Duke of Hamilton

Dukedom of Hamilton

Quarterly, first and fourth grandquarters counterquartered, first and fourth gules, three cinquefoils ermine (for Hamilton); second and third argent, a lymphad with sails furled proper, flagged gules (for Arran); second and third grandquarters argent, a heart gules imperially crowned proper, on a chief azure three stars of the field (for Douglas).
Creation date 12 April 1643
Monarch Charles I
Peerage Peerage of Scotland
First holder James Hamilton, 3rd Marquess of Hamilton
Present holder Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke
Heir apparent Douglas Charles Douglas-Hamilton, Marquess of Douglas
Remainder to heirs male of the body of the grantee; the grantee's brother; heirs male of the body of the grantee's brother; the grantee's eldest daughter, followed by her heirs male; nearest heirs whatsoever of the grantee[1]
Subsidiary titles Marquess of Douglas
Marquess of Clydesdale
Earl of Angus
Earl of Lanark
Earl of Arran and Cambridge
Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest
Lord Machanshire and Polmont
Lord Aven and Innerdale
Baron Dutton
Seat(s) Lennoxlove House
Former seat(s) Hamilton Palace
Brodick Castle
Dungavel House
Kinneil House
Cadzow Castle

Duke of Hamilton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1643. It is the senior dukedom in that Peerage (except for the Dukedom of Rothesay held by the Sovereign's eldest son), and as such its holder is the Premier Peer of Scotland, as well as being head of both the House of Hamilton and the House of Douglas. The title, the town of Hamilton in Lanarkshire, and many places around the world are named after members of the Hamilton family. The Ducal family's surname, originally "Hamilton", is now "Douglas-Hamilton". Since 1711, the Dukedom has been held together with the Dukedom of Brandon in the Peerage of Great Britain, and the Dukes since that time have been styled Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, along with several other subsidiary titles.

Overview

Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of Hamilton, and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hamilton

The titles held by the current Duke of Hamilton and Brandon are:

Peerage of Scotland

Peerage of Great Britain

Other offices and duties

The Duke of Hamilton and Brandon is Hereditary Keeper of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official royal residence in Scotland, where he maintains large private quarters. He is also, as Lord Abernethy and in this respect successor to the Gaelic Earls of Fife, the Hereditary Bearer of the Crown of Scotland, a role which the 15th Duke performed at the inauguration of the Scottish Parliament in 1999,[2][3][4] as did the 16th Duke at the State Opening of Parliament, 30 June 2011.[5] Traditionally, the Duke of Hamilton enjoys the exclusive right to remove the Scottish Crown Jewels from the City of Edinburgh.[6]

Courtesy titles

The courtesy titles used by heirs apparent are "Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale" (the eldest son of the Duke) and "Earl of Angus" (the eldest son of a Marquis of Douglas and Clydesdale). No Duke has had a great-grandson in direct line to the titles, but it is likely that such an heir would be styled "Lord Abernethy" (the Lordship of Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest being the most senior available title).

Before the Dukes succeeded to the Marquisate of Douglas and its subsidiary titles, the heirs apparent were styled initially "Earl of Arran" (which had previously been used as a courtesy title by the Marquises of Hamilton) and later "Marquis of Clydesdale" (the former style then being adopted for a grandson in direct line). The heir apparent to the Earldom of Lanark (before that title merged with the Dukedom) was styled "Lord Polmont".

Multiple dukedoms

The Duke of Hamilton and Brandon is one of only five British peers to hold more than one dukedom, the others being:

Historically, several other peers have held multiple dukedoms, including the Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne and Newcastle-under-Lyne, the Duke of Argyll and Greenwich, the Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch and the two Dukes of Queensberry and Dover and some other mainly Royal Dukes.

Lennoxlove House, a current seat of the Dukes of Hamilton

House of Hamilton

Lairds of Cadzow

Gilbert de Hameldun is recorded as witnessing a charter confirming the gift of the church at Cragyn to the Abbey of Paisley in 1271. His ancestry is uncertain but he may have been the son of William de Hamilton (third son of Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester) and Mary of Strathearn. Gilbert de Hameldun married Isabella Randolph, daughter of Thomas Randolph of Strathdon, Chamberlain of Scotland. His heir was Walter fitz Gilbert. He was governor of Bothwell Castle for the English Crown during the First War of Scottish Independence. Following the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, he gave refuge to the Earl of Hertford and other escapees, only to deliver them and Bothwell up to Edward Bruce. He then became a Bruce partisan. Sometime between 1315 and 1329, Robert the Bruce knighted him and granted him lands in Renfrewshire and the Lothians and Cadzow (present day Hamilton in Lanarkshire), including Cadzow Castle. The lands had previously belonged to John Comyn, who was murdered by Robert the Bruce.

