Clan Hamilton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan Hamilton |
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| Hamaltan | |||
Crest: In a ducal cornet an oak tree fructed and penetrated transversely in the main stem by a frame saw Proper, the frame Or
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| Motto | Through (Scottish Gaelic: Troimh) | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Lowlands | ||
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| Alexander Douglas-Hamilton | |||
| The 16th Duke of Hamilton and the 13th Duke of Brandon |
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| Seat | Lennoxlove House | ||
| Historic seat | Hamilton Palace | ||
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The Clan Hamilton, also known as the House of Hamilton, is an important Scottish clan from the Scottish Lowlands. A clan is a group of families linked by a common ancestor and a shared surname.
Contents
Clan Hamilton's Story: A Look Back
How the Hamilton Family Began
The leaders of Clan Hamilton come from Walter fitz Gilbert of Hambledon. He is first mentioned in a document around 1294. His first lands were likely in Renfrewshire.
Walter supported Robert the Bruce, who was a famous Scottish king. Because of this support, Walter received new lands. These lands were in Lanarkshire and the Lothians. One of these places was Cadzow, which later became the town of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.
Fighting for Scotland's Freedom
Walter Fitz Gilbert was rewarded with land for helping King Robert the Bruce. Walter's son, David, continued the family's loyalty to Scotland.
David fought in the Battle of Neville's Cross in 1346. He was fighting for David II of Scotland. David Hamilton was captured during this battle. He was only set free after a large payment was made for his release.
Important Times: The 1400s and 1500s
In 1474, James Hamilton, 1st Lord Hamilton, married Princess Mary. She was the daughter of James II of Scotland. Their son became James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran. The family made Brodick Castle bigger on the Isle of Arran.
The second Earl of Arran, James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault, was very close to the Scottish throne. He was an heir to both James IV of Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots. When Queen Mary was a child, he became the regent of Scotland. A regent is someone who rules a country when the king or queen is too young or unable to rule.
James Hamilton wanted his son to marry Queen Mary. This would have made his claim to the throne even stronger. However, Queen Mary married a French prince instead. James Hamilton was given the title Duke of Châtellerault for his role in the marriage talks with France.
Later, in 1561, he was sent away from Scotland for five years. This happened because he did not agree with Queen Mary's marriage to Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley.
A Scottish supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, named James Hamilton of Bothwellhaugh, was involved in the death of James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray. The Earl of Moray was the Regent of Scotland in January 1570.
The 4th Earl of Arran, James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton, became a very important person. He was made the Lord Chancellor of Scotland. He also became the keeper of two important royal castles: Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle. He was given the title of marquess in 1599.
His brother, Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley, also became very successful. He was made Lord Paisley in 1587. Later, his family branch gained the titles of earl and then duke in 1868.
The 1600s and the Civil War
The third Marquess, James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton, was a strong supporter of King Charles I. The king rewarded him by making him a duke in 1643. This made Hamilton the most important noble in Scotland.
Hamilton led a royalist army into England. However, his army was defeated by the Parliamentarians. This happened at the Battle of Preston (1648). The Parliamentarians were led by Oliver Cromwell. Hamilton was later executed in 1649. This happened shortly before the king was also executed.
Hamilton's brother, William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton, was also a brave soldier. He was killed at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The title then went to Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton. She was the daughter of the first Duke.
Duchess Anne was very smart. But she inherited lands that had many debts. Things got worse when a relative, the Earl of Abercorn, questioned her right to be the Duchess. Anne married William Douglas, 1st Earl of Selkirk. He later became Duke of Hamilton.
Their son was James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton. He was killed in a famous duel in London in 1712.
Hamilton Family Homes: Past and Present
Hamilton Palace in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, was the family's home for centuries. It was built by Duchess Anne and her husband. This palace was one of the biggest non-royal palaces in Europe. It grew even larger in the mid-1800s.
However, the palace had to be torn down in 1921. This was because of too much sinking ground from the family's coal mines. The 13th Duke then moved to Dungavel House.
In 1941, during World War II, a German official named Rudolf Hess tried to reach Dungavel House. He wanted to meet with the 14th Duke of Hamilton for a peace mission.
Dungavel House was sold in 1947. Today, it is a holding center for people seeking asylum.
The Hamilton family then moved to Lennoxlove House in East Lothian. This beautiful house is still where the current Duke lives today.
Other Hamilton Properties
The Hamilton family has owned many other important places over the centuries:
- Brodick Castle, Brodick, Isle of Arran
- Cadzow Castle, Hamilton, Lanarkshire
- Chelsea Place, London
- Craignethan Castle, South Lanarkshire
- Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh
- Kinneil House, Bo'ness, West Lothian
- Lochranza Castle, Lochranza, Isle of Arran
- Redhouse Tower, Longniddry, East Lothian
Clan Hamilton Tartan
| Tartan image | Notes |
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.png) |
This is the Hamyltowne tartan. It was first published in 1842 in a book called Vestiarium Scoticum. Today's version of this tartan has more white lines. |
Hamiltons in Other Countries
Swedish Hamiltons
Malcolm Hamilton was an Archbishop. His first son, Hugh Hamilton, 1st Viscount of Glenawly, became a soldier in Sweden. He was given the title of baron of Deserf in Sweden.
Malcolm's younger son, Captain John Hamilton, had two sons, Malcolm and Hugo. They also went to serve in Sweden in 1655. In 1689, they were made barons of Hagaby. They stayed in Sweden. Malcolm's son, Gustav David Hamilton, became a count in 1751. He later became a field marshal in 1765.
German Hamiltons
John James Hamilton (1642–1717) moved to Germany. He served a German ruler after the Glorious Revolution in Britain.
The last of his family line was Maximilian von Hamilton. He was a bishop in Olomouc from 1714 to 1776.
See also
- Duke of Hamilton
- Duke of Abercorn
- Earl of Selkirk
- Earl of Arran (Scotland)
- Viscount Boyne
- Lord Belhaven and Stenton
- Baron Hamilton of Dalzell
- Lennoxlove House
- Hamilton family – descendants of the Hamilton clan in the United States
