James Inglis Hamilton

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This article is about the Scottish General. For his son also named James Inglis Hamilton, see James Hamilton (British Army officer, born 1777). For other uses, see James Hamilton (disambiguation).

James Inglis Hamilton
Kirk O' Shotts graveyard
55°50′45″N 3°51′0″W / 55.84583°N 3.85000°W / 55.84583; -3.85000
AllegianceKingdom of Great Britain
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1755–1803
RankGeneral
Battles/warsSeven Years' War

American War of Independence

French Revolutionary Wars

Relations

General James Inglis Hamilton[1] (1728 – 27 July 1803) was a Scottish soldier. He enlisted in the British Army in 1755 and commanded several regiments. He was the only colonel of the 113th Regiment of Foot. During the Seven Years' War (1756–1763), Hamilton fought in the Siege of Fort St Philip, the Raid on St Malo, and the Capture of Belle Île.

In the

Battle of Freeman's Farm, commanding the middle column during the latter. He was in the Convention Army, imprisoned in Cambridge, Massachusetts after its surrender following the Battles of Saratoga. While a prisoner of war, he adopted James Hamilton
, the son of a non-commissioned officer in the British Army.

After his brother's death, Hamilton took over

Kirk O' Shotts graveyard. His adopted son took over Murdostoun before dying at the Battle of Waterloo
.

Early life

Very little is known of Hamilton's early life. He was the third son of Alexander (died 1768)[2] and Margaret Hamilton (died 1742).[2] His two older brothers were Alexander (died 1783)[3] and Gavin Hamilton (1723–1798),[2] the latter a painter and archeologist in Rome.[4] Inglis was added to the family name in 1719 as a condition of the will by which Alexander Inglis bequeathed Murdostoun to his nephew Alexander Hamilton, James's father.[2]

Seven Years' War

Hamilton enlisted in the

Admiral John Byng sailed there with a relief group, hoping to save the island for the British, but was unsuccessful.[8] The French killed or wounded 400 British in the French victory.[8]

The British fleet attacks and captures Belle Île in 1761.

Hamilton fought in the

privateers.[12] British ships retreated after seeing a large French force, but sailed around the coast for a few weeks seeking another place to attack. Even though the Raid on St Malo was small and little damage was done, it is considered a British victory.[13]

In 1761, Hamilton took part in the Capture of Belle Île[6] as one of the 5,000 British troops led by Studholme Hodgson.[14] The first attempt by the British was unsuccessful and lost approximately 500 troops.[14] With reinforcements, a second attempt succeeded on 7 June 1761.[14]

On 17 October 1761,

lieutenant-colonel on 25 May 1772.[19]

American War of Independence

In 1774, Hamilton commanded the

20th Regiments of Foot.[22] It was originally intended to include Hamilton's 21st Regiment of Foot in the brigade, but it was replaced by the 53rd.[19]

Saratoga campaign

Hamilton helped General Burgoyne organize troops for his

47th, and 53rd Regiments of Foot.[19] Later, when Henry Watson Powell transported the 62nd Regiment to Fort Ticonderoga, the 1st and 2nd Brigades were amalgamated.[19]

On 19 September 1777, in

24th Regiment of Foot along with light infantry and grenadiers.[25] Even though Hamilton was considered the commander, Burgoyne led the attack.[26]

Encampment of the convention army at Charlotteville in Virginia after they had surrendered to the Americans.

The centre column migrated toward the southwest to meet up with the right column.[27] During the battle, Colonel Daniel Morgan of the United States led a charge, but Hamilton's men turned it back and the British won the battle.[27] Burgoyne had gained the field of battle, but suffered nearly 600 casualties,[27] mostly in Hamilton's centre column, where the 62nd was reduced to the size of a single company and three-quarters of the artillery men were killed or wounded.[28] American losses were nearly 300 killed and seriously wounded.[29]

In the next battle, the

Sergeant Major William Anderson of the 21st Foot.[33] Hamilton name was "signed to the parole given by the officers ... in December".[7] The Convention Army had to move to Charlottesville, Virginia and arrived around January 1779.[34] Hamilton was released on 3 September 1781,[35] subject to the condition that he could not travel to America until the war was over.[36]

Later life

Murdostoun Castle (2006). Hamilton made modifications to it, and it is where he died.

