Duke of Hamilton

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For the current duke, see Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of Hamilton.
"Dukes of Hamilton" redirects here. For the ice hockey team, see Dukes of Hamilton (ice hockey).

Dukedom of Hamilton
held with
Dukedom of Brandon
Dungavel House
Kinneil House
Ashton Hall
Ferne House
Cadzow Castle

Duke of Hamilton is a title in the

Hamilton", is now "Douglas-Hamilton". Since 1711, the dukedom has been held together with the Dukedom of Brandon in the Peerage of Great Britain
, and the dukes since that time have been styled Duke of Hamilton and Brandon, along with several other subsidiary titles.

Overview

The titles held by the current duke of Hamilton and Brandon are:

Peerage of Scotland

  • 16th Duke of Hamilton (created 1643)
  • 13th Marquess of Douglas (created 1633)
  • 16th Marquess of Clydesdale (created 1643)
  • 23rd Earl of Angus (created 1389)
  • 13th Earl of Angus (created 1633)
  • 15th Earl of Lanark (created 1639)
  • 16th Earl of Arran and Cambridge (created 1643)
  • 13th Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest (created 1633)
  • 15th Lord Machanshyre and Polmont (created 1639)
  • 16th Lord Aven and Innerdale (created 1643)

Peerage of Great Britain

  • 13th Duke of Brandon, in the County of Suffolk (created 1711)
  • 13th Baron Dutton, in the County of Chester (created 1711)

Other offices and duties

Queen Elizabeth II and Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick
in July 2011

The duke of Hamilton and Brandon is the hereditary keeper of the

Lord Lyon
.

Courtesy titles

The

heirs apparent
are "Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale" (the eldest son of the duke) and "Earl of Angus" (the eldest son of a marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale). No duke has had a great-grandson in direct line to the titles, but it is likely that the latter would be styled "Lord Abernethy" (the Lordship of Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest being the most senior available title).

Before the dukes succeeded to the Marquessate of Douglas and its subsidiary titles, the heirs apparent were styled initially "Earl of Arran" (which had previously been used as a courtesy title by the marquesses of Hamilton) and later "Marquess of Clydesdale" (the former style then being adopted for a grandson in direct line). The heir apparent to the Earldom of Lanark (before that title merged with the dukedom) was styled "Lord Polmont".

Multiple dukedoms

The duke of Hamilton and Brandon is one of only five British peers to hold more than one dukedom, the others being:

Historically, several other peers have held multiple dukedoms, including the Duke of Newcastle upon Tyne and Newcastle-under-Lyne, the Duke of Argyll and Greenwich, the Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch and the two Dukes of Queensberry and Dover and some other mainly royal dukes.

Lennoxlove House, a current seat of the dukes of Hamilton

House of Hamilton

Lairds of Cadzow

Gilbert de Hameldun is recorded as witnessing a charter confirming the gift of the church at Cragyn to the

John Comyn
, who was murdered by Robert the Bruce.

Undifferenced arms of the chief of Hamilton until 1503

The 1st laird of Cadzow was succeeded as the 2nd laird by his son Sir David fitz Walter. He was a supporter of King David II and fought at the Battle of Neville's Cross (Battle of Durham) where he was captured along with the King. His son David Hamilton, the 3rd laird, was the first to establish Hamilton as the family name. David Hamilton's son Sir John Hamilton became the 4th laird and was, in turn, succeeded as the 5th laird by his son James Hamilton.

Lords Hamilton and Earls of Arran

The 5th laird was succeeded as 6th laird by his son,

12th Duke of Hamilton in the 19th century, but although the 12th Duke was heir male of the 2nd Earl, the legal effect of this "confirmation" is doubtful.[9]

The undifferenced arms of the Chief of the Hamiltons from 1503 onwards
Coat of Arms on a Derby Porcelain dinner service commissioned by the 8th Duke of Hamilton, circa 1780–90

The 2nd Earl was succeeded by his eldest son,

James Stewart of Bothwellhaugh. However, in 1586 his resignation was ruled by the Court of Session
to be the act of a madman and his honours were restored.