Undifferenced arms of the chief of Hamilton until 1503

The 1st laird of Cadzow was succeeded as 2nd laird by his son Sir David fitz Walter. He was a supporter of King David II and fought at the Battle of Neville's Cross (Battle of Durham) where he was captured along with the King. His son David Hamilton, the 3rd laird, was the first to establish Hamilton as the family name. David Hamilton's son Sir John Hamilton became the 4th laird and was in turn succeeded as 5th laird by his son James Hamilton.

Lords Hamilton and Earls of Arran

The 5th laird was succeeded as 6th laird by his son, Sir James Hamilton, who was created a Lord of Parliament as Lord Hamilton on 3 July 1445.[7] In early 1474, he married Princess Mary, Countess of Arran, daughter of King James II and widow of Thomas Boyd, 1st Earl of Arran. He was succeeded by his only legitimate son, James, 2nd Lord Hamilton. In 1490, then aged 15, he married the 13-year-old Elizabeth, Lady Hay, daughter of Alexander Home, 2nd Lord Home and widow of Sir Thomas Hay, Master of Yester, son and heir of John Hay, 1st Lord Hay of Yester. However, it was later discovered that Sir Thomas Hay was still alive and the marriage was annulled. The 2nd Lord married secondly Janet, Lady Livingstone, daughter of Sir David Beaton of Creich and widow of Sir Robert Livingstone of Easter Wemyss and Drumry. He became a Privy Counsellor to King James IV, and helped to arrange his marriage to Princess Margaret, daughter of King Henry VII of England. As a reward he was created Earl of Arran on 8 August 1503.[8] He was succeeded by his elder son from his second marriage, James, 2nd Earl of Arran. He was Regent of Scotland between 1542 and 1554, and guardian of the young Mary, Queen of Scots. He was created Duc de Châtellerault in the Peerage of France in 1548 for his part in arranging the marriage of Queen Mary to Francis, Dauphin of France. This French Dukedom was forfeit when he switched allegiances in 1559. Emperor Napoleon III "confirmed" this title for the 12th Duke of Hamilton in the 19th century, but although the 12th Duke was heir male of the 2nd Earl, the legal effect of this "confirmation" is doubtful.[9]

The undifferenced arms of the Chief of the Hamiltons from 1503 onwards

The 2nd Earl was succeeded by his eldest son, James, 3rd Earl of Arran, who had been proposed as a husband to Queen Elizabeth I of England in 1561. In 1562 he was declared insane, and in 1581 he resigned the Earldom to James Stewart of Bothwellhaugh. However, in 1586 his resignation was ruled by the Court of Session to be the act of a madman and his honours were restored.

Marquises and Dukes of Hamilton

The 3rd Earl's younger brother John Hamilton (who was styled Lord Hamilton, though apparently without legal justification) was appointed to administer his brother's estates. He was created Marquis of Hamilton, Earl of Arran and Lord Aven on 17 April 1599.[10][11] His son, James, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton (who had been created Lord Aberbrothwick (or Arbroath) on 5 May 1608,[12] before he succeeded) moved to England with King James VI, and invested into the Somers Isles Company, an offshoot of the Virginia Company, buying the shares of Lucy Russell, Countess of Bedford. The Parish of Hamilton in the Somers Isles (now Bermuda) is named for him. Upon the death of his uncle in 1609 he succeeded as 4th Earl of Arran (of the 1503 creation) and 5th Lord Hamilton. He was also created Earl of Cambridge and Baron Innerdale in the Peerage of England on 16 June 1619.[11][13]

