Hugh Hamilton, 1st Viscount of Glenawly facts for kids
Hugh Hamilton, 1st Viscount Glenawly (born around 1600, died 1678) was a brave soldier who served both Sweden and England. He was given the special title of friherre (a type of baron) for his great service to Sweden.
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Who Was Hugh Hamilton?
His Family and Early Life
Hugh Hamilton came from a Scottish family called the Clan Hamilton. His family was a smaller branch of the main House of Hamilton. His father, Malcolm Hamilton, moved from Scotland to Ireland around 1604.
The family gained land in areas now known as Fermanagh and County Tyrone. Hugh's father even built Monea castle on their land around 1618, when Hugh was a teenager. His father later became an Anglican archbishop (a high-ranking church leader) in Cashel.
Hugh Hamilton's Adventures
Serving in Sweden's Army
Hugh, also known as Hugo in Sweden, was originally the third son in his family. This meant he didn't expect to inherit much. So, he decided to move from Ireland to Sweden. There, he joined the army and fought in the Thirty Years War, a big conflict in Europe.
He led a group of soldiers from Britain and Ireland in Germany. Hugh quickly became a colonel, which is a high rank in the army. For his service, he received land in Sweden.
His Marriages and Children
In 1637, Hugh married Margaret Forratt. She was a Scottish lady whose first husband, James Spens, had also served Sweden. Margaret already had two sons, Axel and Jakob, who became Hugh's stepsons. Hugh and Margaret had one daughter who survived, named Bridget Margaret.
Later, Margaret passed away. Hugh then married a lady named Jacomina. Around 1659, Hugh married for a third time to Susan Balfour. She was related to families who had once owned land in Glenawly. Hugh and Susan had one son, William, and several daughters.
Hugh's Daughters
- Henriette Amelia: She sadly died young.
- Arabella Susan: She married three times but didn't have any children who survived.
- Nicola Sophia: She married twice and had children from both marriages. Her children continued the family line.
Becoming a Nobleman
Hugh was the first Hamilton in the Swedish army to become a Swedish nobleman. In 1648, he and his younger half-brother, Lewis (Ludvig) Hamilton, officially became Swedish noblemen.
In 1654, the Swedish King Charles X Gustav of Sweden made Hugh and Ludvig Friherre (a type of baron) of Deserf. This meant Hugh became Baron Hamilton of Deserf in Sweden. His relatives, who are now called barons and counts Hamilton, still live in Sweden today.
Returning to Ireland
In 1659, Hugh's brother, Archibald Hamilton, passed away without children. Hugh, being the oldest living brother, inherited Archibald's title of Glenawly.
In 1660, King Charles II of England gave Hugh the title of 1st Lord of Glenawly in Ireland. Some people say this meant he became a viscount, which is a higher noble rank. This title gave him the right to sit in the Upper House of the Parliament of Ireland.
After King Charles II returned to power in England, Hugh left Sweden for good in 1662. He went back to Britain and became a Privy Councillor in Ireland. This was an important role, advising the King.
Hugh's Legacy and Descendants
Sadly, Hugh's only son, William, died in an accident just a few years after his father. However, Hugh's family line continued through his daughters.
His grandson, Marcus Beresford, became the 1st Earl of Tyrone. Hugh's great-grandson, George de La Poer Beresford, 2nd Earl of Tyrone, became the 1st Marquess of Waterford. All the marquesses of Waterford today are direct descendants of Hugh Hamilton!
Hugh Hamilton's descendants married into many important families in Britain. Some of his more recent descendants include:
- Brigadier Andrew Parker-Bowles, who was the first husband of Queen Camilla.
- The late Sir Angus Ogilvy, who was married to Princess Alexandra, a member of the British Royal Family.
- Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, another member of the British Royal Family.
Hugh Hamilton also had many nephews and great-nephews who became important military figures in Sweden and Ireland.
