James Hamilton, 1st Viscount Claneboye facts for kids

James Hamilton, 1st Viscount Claneboye (born around 1560, died 1644) was an important Scottish person. He became a major landowner in County Down, Ireland. He helped start a successful Scottish settlement there. This happened before the larger Plantation of Ulster began. James Hamilton gained his lands because he was close to King James I. He had even helped the King in talks about him becoming the next ruler after Queen Elizabeth I.

Early Life and Learning Journey

James Hamilton was the oldest of six sons. His father, Hans Hamilton, was the first Protestant minister in Dunlop, East Ayrshire, Scotland.

James likely studied at the University of St Andrews. He earned his first degree in 1584 and a master's degree in 1585. People said he was "one of the greatest scholars" of his time. He became a teacher in Glasgow.

Around 1587, he sailed from Scotland. A storm brought him unexpectedly to Dublin, Ireland. He decided to stay and became a master at the Free School in Ship Street. He hired another Scot, James Fullerton, to help him. One of their students was eight-year-old James Ussher, who later became an important Archbishop.

When Trinity College Dublin opened in 1592, James Hamilton and James Fullerton became its first two Fellows. The head of the college, Adam Loftus, thought Hamilton was very smart and had a "noble spirit." Hamilton became a financial manager for Trinity College in 1598.

Working for King James VI

James Hamilton and James Fullerton also worked as agents for King James VI of Scotland. They sent the King information about Queen Elizabeth I of England's actions in Ireland. They also tried to get Irish support for James to become the next English king.

Eventually, they left their college jobs to work for the royal court. Hamilton spent time in London from 1600. He was King James VI's agent, helping with talks for James to take over the English throne. He was officially allowed by King James to live in London for this purpose.

He was the one who eventually carried the official news of Queen Elizabeth's death back to Scotland.

Starting a Settlement in County Down

In 1601, a local Irish leader named Conn O'Neill was put in prison. His wife made a deal with a Scottish noble, Hugh Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery. She promised Montgomery half of O'Neill's lands if he could get a royal pardon for O'Neill. Montgomery got the pardon.

However, in 1604, James Hamilton found out about the land deal. Sir James Fullerton, who was now an advisor to King James, convinced the King that the lands were too big for just two people. He suggested dividing them into three parts, with one-third going to Hamilton. The King agreed. Hamilton's main land grant was the lordship of Upper Clandeboye and the Great Ardes in County Down. This was made official in November 1605.

The Nine Years' War in Ireland had ended in 1603. Hamilton and Montgomery both encouraged people from the Scottish Lowlands to move to Ulster. They offered low rents for farming the new lands. Many of their family members also came. In May 1606, the first group of farmers, craftspeople, merchants, and religious leaders arrived. They formed the Ulster Scots settlement. This was four years before the larger Plantation of Ulster started in 1610.

The settlement was very successful. King James knighted Hamilton in 1609. In 1610, Hamilton bought more land called Dufferin. By 1611, a new town of eighty houses had been built at Bangor, where Hamilton lived. His brother John also got land and founded towns like Markethill and Newtownhamilton.

Hamilton was elected as a member of parliament for County Down in 1613. He helped repair the Bangor Abbey church in 1617. On May 4, 1622, he was made the first Viscount Claneboye. He also became a royal advisor. Around 1625, he moved from Bangor to Killyleagh Castle.

In 1637, Hamilton built the Custom House and Tower House at his port in Bangor. He wanted his port to become Ulster's main port.

In 1641, when he was in his eighties, he went back to his Scottish hometown of Dunlop, East Ayrshire. He built a special burial place for his parents there. He also built a school next to it, which he named Clandeboye School. Both buildings are still standing today.

During the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Irish people rose up against English and later Scottish settlers. Thousands of settlers were killed. In November, the King asked Hamilton and other Scots to raise troops in Ulster to fight the rebellion. Hamilton gathered a regiment of 1,000 men. He even ordered fabric for flags for his captains. The regiments raised by Hamilton and Hugh Montgomery's son helped save their areas of County Down from the worst damage.

James Hamilton died on January 24, 1644, at about eighty-four years old. He was buried in the church at Bangor.

Family and Successors

James Hamilton had three wives. His first wife was Alice Penicook. His second wife was Ursula Brabazon. He later divorced Ursula to marry Jane Phillips, who was the mother of his only son.

His son, James, became the next Viscount Claneboye. He was also made the Earl of Clanbrassil in 1647. James Hamilton's grandson, Henry Hamilton, died in 1675 without any sons. This meant the title of Viscount Claneboye ended.

However, the name Claneboye was used again in a new title in 1800. This happened when his great-great-grandniece, Dorcas Blackwood, became the first Baroness Dufferin and Claneboye.

See also

• Killyleagh Castle for more on his successors
• John Livingstone