His son, James, 3rd Marquis of Hamilton, was created Duke of Hamilton, Marquis of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge and Lord Aven and Innerdale on 12 April 1643,[14][15] with a special remainder allowing succession through the female line should his and his brother's heirs male fail. His son, Charles, Earl of Arran, died young and the 1st Duke's titles passed to his younger brother, William, 2nd Duke of Hamilton, who had already been created Earl of Lanark and Lord Machanshire and Polmont on 31 March 1639.[15][16] A surrender and regrant in 1650 allowed these also to be inherited by the 1st Duke's elder daughter. Upon his death in 1651, with no further heirs in the immediate male line, the Dukedom (and the titles created with it), as well as the Earldom of Lanark (and the title created with it), passed to that daughter, Anne, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton. The 1503 Earldom of Arran and the Lordship of Hamilton became dormant,[17] and all the other titles (the Marquisate of Hamilton, the 1599 Earldom of Arran and the Lordships of Hamilton, Aven and Aberbrothwick in the Peerage of Scotland, and the Earldom of Cambridge and the Barony of Innerdale in the Peerage of England) became extinct.[11][15][18]

In 1656, the 3rd Duchess married William Douglas, 1st Earl of Selkirk, third son of William Douglas, 1st Marquis of Douglas. He had been created Earl of Selkirk and Lord Daer and Shortcleuch on 4 August 1646.[15][19] He changed his surname to "Hamilton", and on 20 September 1660 was created Duke of Hamilton, Marquis of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran, Lanark and Selkirk and Lord Aven, Machanshire, Polmont and Daer for life.[15][19] In 1688, he resigned the Earldom of Selkirk and the Lordship of Daer and Shortcleuch, and those titles were regranted to his second son, with a special remainder designed to prevent them becoming merged with the Dukedom. (See Earl of Selkirk for the subsequent history of those titles, which were eventually inherited by the 12th Duke of Hamilton, becoming separated again from the Dukedom on the death of the 13th Duke in 1940).

On 9 July 1698, the 3rd Duchess resigned all her titles in favour of her eldest son, James, Earl of Arran, who thereby succeeded as 4th Duke in his mother's lifetime (his father had died in 1694). During the lead up to the Acts of Union 1707, the 4th Duke was the leader of the anti-union party. He was created Duke of Brandon, in the County of Suffolk, and Baron Dutton, in the County of Chester, in the Peerage of Great Britain on 10 September 1711,[15][20] but was wrongfully refused a summons to the Parliament of Great Britain under that title (although he continued to sit as a representative peer). He was killed in duel with Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun (who also died) in Hyde Park in London on 15 November 1712.

Hamilton Palace, the former family seat in Hamilton, circa 1880.

The 4th Duke's son James, 5th Duke of Hamilton was succeeded by his son James, 6th Duke of Hamilton and he by his son James, 7th Duke of Hamilton. In 1761, the 7th Duke's second cousin twice removed, Archibald Douglas, 1st Duke of Douglas, died without an heir. As the Duke of Hamilton, though still using the surname "Hamilton", was patrilineally a "Douglas" (through the 3rd Duchess's husband), the 7th Duke became heir male of the House of Douglas and inherited the Duke of Douglas's subsidiary titles (although not the Dukedom), succeeding as 4th Marquis of Douglas, 14th and 4th Earl of Angus and 4th Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest. He died without issue and was succeeded by his brother Douglas, 8th Duke of Hamilton. He left no sons and the title passed back to his uncle, the 6th Duke's brother, Archibald, 9th Duke of Hamilton. He was succeeded by his son Alexander, 10th Duke of Hamilton and then by his son William, 11th Duke of Hamilton. The 11th Duke's son William, 12th Duke of Hamilton (who changed his surname to "Hamilton Douglas") died without a male heir and the Dukedom passed to his fourth cousin Alfred, 13th Duke of Hamilton, who was descended from the 4th Duke of Hamilton and whose line of the family had adopted the surname "Douglas-Hamilton".[15] His son was Douglas, 14th Duke of Hamilton, who was succeeded by his son Angus, 15th Duke of Hamilton. He died in 2010, and was succeeded by his son, the current Duke, Alexander, 16th Duke of Hamilton.

