John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn
Encyclopedia
John James Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn KG
, PC (Ire)
(July 1756 – 27 January 1818) was an Irish
peer and politician.
and grandson of James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn
. He was educated at Harrow
and Pembroke College, Cambridge
. There he became the friend of William Pitt the Younger
, a connection that would serve him well in later years.
for two boroughs in Cornwall
from 1783 to 1789, when he succeeded to the Earldom. He was a supporter of his friend Pitt's first ministry, and a friend of William Pitt the Younger
. He was created 1st Marquess of Abercorn on 15 October 1790, doubtless due to his political connections.
He was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland
on 7 February 1794. Most of the Abercorn lands were in Ireland, and the Marquess made great efforts to build a voting bloc in the Irish Parliament from County Donegal
and County Tyrone
, although with relatively little success. He was invested as a Knight of the Garter on 17 January 1805.
He married, secondly, his first cousin, Lady Cecil Hamilton, daughter of Reverend The Hon. George Hamilton, on 4 March 1792, but they were divorced in 1799 by an Act of Parliament
. They had one child:
He married, thirdly, Lady Anne Jane Gore, daughter of Arthur Gore, 2nd Earl of Arran
, on 3 April 1800.
Lord Abercorn died in 1818, aged 61 at Bentley Priory
, Stanmore
and his titles passed to his grandson, James Hamilton
.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
, PC (Ire)
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
(July 1756 – 27 January 1818) was an Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
peer and politician.
Background
He was the son of Captain Hon. John HamiltonJohn Hamilton (captain)
Captain John Hamilton was a British naval officer, the second son of James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn and Anne Plumer.-Biography:...
and grandson of James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn
James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn
James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn FRS PC was a Scottish and Irish nobleman, the son of James Hamilton, 6th Earl of Abercorn and Elizabeth Reading. He was styled Lord Paisley from 1701 until his accession in 1734...
. He was educated at Harrow
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
and Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College, Cambridge
Pembroke College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college has over seven hundred students and fellows, and is the third oldest college of the university. Physically, it is one of the university's larger colleges, with buildings from almost every century since its...
. There he became the friend of William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
, a connection that would serve him well in later years.
Career
He was a Tory Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for two boroughs in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
from 1783 to 1789, when he succeeded to the Earldom. He was a supporter of his friend Pitt's first ministry, and a friend of William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger
William Pitt the Younger was a British politician of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He became the youngest Prime Minister in 1783 at the age of 24 . He left office in 1801, but was Prime Minister again from 1804 until his death in 1806...
. He was created 1st Marquess of Abercorn on 15 October 1790, doubtless due to his political connections.
He was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
on 7 February 1794. Most of the Abercorn lands were in Ireland, and the Marquess made great efforts to build a voting bloc in the Irish Parliament from County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
and County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, although with relatively little success. He was invested as a Knight of the Garter on 17 January 1805.
Family
He married, firstly, Catherine Copley, daughter of Sir Joseph Copley, 1st Baronet, on 20 June 1779. They had five children:- Lady Harriet Margaret Hamilton (1780–1803), died unmarried.
- Lady Maria Hamilton (1782–1814), died unmarried.
- Lady Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton (1784–1812), married George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of AberdeenGeorge Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of AberdeenGeorge Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen KG, KT, FRS, PC , styled Lord Haddo from 1791 to 1801, was a Scottish politician, successively a Tory, Conservative and Peelite, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1852 until 1855.-Early life:Born in Edinburgh on 28 January 1784, he...
and had issue. - James Hamilton, Viscount HamiltonJames Hamilton, Viscount HamiltonJames Hamilton, Viscount Hamilton was a British nobleman and politician, the eldest son of John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn....
(1786–1814), married Harriet Douglas, granddaughter of James Douglas, 14th Earl of MortonJames Douglas, 14th Earl of MortonJames Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton KT FRS was a Scottish astronomer and representative peer who was President of the Philosophical Society of Edinburgh from its foundation in 1737 until his death...
and had issue. - Lord Claud Hamilton (1787–1808), died unmarried.
He married, secondly, his first cousin, Lady Cecil Hamilton, daughter of Reverend The Hon. George Hamilton, on 4 March 1792, but they were divorced in 1799 by an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
. They had one child:
- The Lady Cecil Frances Hamilton (19 July 1795 – 7 July 1860), married William Howard, 4th Earl of WicklowWilliam Howard, 4th Earl of WicklowWilliam Howard, 4th Earl of Wicklow KP was an Irish peer, styled Lord Clonmore from 1815 to 1818. He became Earl of Wicklow in 1818 on the death of William Howard, 3rd Earl of Wicklow and was appointed a Knight of the Order of St Patrick on 9 October 1846....
and had issue.
He married, thirdly, Lady Anne Jane Gore, daughter of Arthur Gore, 2nd Earl of Arran
Arthur Gore, 2nd Earl of Arran
Arthur Saunders Gore, 2nd Earl of Arran KP, PC styled The Honourable from 1758 to 1762, and then known as Viscount Sudley from 1762 to 1773, was an Irish peer and politician....
, on 3 April 1800.
Lord Abercorn died in 1818, aged 61 at Bentley Priory
Bentley Priory
Bentley Priory was a medieval priory or cell of Augustinian Canons in Harrow Weald, then in Middlesex but now in the London Borough of Harrow. There are no remains of the priory, but it probably stood near Priory House, off Clamp Hill....
, Stanmore
Stanmore
Stanmore is a suburban area of the London Borough of Harrow, in northwest London. It is situated northwest of Charing Cross. The area is home to Stanmore Hill, one of the highest points of London, high.-Toponymy:...
and his titles passed to his grandson, James Hamilton
James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn
James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn KG PC , styled Viscount Hamilton from 1814 to 1818 and the Marquess of Abercorn from 1818 to 1868, was a British Conservative politician and statesman who twice served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.In 1860, The Times noted that Hamilton was one of only three to...
.