Marquesses and Dukes of Hamilton

The 3rd Earl's younger brother

Hamilton in the Somers Isles (now Bermuda) is named for him. Upon the death of his uncle in 1609 he succeeded as 4th Earl of Arran (of the 1503 creation) and 5th Lord Hamilton. He was also created Earl of Cambridge and Baron Innerdale in the Peerage of England
on 16 June 1619.

His son, James, 3rd Marquess of Hamilton, was created Duke of Hamilton, Marquess of Clydesdale, Earl of Arran and Cambridge and Lord Aven and Innerdale on 12 April 1643,[13] with a special remainder allowing succession through the female line should his and his brother's heirs male fail. His son, Charles, Earl of Arran, died young and the 1st Duke's titles passed to his younger brother, William, 2nd Duke of Hamilton, who had already been created Earl of Lanark and Lord Machanshire and Polmont on 31 March 1639. A surrender and regrant in 1650 allowed these also to be inherited by the 1st Duke's elder daughter. Upon his death in 1651, with no further heirs in the immediate male line, the Dukedom (and the titles created with it), as well as the Earldom of Lanark (and the title created with it), passed to that daughter, Anne, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton. The 1503 Earldom of Arran and the Lordship of Hamilton became dormant,[14] and all the other titles (the Marquessate of Hamilton, the 1599 Earldom of Arran and the Lordships of Hamilton, Aven and Aberbrothwick in the Peerage of Scotland, and the Earldom of Cambridge and the Barony of Innerdale in the Peerage of England) became extinct.

In 1656, the 3rd Duchess married

for life.[15] In 1688, he resigned the Earldom of Selkirk and the Lordship of Daer and Shortcleuch, and those titles were regranted to his second son, with a special remainder designed to prevent them becoming merged with the Dukedom. (See Earl of Selkirk
for the subsequent history of those titles, which were eventually inherited by the 12th Duke of Hamilton, becoming separated again from the Dukedom on the death of the 13th Duke in 1940).

On 9 July 1698, the 3rd Duchess resigned all her titles in favour of her eldest son,

Charles Mohun, 4th Baron Mohun (who also died) in Hyde Park in London
on 15 November 1712.

Hamilton Palace, the former family seat in Hamilton, circa 1880.

The 4th Duke's son

William, 12th Duke of Hamilton (who changed his surname to "Hamilton Douglas") died without a male heir and the Dukedom passed to his fourth cousin Alfred, 13th Duke of Hamilton,[17] who was descended from the 4th Duke of Hamilton and whose line of the family had adopted the surname "Douglas-Hamilton". His son was Douglas, 14th Duke of Hamilton, who was succeeded by his son Angus, 15th Duke of Hamilton. He died in 2010, and was succeeded by his son, the current Duke, Alexander, 16th Duke of Hamilton
.

Succession to the Dukedom of Hamilton

The letters patent that created the Dukedom of Hamilton contained a special remainder. It stipulated that the Dukedom should descend to:

  1. heirs male of the body of the grantee
    , failing which to
  2. the grantee's brother and heirs male of the body of the grantee's brother, failing which to
  3. the grantee's eldest daughter and heirs male of her body, failing which to
  4. nearest heirs whatsoever of the grantee.[1]

As the first Duke and his brother (the second Duke) both died without surviving sons, the succession has, since 1651, been governed by the third rule given, with the dukedom going to the grantee's daughter (the third Duchess) and her heirs male.

House of Douglas

George Douglas, an illegitimate son of William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, was created Earl of Angus on 9 April 1389.[18]

His descendant, William, 11th Earl of Angus, was created Marquess of Douglas, Earl of Angus and Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest on 14 June 1633.[19]

His great-grandson, Archibald, 3rd Marquess of Douglas, was created Duke of Douglas, Marquess of Angus and Abernethy, Viscount of Jedburgh Forest and Lord Douglas of Bonkill, Prestoun and Robertoun on 10 April 1703.