Succession to the Dukedom of Hamilton

The letters patent that created the Dukedom of Hamilton contained a special remainder. It stipulated that the Dukedom should descend to:

  1. heirs male of the body of the grantee, failing which to
  2. the grantee's brother and heirs male of the body of the grantee's brother, failing which to
  3. the grantee's eldest daughter and heirs male of her body, failing which to
  4. nearest heirs whatsoever of the grantee.[1]

House of Douglas

George Douglas, an illegitimate son of William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, was created Earl of Angus on 9 April 1389.[21][22]

His descendant, William, 11th Earl of Angus, was created Marquis of Douglas, Earl of Angus and Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest on 14 June 1633.[23][24]

His great-grandson, Archibald, 3rd Marquis of Douglas, was created Duke of Douglas, Marquess of Angus and Abernethy, Viscount of Jedburgh Forest and Lord Douglas of Bonkill, Prestoun and Robertoun on 10 April 1703.[25]

He died, married but childless, in 1761, at which point the Dukedom of Douglas (and the titles created with it) became extinct, but the Marquisate of Douglas, both Earldoms of Angus and the Lordship of Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest passed to his second cousin twice removed and heir male, James Hamilton, 7th Duke of Hamilton.

Arms

Bookplate showing an early Coat of Arms for the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon
Bookplate showing an early Coat of Arms for the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon

The arms of the current Duke of Hamilton and Brandon are: quarterly: 1st and 4th grand quarters: quarterly: 1st and 4th, Gules three Cinquefoils Ermine (for Hamilton); 2nd and 3rd, Argent a Lymphad with the sails furled proper flagged Gules (for Arran); 2nd and 3rd grand quarters: Argent a Heart Gules imperially crowned Or on a Chief Azure three Mullets of the first (for Douglas).

The achievement has two crests, namely: 1st, on a Ducal Coronet an Oak Tree rutted and penetrated transversely in the main stem by a Frame Saw proper the frame Or (for Hamilton); 2nd, on a Chapeau Gules turned up Ermine a Salamander in flames proper (for Douglas). The supporters are: on either side an Antelope Argent armed unguled ducally gorged and chained Or. Each crest has a motto, namely "Through" (over the 1st crest) and "Jamais Arriere" ("Never Behind") (over the 2nd crest).[15]

List of titleholders

Lairds of Cadzow (c. 1315)

Lords Hamilton (1445)

Earls of Arran, second Creation (1503)

Marquises of Hamilton (1599)

Dukes of Hamilton (1643)

m. William Douglas later Douglas-Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton, 1st Earl of Selkirk (1635–1694) (created Duke of Hamilton for life in 1660)

Line of succession

  1. Nicholas Charles Frederick Douglas-Hamilton, Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale (b. 2012) (son of the 16th Duke)
  2. Lord William Frederick Douglas-Hamilton (b. 2014) (second son of the 16th Duke)
  3. Lord John William Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1979) (younger brother of the 16th Duke)
  4. James Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, Baron Selkirk of Douglas (b. 1942) (second son of the 14th Duke)
  5. John Andrew Douglas-Hamilton, Lord Daer (b. 1978) (eldest son of life peer, Baron Selkirk of Douglas (who disclaimed The Earldom of Selkirk for himself))
  6. The Hon. Charles Douglas Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1979) (second son of Baron Selkirk of Douglas)
  7. The Hon. James Robert Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1981) (third son of Baron Selkirk of Douglas) (elder twin)
  8. The Hon. Harry Alexander Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1981) (fourth son of Baron Selkirk of Douglas) (younger twin)
  9. Brendan Thomas Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1974) (only son of Lord Hugh Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton, third son of the 14th Duke)
  10. Lord Patrick George Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1950) (fourth son of the 14th Duke)
  11. Lord David Stephen Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1952) (fifth son of the 14th Duke)
  12. Alasdair Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1939) (elder son of Lord Malcolm Avondale Douglas-Hamilton, third son of the 13th Duke)
  13. Angus Gavin Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1968) (elder son of Alasdair Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton)
  14. William Niall Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1999) (only son of Angus Gavin Douglas-Hamilton)
  15. Geordie Fergus Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1969) (younger son of Alasdair Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton)
  16. Diarmaid Hugh Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1940) (elder son of Lord David Douglas-Hamilton, fourth son of the 13th Duke)
  17. Iain Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1942) (younger son of Lord David Douglas-Hamilton)
  18. John Gavin Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1957) (a great-great-grandson of Francis Seymour Douglas-Hamilton, a younger brother of the 13th Duke's father)
  19. Cecil Seymour Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1916) (a great-grandson of Francis Seymour Douglas-Hamilton)

The next heir is (under provision 4 of the special remainder) the heir whatsoever of the 3rd Duchess, namely Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby (b. 1962) (a great-great-great-great-great-great-grandson of the 6th Duke, through his only daughter, Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, who married Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby). Lord Derby is not, however, an heir to the Marquisate of Douglas and its subsidiary titles, which would pass to the heir male (a junior-line descendant of one of the Earls of Angus, as the heirs male of the body of the 3rd Duchess are the only remaining heirs male of the body of the 1st Marquess of Douglas). He is also not an heir to the Dukedom of Brandon or the Barony of Dutton, which are limited to the heirs male of the body of the 3rd Duchess.

