James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Abercorn

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For other persons named James Hamilton, see James Hamilton (disambiguation).

James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Abercorn PC (c. 1575 – 23 March 1618), was the eldest son of Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley (4th son of James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran), and of Margaret, daughter of George Seton, 5th Lord Seton.

Hamilton was made Sheriff of Linlithgow in 1600, received large grants of lands in Scotland and Ireland, was created in 1603 Baron Abercorn, and on 10 July 1606 was rewarded for his services in the matter of the union by being made Earl of Abercorn and Lord Paisley, Hamilton, Mountcastell and Kilpatrick. He married Marion, daughter of Thomas Boyd, 5th Lord Boyd, and left nine children:

Lady Anne Hamilton (1592–1620), married Hugh Sempill, 5th Lord Sempill and had issue
James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Abercorn (c. 1604 – c. 1670), created Lord Hamilton, Baron of Strabane in the Peerage of Ireland in his father's lifetime.
Sir William Hamilton, 1st Baronet (c. 1605–1680)
Claud Hamilton, 2nd Baron Hamilton of Strabane (c. 1606–1638)
Sir George Hamilton, 1st Baronet (c. 1607–1679)
Lady Lucy Hamilton (b. bef. 1618)
Sir Alexander Hamilton (d. bef. May 4, 1669), married and had issue
Lady Margaret Hamilton (d. c. May 4, 1642), married Sir William Cuninghame of Caprington
Lady Isobel Hamilton

He died on 23 March 1618. His heirs, Earls of Abercorn, heads of the Hamilton family, became Marquesses of Abercorn in 1790, and Dukes of Abercorn in 1868; the 2nd Duke of Abercorn (b. 1838) being a prominent Unionist politician and chairman of the British South Africa Company. The present Dukes are descended from his fourth son, Sir George, the issue of the three elder being extinct.

Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by New Creation	Baron Abercorn 1603–1618	Succeeded by James Hamilton
Preceded by New Creation	Earl of Abercorn 1606–1618	Succeeded by James Hamilton