Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Claud Hamilton
Lord Paisley
Detail from the portrait below
Tenure	1587–1621
Successor	James Hamilton
Born	9 June 1546
Died	3 May 1621 (aged 74)
Spouse(s)	Margaret Seton
Issue Detail	James, Claud, Frederick, & others
Father	James, 2nd Earl of Arran
Mother	Margaret Douglas

Claud Hamilton, who lived from 1546 to 1621, was an important Scottish nobleman. He supported Mary, Queen of Scots and even fought for her in the Battle of Langside in 1568. Many noble families today, like the Earls and Dukes of Abercorn, are his descendants.

Claud Hamilton's Early Life

Claud Hamilton was born in 1546, likely in Paisley, Scotland. He was the youngest son of James Hamilton and Margaret Douglas. His father was a powerful noble, known as the 2nd Earl of Arran in Scotland and the 1st Duke of Châtellerault in France. The Hamilton family, founded by Walter FitzGilbert, had been important in Scotland since the 1300s. Claud's mother was the daughter of the 3rd Earl of Morton. Claud had four brothers and four sisters.

Claud's Family Tree

This family tree shows Claud Hamilton's place within his family, including his parents, wife, and children.

Claud's Role at Paisley Abbey

When Claud was young, his uncle John Hamilton was in charge of Paisley Abbey. In 1553, when Claud was about seven years old, his uncle became the Archbishop of St Andrews. He then passed his role at Paisley Abbey to young Claud. This meant Claud became the "commendator" of the abbey.

Supporting Mary, Queen of Scots

In March 1560, when Claud was 14, he was sent to England as a hostage. This was to help guarantee a peace agreement called the Treaty of Berwick.

Claud and his family were Catholic and strongly supported Mary, Queen of Scots. On May 2, 1568, he helped Queen Mary escape from Loch Leven Castle. Just eleven days later, on May 13, he fought for her at the Battle of Langside. Sadly, the Queen's army was defeated by the forces of Moray, who was the regent (a ruler acting for the young king). Claud had led the front part of her army during the battle.

Because he supported the Queen, Claud lost his lands for a time. He was also involved in the deaths of two regents, Moray in 1570 and Lennox in 1571. However, by 1573, he was able to get his lands back.

Claud's Marriage and Children

Margaret Seton, his wife

On August 1, 1574, Claud Hamilton married Margaret Seton at Niddry Castle. Margaret was the daughter of George Seton, 7th Lord Seton. Her family was also very important in Scotland.

Claud and Margaret had five sons:

• James (1575–1618), who became the 1st Earl of Abercorn in 1603.
• John, who married Johanna Everard.
• Claud (died 1614), who worked for the government in Ireland.
• George (died before 1657), who lived in Ireland.
• Frederick (1590–1647), who was a soldier for Sweden during the Thirty Years' War. He also built Manorhamilton Castle in Ireland.

They also had at least one daughter:

• Margaret (died 1623), who married William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas.

Later Life and Challenges

In 1562, Claud's oldest brother, James, became unwell. Their father passed away in 1575. Because his oldest brother was ill, Claud's second brother, John, took over the family's titles and lands.

In 1579, the government decided to arrest Claud and his brother, Lord John Hamilton. They were surrounded at Hamilton. The brothers managed to escape to England, where Queen Elizabeth used them in her political plans. Claud also lived in France for a short time.

Lord Paisley

In 1580, Claud became a Catholic. In April 1583, he was living in exile in England at Widdrington Castle. He wrote to Queen Elizabeth asking for help with his living costs.

By 1586, Claud was in Paris, where he met with people who supported Mary, Queen of Scots. He returned to Scotland in 1586 and continued to be involved in politics. He tried to help James VI of Scotland and his mother, Mary, Queen of Scots, make peace. He also communicated with Philip II of Spain to support Mary and the Catholic religion. Even after some plots failed, he continued these secret activities.

In 1587, Claud was given the title of Lord Paisley. This meant the Hamilton family now had two seats in the Scottish Parliament. After Claud's death, his grandson James took over the title of Lord Paisley. This title is still used by the heir to the Earls (and later Dukes) of Abercorn.

Illness and Death

In 1589, some of Claud's letters were found, and he was briefly put in prison. After this, he mostly stayed out of public life. In his later years, he suffered from mental illness. In 1590, he became very emotional after reading the Bible, and people worried he might not recover. His older brother, James, had also suffered from mental illness since 1562.

In 1598, Claud allowed his oldest son, James, to handle all matters concerning their town. His wife, Margaret, passed away in March 1616. His son James also died before him in 1618. Claud Hamilton died in 1621 and was buried in Paisley Abbey. His grandson, James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Abercorn, became his successor.

Timeline of Claud Hamilton's Life