Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington

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Sir Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington (1563-1637), designated before his peerage as 'of Drumcarny, Monkland, and Binning', was a Scottish politician, lawyer (Lord Advocate, in 1596) and judge.

The son of a judge, Hamilton was educated in Paris. He was admitted an Advocate (1587) and later a Lord of Session (1592), and was widely regarded as an able administrator and shrewd lawyer.

He was on very friendly terms with James VI, his legal talents being useful to the king, and he was one of the eight men called the Octavians who were appointed to manage the finances of Scotland. Hamilton was entrusted with a large share in the government when James went to London in 1603. In 1612 he was appointed Secretary of State and Lord Clerk Register and in 1613 he was created Lord Binning and Byres. In 1616 he became Lord President of the Court of Session, and three years later was created Earl of Melrose, a title which he exchanged in 1627 for that of Earl of Haddington. After the death of James VI the earl resigned his offices, but he served Charles I as Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland. He died in May 1637. James referred familiarly to his friend as 'Tam o' the Cowgate', his Edinburgh residence being in that street.

Legal Offices
Preceded by Andrew Logie	Lord Advocate 1595–1596	Succeeded by David MacGill
Preceded by David MacGill	Lord Advocate 1596–1612	Succeeded by Sir William Oliphant