He died, married but childless, in 1761, at which point the Dukedom of Douglas (and the titles created with it) became extinct, but the Marquessate of Douglas, both Earldoms of Angus and the Lordship of Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest passed to his second cousin twice removed and heir male, James Hamilton, 7th Duke of Hamilton.

Arms

Coat of arms of Duke of Hamilton
Crest
1st, on a Ducal Coronet an Oak Tree rutted and penetrated transversely in the main stem by a Frame Saw proper the frame Or (Hamilton); 2nd, on a Chapeau Gules turned up Ermine a Salamander in flames proper (Douglas)
Escutcheon
Quarterly: 1st and 4th grandquarters: quarterly: 1st and 4th, Gules three Cinquefoils Ermine (Hamilton); 2nd and 3rd, Argent a Lymphad with the sails furled proper flagged Gules (Arran); 2nd and 3rd grandquarters: Argent a Heart Gules imperially crowned Or on a Chief Azure three Mullets of the first (Douglas)
Supporters
On either side an Antelope Argent armed unguled ducally gorged and chained Or
Motto
Over 1st crest: Through; Over 2nd crest: Jamais Arriere (Never Behind)
Coat of Arms
for the Duke of Hamilton and Brandon

The arms of the current Duke of Hamilton and Brandon are: quarterly: 1st and 4th grand quarters: quarterly: 1st and 4th, Gules three Cinquefoils Ermine (for Hamilton); 2nd and 3rd, Argent a Lymphad with the sails furled proper flagged Gules (for Arran); 2nd and 3rd grand quarters: Argent a Heart Gules imperially crowned Or on a Chief Azure three Mullets of the first (for Douglas).

The achievement has two

supporters are: on either side an Antelope Argent armed unguled ducally gorged and chained Or. Each crest has a motto
, namely "Through" (over the 1st crest) and "Jamais Arriere" ("Never Behind") (over the 2nd crest).

List of titleholders

Lairds of Cadzow (c. 1315)

Lords Hamilton (1445)

Earls of Arran, second Creation (1503)

Marquesses of Hamilton (1599)

Dukes of Hamilton (1643)

m. William Douglas later Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton, 1st Earl of Selkirk (1635–1694) (created Duke of Hamilton for life in 1660)

The heir apparent is the present Duke's eldest son Douglas Charles Douglas-Hamilton, Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale (born 2012).[23]

Line of succession

Line of succession (simplified)
  • James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton, 1st Duke of Brandon (1660–1724)
    • Lord Anne Hamilton (1709–1748)
      • Admiral Charles Powell Hamilton (1747–1825)
        • Augustus Barrington Price Anne Powell Douglas-Hamilton (1781–1849)
          • Captain Charles Henry Douglas-Hamilton (1808–1873)
            • Alfred Douglas-Hamilton, 13th Duke of Hamilton, 10th Duke of Brandon, 9th Earl of Selkirk (1862–1940)
              • Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton, 11th Duke of Brandon (1903–1973)
                • Angus Douglas-Hamilton, 15th Duke of Hamilton, 12th Duke of Brandon (1938–2010)
                  • Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 16th Duke of Hamilton, 13th Duke of Brandon (b. 1978)
                    • (1). Douglas Charles Douglas-Hamilton, Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale (b. 2012)
                    • (2). Lord William Frederick Douglas-Hamilton (b. 2014)
                    • (3). Lord Basil George Douglas-Hamilton (b. 2016)
                  • (4). Lord John William Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1979)
                • James Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, 11th Earl of Selkirk, Baron Selkirk of Douglas (1942–2023)
                  • (5). John Andrew Douglas-Hamilton, 12th Earl of Selkirk (b. 1978)
                  • (6). Hon. Charles Douglas Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1979)
                  • (7). Hon. James Robert Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1981)
                  • (8). Hon. Harry Alexander Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1981)
                • Lord Hugh Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton (1946–1995)
                  • (9). Brendan Thomas Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1974)
                • (10). Lord Patrick George Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1950)
              • George Douglas-Hamilton, 10th Earl of Selkirk (1906–1994)
              • Lord Malcolm Avondale Douglas-Hamilton (1909–1964)
                • (11). Alasdair Malcolm Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1939)
                  • (12). Angus Gavin Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1968)
                    • (13). William Niall Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1999)
                  • (14). Geordie Fergus Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1969)
              • Lord David Douglas-Hamilton (1912–1944)
          • Francis Seymour Douglas-Hamilton (1811–1874)
            • Algernon Percy Douglas-Hamilton (1844–1891)
              • Percy Seymour Douglas-Hamilton (1875–1940)
                • John Percy Douglas-Hamilton (1930–2008)
                  • (16). John Gavin Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1957)
            • Aubrey Reginald Douglas-Hamilton (1851–1933)
              • Herbert Eustace Seymour Douglas-Hamilton (1886–1963)
                • (17). Cecil Seymour Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1916)

