Robert Hamilton, 12th Lord Belhaven and Stenton facts for kids

Robert Alexander Benjamin Hamilton (born 1903, died 1961) was a Scottish nobleman known as the 12th Lord Belhaven and Stenton. He had an exciting life, working as a soldier, a government official in faraway lands, and an author. He was also a member of important groups like the Royal Geographical Society.

Early Life and Education

Robert was the son of Robert Hamilton-Udny, who was the 11th Lord Belhaven and Stenton. His mother was Kathleen Gonville Bromhead. Young Robert was educated at special schools. He went to Temple Grove School in Eastbourne. After that, he attended the famous Eton College. He then trained to become an army officer at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

A Career in the Army

After his training, Robert joined the Royal Scots Fusiliers as an officer. He served with them from 1924 to 1931. Later, he was sent to work with the Aden Protectorate Levies. This was a local military force in a place called the Aden Protectorate, which is now part of Yemen. From 1931 to 1934, he was in charge of their special Camel Troop. Imagine leading soldiers on camels!

Family Life

Robert Hamilton married Heather Mildred Carmichael Bell in 1926. They had one son named Robert Anthony Carmichael Hamilton, born in 1927. This son later became the next Lord Belhaven and Stenton. In 1942, Robert married again, this time to Cyrilla Mary Binns. They had a daughter named Janet Cyrilla Hamilton.

Life in the Colonial Service

From 1934 to 1946, Lord Belhaven worked as an administrator. This means he helped manage the government in the Aden Protectorate. This was part of the British Colonial Service, which managed territories around the world.

While working there, he started an important project. He led an archaeological dig at a place called Shabwa in South Yemen. Archaeologists dig up old sites to learn about history. The findings from his dig were written about in a science journal in 1942. Some of the ancient items he found were given to the Ashmolean Museum in England. Others went to a museum in Aden.

Becoming an Author

Lord Belhaven also loved to write. He wrote about his adventures and experiences in the Arabian Peninsula. His first book was called The Kingdom of Melchior: Adventure in South West Arabia, published in 1949. He wrote this book using the name the Master of Belhaven. He also wrote another book about his life called The Uneven Road in 1955.

He even wrote a historical novel, which is a story based on real history. This book was called The Eagle and the Sun, published in 1951. In this book, he wrote about an ancient Roman army unit called Legio X Fretensis. The story was about their difficult journey and failed mission in a region called Arabia Felix.

Later Life and Legacy

Robert Alexander Benjamin Hamilton became the 12th Lord Belhaven and Stenton on October 20, 1950. He was also recognized for his knowledge and joined important groups. He became a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, which is for people who study geography and exploration. He also became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons. He passed away on July 10, 1961, when he was 57 years old.