James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton

James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton ( * June 19, 1606, † March 9, 1649 in London ) was an English nobleman and military leader.

Life

James Hamilton was a son of James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton and his wife Anne Cunningham. He was educated at King Charles I and was to the same in the closest personal relationships. In 1625 he succeeded his father as 3rd Marquess of Hamilton and 2nd Earl of Cambridge. Between 1628 and 1644 he held the office of Master of the Horse, since 1630 he was a member of the Order of the Garter.

In 1631 he led for Swedish King Gustav Adolf five regiments of British and Highlander, which he had at his own expense, but with the support of the king, recruited to and helped to win the victory in the First Battle of Breitenfeld. End 1631/Anfang 1632 Hamilton remained at near Magdeburg. He took it in the nearby village Salbke quarters. Several of his letters written during this period have survived.

In 1642 he became Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. Recalled that he was knighted by Charles I in 1643 to the 1st Duke of Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Clydesdale, and Earl of Arran and Cambridge. He was later charged with treason and held a short time in 1645 in the castle of Pendennis in custody. During the English Civil War in 1648 he gained an army of Charles I and invaded England, but was defeated at Preston by the far superior force under Cromwell, soon caught it on August 25th and beheaded on March 9, 1649 in London.

James was married to Margaret since 1620 ( 1613-1638 ), daughter of William Fielding, 1st Earl of Denbigh with whom he had an only surviving daughter, who, after his brother William had fallen in 1651, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton was:

• Anne (1632-1716), 3rd Duchess of Hamilton