James Hamilton, 6th Duke of Hamilton

File:6thDukeOfHamilton.jpg

The Duke of Hamilton

James George Hamilton, 6th Duke of Hamilton and 3rd Duke of Brandon, KT (10 July 1724 – 17 January 1758) was a Scottish peer.

Early years and education

Hamilton was the son of the 5th Duke of Hamilton and was styled as Marquess of Clydesdale from his birth until his father's death. He was educated at Winchester College from 1734 to 1740 and graduated from St Mary Hall, Oxford on 14 April 1743.

On 14 February (St. Valentine's Day) 1752, Hamilton met the society beauty Elizabeth Gunning at Bedford House in London. According to Robert Walpole, the duke wished to marry her that night and he called for a local parson to perform the ceremony. However, without a license, calling of banns and a ring, the parson refused and they were eventually married that night in Mayfair Chapel (which did not require a license) in a clandestine marriage, with a ring from a bed curtain. The couple had three children:

• Lady Elizabeth Hamilton (26 January 1753 – 14 March 1797), married Edward Smith-Stanley, 12th Earl of Derby
• James Hamilton, 7th Duke of Hamilton (18 February 1755 – 7 July 1769)
• Douglas Hamilton, 8th Duke of Hamilton (24 July 1756 – 2 August 1799)

On 2 March 1743, he succeeded to his father's title of Duke of Hamilton.

Death

He died on 17 January 1758, aged 33, at Great Tew, Oxfordshire from a cold caught whilst out hunting. He was buried in February 1758 at the family mausoleum at Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.

The Duke of Hamilton was a member of the local Masonic Lodge (Hamilton Kilwinning No. 7) and in fact presided as Master of that lodge for three consecutive years from 1753 to 1755.

Ancestry

Family of James Hamilton, 6th Duke of Hamilton

16. William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas               8. William Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton                       17. Lady Mary Gordon               4. James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton                             18. James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton               9. Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton                       19. Lady Mary Feilding               2. James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton                                   20. Charles Gerard, 4th Baron Gerard               10. Digby Gerard, 5th Baron Gerard                       21. Jane Digby               5. The Hon. Elizabeth Gerard                             22. Charles Gerard, 1st Earl of Macclesfield               11. Lady Elizabeth Gerard                       23. Jeanne de Civelle               1. James Hamilton, 6th Duke of Hamilton                                         24. William Cochrane, Lord Cochrane               12. John Cochrane, 2nd Earl of Dundonald                       25. Lady Katherine Kennedy               6. John Cochrane, 4th Earl of Dundonald                             26. William Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton (= 8.)               13. Lady Susannah Hamilton                       27. Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton (= 9.)               3. Lady Anne Cochrane                                   28. John Murray, 1st Marquess of Atholl               14. Charles Murray, 1st Earl of Dunmore                       29. Lady Amelia Stanley               7. Lady Anne Murray                             30. Richard Watts               15. Catherine Watts                       31. Catherine Werden

External links

• Elizabeth Gunning
• Lodge Hamilton Kilwinning No.7
• Pedigree at Genealogics

Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by James Hamilton	Duke of Hamilton 1743–1758	Succeeded by James Hamilton
Peerage of Great Britain
Preceded by James Hamilton	Duke of Brandon 1743–1758	Succeeded by James Hamilton