 36. His death was suspicious.
Later Hamilton was made a Gentleman of the Bedchamber , Knight of the
Garter and a privy councillor in both Scotland and England. This was
during the reign of King Charles I.
In the Army
Hamilton went in the army in 1631 to assist Gustavus Adolphus of
Sweden during the Thirty Years' War in Germany. Hamilton had no
military training but he was assigned to Major General Alexander Leslie
as his mentor. However on 22 October 1632 he resigned from the army
and returned to England.
Adviser
There James became the main adviser of King Charles I about the
Scottish affairs. On 10 August 1641, Hamilton accompanied Charles I
to Scotland to make an alliance between the King and Archibald Campbell,
8th. Earl of Argyll.
A title
James was further ennobled on 12 April 1643. Then he received the titles:
- Duke of Hamilton
- Marquis of Clydesdale
- Earl of Cambridge
- Baronies of Aven and Innerdale
- Earl of Arran.
In 1646, James Hamilton received the heritable office of: Keeper of
Holyroodhouse by King Charles I.
Hamilton wasn't loyal nor patriotic. He only wanted peace and to prevent
personal losses.
Death
Hamilton died on 9 March 1649 at the age of 42. His Scottish titles went to
his eldest daughter, Anne. The other titles passed to his brother
William Hamilton, Earl of Lanark.
Interesting
This was a very interesting piece of English/Scottish history. I didn't like the
historical figure of James Hamilton very much, but I'm sure he lived in an
exciting time.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
Lanarkshire in Scotland.
Family
His parents were James, 1st. Marquis of Hamilton and Lady Ann
Cunningham.
Lady Ann Cunningham was the daughter of James, Earl of Glencairn.
In 1609 James' insane great uncle, also called James (What's in a name?!)
Earl of Arran died, so the little James was styled Earl of Arran.
Heir to the throne
The Young James's close ancestor was Princess Mary, daughter of
King James II of Scotland and Mary of Guelders. After the death, in 1612,
of Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, the young James became third in line
to the Scottish throne, after Charles, Duke of Rothesay and his sister
Elizabeth (who later became Queen of Bohemia). Later the Young James
was sent to Exeter College in Oxford.
Art
From a very young age, James was interested in art. He collected
Venetian painting through an agent: Viscount Basil Feilding. Nowadays
this collection can be seen at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna,
Austria.
Love and marriage
On 16 June 1622, the 15-year old James, married to the 9-year old
Mary Feilding, daughter of William, Viscount of Feilding.
Marquis of Hamilton
In 1625 the 2nd. Marquis died at the age of 36. His death was suspicious.
Later Hamilton was made a Gentleman of the Bedchamber , Knight of the
Garter and a privy councillor in both Scotland and England. This was
during the reign of King Charles I.
In the Army
Hamilton went in the army in 1631 to assist Gustavus Adolphus of
Sweden during the Thirty Years' War in Germany. Hamilton had no
military training but he was assigned to Major General Alexander Leslie
as his mentor. However on 22 October 1632 he resigned from the army
and returned to England.
Adviser
There James became the main adviser of King Charles I about the
Scottish affairs. On 10 August 1641, Hamilton accompanied Charles I
to Scotland to make an alliance between the King and Archibald Campbell,
8th. Earl of Argyll.
A title
James was further ennobled on 12 April 1643. Then he received the titles:
- Duke of Hamilton
- Marquis of Clydesdale
- Earl of Cambridge
- Baronies of Aven and Innerdale
- Earl of Arran.
In 1646, James Hamilton received the heritable office of: Keeper of
Holyroodhouse by King Charles I.
Hamilton wasn't loyal nor patriotic. He only wanted peace and to prevent
personal losses.
Death
Hamilton died on 9 March 1649 at the age of 42. His Scottish titles went to
his eldest daughter, Anne. The other titles passed to his brother
William Hamilton, Earl of Lanark.
Interesting
This was a very interesting piece of English/Scottish history. I didn't like the
historical figure of James Hamilton very much, but I'm sure he lived in an
exciting time.
Source pictures: Wikipedia
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