Family Tree

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 Sinclair, Alexander: Dissertation upon "heirs male,": when used as a clause of remainder in grants of Scotch peerages, with some incidental discussions, William Blackwood and sons, 1837.
  2. ↑ Gallagher, Tony (ed.) (6 June 2010). "Obituaries - The Duke of Hamilton". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2013-07-23. The 15th Duke of Hamilton and 12th Duke of Brandon [...] was uncomfortable in his role as Premier Peer of Scotland and hereditary Keeper of Holyroodhouse Palace, the Queen's official residence in Scotland. [...] As Lord Abernethy he was hereditary Bearer of the Crown of Scotland [...] In 1999, at the inauguration of the Scottish Parliament, he cut a striking figure while performing the role before the Queen.
  3. ↑ https://archive.org/stream/scotspeeragefoun01pauluoft#page/184/mode/2up
  4. ↑ Maxwell, Vol II, pp 2-7,p 17
  5. ↑ "Scottish Parliament". BBC News. 6 June 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  6. ↑ Hastings, Chris (25 May 2013). "Is this the most astonishing photoshoot of the Queen ever? Yes, it really IS Her Majesty as Queen of Scots amid the heather (moments before a midge invasion)". Daily Mail. Although the pair had initially hoped that the Queen would wear Scotland’s Crown Jewels, known as the Honours Three, tradition dictates that they can only be removed from Edinburgh by the Duke of Hamilton, who was unavailable.
  7. ↑ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, pp. 349–350
  8. ↑ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 355
  9. ↑ Velde, François (22 April 2010). "Scots Members of the French Nobility". Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  10. ↑ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 372
  11. 1 2 3 Cracroft-Brennan, Patrick (29 April 2009). "Hamilton, Marquess of (S, 1599 - 1651)". Cracroft's Peerage. Heraldic Media Ltd. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  12. ↑ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 373
  13. ↑ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 374
  14. ↑ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 377
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Cracroft-Brennan, Patrick (16 June 2010). "Hamilton, Duke of (S, 1643)". Cracroft's Peerage. Heraldic Media Ltd. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  16. ↑ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 378
  17. ↑ The heir male was James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Abercorn, grandson of the third son of the 2nd Earl of Arran. Neither he nor his successors, the Earls, Marquises and Dukes of Abercorn, have claimed either title.
  18. ↑ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, pp. 379–380
  19. 1 2 Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 381
  20. ↑ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 384
  21. ↑ Cracroft-Brennan, Patrick. "Angus, Earl of (S, 1389)". Cracroft's Peerage. Heraldic Media Ltd. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  22. ↑ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1905), The Scots Peerage I, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 173
  23. ↑ Cracroft-Brennan, Patrick (24 April 2009). "Douglas, Marquess of (S, 1633)". Cracroft's Peerage. Heraldic Media Ltd. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  24. ↑ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1905), The Scots Peerage I, Edinburgh: David Douglas, pp. 203–204
  25. ↑ Cracroft-Brennan, Patrick. "Douglas, Duke of (S, 1703 - 1761)". Cracroft's Peerage. Heraldic Media Ltd. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  26. ↑ Complete Peerage, Vol. VI, p 275 shows this Duke and his heirs as Douglas-Hamiltons, all previous Dukes as Hamiltons; some other sources show the 10th and 11th Dukes as Douglas-Hamilton as well. On the other hand, Cracroft's Peerage shows the 12th Duke as a Hamilton; the 13th Duke's grandfather, of a different branch of the family, as having adopted Douglas-Hamilton

Sources

  • Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th Edition (1999). pp 1742–1748
  • Marshall, Dr Rosalind K. The Days of Duchess Anne-Life in the Household of the Duchess of Hamilton 1656-1716 Edinburgh 2000
  • Maxwell, Sir Herbert A History of the House of Douglas-from the Earliest times down to legislative union of England and Scotland II Vols, London 1902

External links

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