William Hamilton, 11th Duke of Hamilton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Duke of Hamilton
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| 11th Duke of Hamilton | |
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| Tenure | 1852–1863 |
| Predecessor | Alexander Hamilton, 10th Duke of Hamilton |
| Successor | William Douglas-Hamilton, 12th Duke of Hamilton |
| Other titles | 8th Duke of Brandon |
| Born | 19 February 1811 London, England |
| Died | 8 July 1863 (aged 52) Hôtel Bristol, Paris, France |
| Offices | Knight Marischal, Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire |
| Spouse(s) | Princess Marie Amélie of Baden |
| Issue | William Douglas-Hamilton, 12th Duke of Hamilton Charles Douglas-Hamilton, 7th Earl of Selkirk Lady Mary Victoria Douglas-Hamilton |
| Parents | Alexander Hamilton, 10th Duke of Hamilton Susan Euphemia Beckford |
William Alexander Archibald Hamilton (born February 19, 1811 – died July 8, 1863) was a Scottish nobleman. He held the title of the 11th Duke of Hamilton and 8th Duke of Brandon. Before becoming a Duke, he was known as the Earl of Angus and later the Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale. He was considered the most important noble, or "Premier Peer," in Scotland during his time.
William was the son of Alexander Hamilton, 10th Duke of Hamilton and Susan Euphemia Beckford. His mother was the daughter of the famous English writer William Beckford. William went to school at Eton and then studied at Christ Church, Oxford University.
Life and Roles
William Hamilton held important positions in Scotland. From 1846, he was the Knight Marischal of Scotland. This was an old office that involved ceremonial duties. He also served as the Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire from 1852 until he passed away. A Lord Lieutenant is the Queen's or King's personal representative in a county.
Marriage and Family
On February 23, 1843, William married Princess Marie Amélie of Baden. Their wedding took place at the Mannheim Palace in Germany. Princess Marie was the daughter of the Grand Duke Charles of Baden. Her mother, Stéphanie de Beauharnais, was the adopted daughter of the famous French leader Napoleon I.
After they got married, William and Marie mostly lived in Paris, France, and Baden, Germany. William did not get very involved in British politics or events.
They had three children:
- William Douglas-Hamilton, 12th Duke of Hamilton (1845–1895)
- Lieutenant Charles George Douglas-Hamilton, 7th Earl of Selkirk (1847–1886)
- Lady Mary Victoria Hamilton (1850–1922), who married Albert I, Prince of Monaco and later Prince Tassilo Festetics de Tolna.
Becoming a Duke
Even though he married in 1843, William did not become the Duke of Hamilton until 1852. This happened after his father passed away. In the same year, he bought a large house in central London at 22 Arlington Street. He bought it from Henry Somerset, 7th Duke of Beaufort for £60,000.
William spent a lot of money making the house very fancy for about ten years. He even put special iron firebacks with his family's crest and motto into the fireplaces. When he died, the house went to his wife. She later sold it in 1867 to Ivor Guest, 1st Baron Wimborne.