The next heir is (under provision 4 of the special remainder) the heir whatsoever of the 3rd Duchess, namely Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby (b. 1962) (a descendant of the 6th Duke through his only daughter, Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, who married Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby). Lord Derby is not, however, an heir to the Marquessate of Douglas and its subsidiary titles, which would pass to the heir male (a junior-line descendant of one of the Earls of Angus, as the heirs male of the body of the 3rd Duchess are the only remaining heirs male of the body of the 1st Marquess of Douglas).[clarification needed] He is also not an heir to the Dukedom of Brandon or the Barony of Dutton, which are limited to the heirs male of the body of the 3rd Duchess.

[24][23][25]

Family Tree

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Sinclair, Alexander: Dissertation upon "heirs male,": when used as a clause of remainder in grants of Scotch peerages, with some incidental discussions, William Blackwood and sons, 1837.
  2. ^ Gallagher, Toney (6 June 2010). "Obituaries – The Duke of Hamilton". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 July 2013. The 15th Duke of Hamilton and 12th Duke of Brandon [...] was uncomfortable in his role as Premier Peer of Scotland and hereditary Keeper of Holyroodhouse Palace, the Queen's official residence in Scotland. [...] As Lord Abernethy he was hereditary Bearer of the Crown of Scotland [...] In 1999, at the inauguration of the Scottish Parliament, he cut a striking figure while performing the role before the Queen.
  3. ^ "The Scots peerage : Founded on Wood's ed. Of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom".
  4. ^ Maxwell, Vol II, pp 2–7,p 17
  5. ^ "Scottish Parliament". BBC News. 6 June 2010. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  6. ^ "Crown of Scotland placed on Queen's coffin". BBC News. 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  7. ^ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage, vol. IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, pp. 349–350
  8. ^ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage, vol. IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 355
  9. ^ Velde, François (22 April 2010). "Scots Members of the French Nobility". Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  10. ^ "Courtesy Titles".
  11. ^ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage, vol. IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 372
  12. ^ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage, vol. IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 373
  13. ^ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage, vol. IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 377
  14. ^ The heir male was James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Abercorn, grandson of the third son of the 2nd Earl of Arran. Neither he nor his successors, the Earls, Marquesses and Dukes of Abercorn, have claimed either title.
  15. ^ a b Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage, vol. IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 381
  16. ^ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1907), The Scots Peerage, vol. IV, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 384
  17. ^ Hesilrige 1921, p. 435.
  18. ^ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1905), The Scots Peerage, vol. I, Edinburgh: David Douglas, p. 173
  19. ^ Balfour Paul, Sir James (1905), The Scots Peerage, vol. I, Edinburgh: David Douglas, pp. 203–204
  20. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/7857. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) but Alexander Hamilton, 10th Duke of Hamilton in National Portrait Gallery
  21. ^ Named as William Alexander Anthony Archibald Douglas-Hamilton, 11th Duke of Hamilton and 8th Duke of Brandon in National Portrait Gallery
  22. Complete Peerage
    , Vol. VI, p 275 shows this Duke and his heirs as Douglas-Hamiltons, all previous Dukes as Hamiltons; some other sources show the 10th and 11th Dukes as Douglas-Hamilton as well.
  23. ^
    ISBN 978-1-999767-0-5-1
    .
  24. ISBN 2-940085-02-1
    .
  25. ISBN 978-1-999767-0-5-1
    .

Works cited

External links
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