John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Most Honorable
The Marquess of Abercorn
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Portrait by Sir Thomas Lawrence
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| Born | July 1756 |
| Died | 27 January 1818 (aged 61) |
| Title | 1st Marquess of Abercorn |
| Other titles | 9th Earl of Abercorn |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Spouse(s) | Catherine Copley Lady Cecil Hamilton Lady Anne Jane Gore |
| Issue | Lady Harriet Hamilton Lady Maria Hamilton Catherine Hamilton-Gordon, Countess of Aberdeen James Hamilton, Viscount Hamilton Lord Claud Hamilton Cecil Howard, Countess of Wicklow |
| Parents | John Hamilton Harriet Eliot |
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John James Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn (July 1756 – 27 January 1818) was an important Irish nobleman and politician. He held the title of Marquess of Abercorn. He was also a Knight of the Garter, a special honor given by the British monarch.
Early Life and First Marriage
John James Hamilton was born in July 1756. His father, Captain Hon. John Hamilton, had passed away before he was born. His grandfather was James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn.
He went to Harrow School from 1770 to 1771. Later, he studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge in 1773. He earned his Master of Arts degree in 1776. At Cambridge, he became good friends with William Pitt the Younger. This friendship helped him a lot in his political career.
On 20 June 1779, he married Catherine Copley. She was the daughter of Sir Joseph Copley, 1st Baronet. They had five children together:
- Lady Harriet Margaret Hamilton (1780–1803)
- Lady Maria Hamilton (1782–1814)
- Lady Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton (1784–1812)
- James Hamilton, Viscount Hamilton (1786–1814)
- Lord Claud Hamilton (1787–1808)
A Member of Parliament
Hamilton traveled abroad around 1781 and returned in 1783. He became a Tory Member of Parliament for East Looe in December 1783. This was possible thanks to his wife's uncle, John Buller.
His first speech in Parliament was against a bill about the East India Company. He strongly supported his friend Pitt's government. In 1784, he became the MP for St Germans.
Even though he was very loyal to Pitt, he was also quite independent. He strongly supported Warren Hastings. In 1788, he spoke out against the slave trade, arguing for its complete end. On 9 October 1789, his uncle passed away without children. John James Hamilton then became the Earl of Abercorn and joined the House of Lords.
Life in the House of Lords
On 15 October 1790, he was given the new title of 1st Marquess of Abercorn. This was likely because of his strong political connections. His first wife, Catherine, passed away in 1791.
He then married his cousin, Lady Cecil Hamilton, on 4 March 1792. She was the daughter of Rev. Hon. George Hamilton. Through his influence with Pitt, she was given the special rank of an earl's daughter.
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They had one child:
- Lady Cecil Frances Hamilton (19 July 1795 – 7 July 1860)
On 7 February 1794, he joined the Privy Council of Ireland. Most of the Abercorn family's lands were in Ireland. The Marquess tried to gain political influence in the Parliament of Ireland, especially in County Donegal and County Tyrone. However, he had limited success. He was sometimes criticized for how he managed his tenants.
His marriage to Lady Cecil did not last. They separated in 1798 and divorced in April 1799. The next month, she married Joseph Copley, who was the brother of Abercorn's first wife. On 3 April 1800, Abercorn married Lady Anne Jane Gore. She was the daughter of Arthur Gore, 2nd Earl of Arran.
On 17 January 1805, he was honored as a Knight of the Garter. This is a very old and important order of knighthood in Britain.
George W. E. Russell described the Marquess as a very aristocratic person. He said that Lord Abercorn would go shooting while wearing his Blue Ribbon, which is part of the Knight of the Garter uniform. He also mentioned that his housemaids had to wear white gloves when they made his bed.
Lord Abercorn passed away on 27 January 1818 at Bentley Priory, Stanmore. He was buried on 5 February in Stanmore. His titles were then passed to his grandson, James Hamilton.