After his exchange, Hamilton returned to Britain,

James Hamilton when he enlisted in the British Army.[37]

Around 1790, Hamilton made various renovations to Murdostoun: filling the turret staircase and the old dungeons, adding a parapet running round the roof-line, and changing the original courtyard.[38] On his brother Galvin's death in 1798, Hamilton took over Murdostoun. He came to be considered as one of the most influential freeholders in Lanarkshire.[20]

Hamilton was the colonel of the

43rd Regiment of Foot and was led by Sir C. Gordon.[40]

The regiment also saw service at

lieutenant-general on 26 January 1797 and to full general on 29 April 1802.[32] Hamilton died on his estate in Scotland on 27 July 1803.[42] On 18 August 1803, his son, who was his only heir, took over Murdostoun.[43] James was killed while commanding the Royal Scots Greys at the Battle of Waterloo.[43]

See also

  • List of British generals
Military offices
New regiment Colonel of the 113th Regiment of Foot
17 October 1761[15] – 1763[16] 		Disbanded
Preceded by Colonel of the 15th Regiment of Foot
22 August 1792[32] – 20 June 1794[44] 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Hon. James Murray[41]
 Colonel of the 21st Regiment of Foot
20 June 1794[41] – 27 July 1803 		Succeeded by

Notes

  1. British Army Lists
    and the Cambridge parole he is listed as just "James Hamilton".
  2. ^ a b c d Blake, et al., p. 1039
  3. ^ Ross, p. 362
  4. ^ Myrone, p. 52
  5. ^ Army list, p. 96
  6. ^ a b c Drake, p.402
  7. ^ a b c Burgoyne (1860), p. 23
  8. ^ a b c Borneman, p. 63
  9. ^ Burgoyne (1860), p. 22
  10. ^ Hadden, et al., p. 468
  11. ^ Anderson, p. 299
  12. ^ Steele & Rhoden, p. 210
  13. ^ Anderson, p. 300
  14. ^ a b c Hunt & Poole, p. 15
  15. ^ a b c Hadden, et al., pp. 468–469
  16. ^ a b "113th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highlanders)". The National Archives. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  17. ^ Adam & Innes, p. 452
  18. ^ "113th Regiment of Foot (Royal Highlanders)". Regiments.org. Archived from the original on 16 October 2007. Retrieved 30 October 2011.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h Hadden, et al., p. 469
  20. ^ a b "Murdostoun Estate: History of the Lands of Murdostoun". Bonkle.org.uk. Archived from the original on 30 September 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  21. ^ Burgoyne (1780), p.49
  22. ^ Ketchum, p. 136
  23. ^ Stephenson, pp. 303–304
  24. ^ Nickerson, p. 310
  25. ^ a b Ketchum, p. 357
  26. ^ Cummings, Scott. "Battle of Saratoga". The Patriot Resource. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
  27. ^ a b c "The Battle of Saratoga (First)/ Freeman's Farm". American Wars 101. 24 July 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  28. ^ Ketchum, pp. 368–369
  29. ^ Nickerson, p. 319
  30. ^ Anburey, p. 436
  31. ^ Morrissey, p. 86
  32. ^ a b c d Hadden, et al., p. 470
  33. ^ a b c Summerville, pp. 189–193
  34. ^ "Convention Army – The Barracks". Marker History. Retrieved 4 October 2011.
  35. ^ Almon & Pownall, p. 64
  36. ^ Rickard, John (4 September 2003). "Convention Army". History of War. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
  37. ^ Dalton, p. 59
  38. ^ "Murdostoun". Salsburgh Heritage Group. Retrieved 23 July 2011.
  39. ^ a b Baker, p. 256
  40. ^ Fortescue, p. 345
  41. ^ a b c d Great Britain War Office, p. 776
  42. ^ Urban, p. 791
  43. ^ a b Dunbar, p. 3
  44. ^ a b c Great Britain War Office, p. 775

References

External links

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