James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn

"James Albert Edward Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn KG, KP, PC (30 November 1869 – 12 September 1953), styled Marquess of Hamilton between 1885 and 1913, was a British peer and Unionist politician. He was the first Governor of Northern Ireland, a post he held between 1922 and 1945. He was a great-grandfather of Diana, Princess of Wales."

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Links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hamilton,_3rd_Duke_of_Abercorn

http://histfam.familysearch.org/getperson.php?personID=I63356&tree=...

http://www.geneall.net/U/per_page.php?id=85267

http://www.thepeerage.com/p10104.htm#i101031

Citations

1. [S6] G.E. Cokayne; with Vicary Gibbs, H.A. Doubleday, Geoffrey H. White, Duncan Warrand and Lord Howard de Walden, editors, The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant, new ed., 13 volumes in 14 (1910-1959; reprint in 6 volumes, Gloucester, U.K.: Alan Sutton Publishing, 2000), volume XIII, page 39. Hereinafter cited as The Complete Peerage.

2. [S140] National Portrait Gallery, London, online http://www.npg.org.uk. Hereinafter cited as National Portrait Gallery.

3. [S300] Michael Rhodes, "re: Ernest Fawbert Collection," e-mail message to Darryl Roger Lundy, 8 February. Hereinafter cited as "re: Ernest Fawbert Collection."

4. [S8] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition, 2 volumes (Crans, Switzerland: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 1999), volume 1, page 6. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 106th edition.

5. [S6] Cokayne, and others, The Complete Peerage, volume I, page 10.

6. [S323] Sir James Balfour Paul, The Scots Peerage: founded on Wood's edition of Sir Robert Douglas's The Peerage of Scotland (Edinburgh, Scotland: David Douglas, 1904), volume I, page 73. Hereinafter cited as The Scots Peerage.

7. [S37] Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 3, page 3811. Hereinafter cited as Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 107th edition.

Born in Hamilton Place, Piccadilly, London, he was the eldest son of James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn, and godson of the Prince of Wales. His mother Lady Mary Anna was the fourth daughter of Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe.[1] He was educated at Eton and subsequently served first in the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers until 1892 when he joined the 1st Life Guards. Hamilton was later transferred as major to the North Irish Horse.[1]

In early 1901 he accompanied his father on a special diplomatic mission to announce the accession of King Edward to the governments of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Russia, Germany, and Saxony.[2]

In the 1900 general election, Hamilton stood successfully as Unionist candidate for Londonderry City, and three years later he became Treasurer of the Household, a post he held until the fall of Balfour's Conservative administration in 1905.[3] After serving for a time as an Opposition whip, Hamilton succeeded his father as third Duke of Abercorn in 1913. In 1922 he was appointed Governor of the newly created Northern Ireland. He also served as Lord Lieutenant of Tyrone from 1917 until his death, having previously been a Deputy Lieutenant for County Donegal.[4] Abercorn proved a popular royal representative in Northern Ireland, and was reappointed to the post in 1928 after completing his first term of office. In 1931, he declined the offer of the Governor Generalship of Canada, and three years later he was again reappointed Governor for a third term. He remained in this capacity until his resignation in July 1945.[5]

Abercorn was made a Knight of the Most Illustrious Order of Saint Patrick in 1922, and six years later became a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. In the latter year, he was also the recipient of an honorary degree from the Queen's University of Belfast, and received the Royal Victorian Chain in 1945, the same year he was sworn of the Privy Council.

Abercorn married Lady Rosalind Cecilia Caroline Bingham (1869–1958), only daughter of the 4th Earl of Lucan and his wife Lady Cecilia Catherine Gordon-Lennox (1838–1910, daughter of the 5th Duke of Richmond) at St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, on 1 November 1894.[3] They had three daughters and two sons:

Lady Mary Cecilia Rhodesia Hamilton (1896–1984), who married twice, firstly in 1917 Capt/Maj. Robert Orlando Rudolph Kenyon-Slaney (1892–1965), with whom she divorced in 1930, and, secondly, in 1930 to Sir John Gilmour, 2nd Baronet. With her first husband she had two daughters and a son, and with her second husband one son.
Lady Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton (1897–1972), who married in 1919 Albert Edward John Spencer, 7th Earl Spencer (1892–1975). They had a son and two daughters. By their son they became grandparents of Diana, Princess of Wales. Lady Katherine Seymour (1900–1985), who married in 1930 Lt.-Col. Sir Reginald Henry Seymour (1878–1938), a descendant of the 1st Marquess of Hertford. James Edward Hamilton, 4th Duke of Abercorn (1904–1979) Lord Claud David Hamilton (1907–1968), who worked as a barrister in the Inner Temple, and who in 1946 married Genesta Mary Heath. He was her third husband; they had no children.[4] Abercorn died at his London home in 1953,[5] and was buried at Baronscourt in County Tyrone.

He was styled as Viscount Hamilton between 1869 and 1885. He was educated at Harrow School, Harrow on the Hill, London, England.4 He was styled as Marquess of Hamilton between 1885 and 1913.4 He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Londonderry City between 1900 and 1913.6 He held the office of Treasurer of the Household between 1903 and 1905.4 He held the office of Lord-Lieutenant of County Tyrone.6 He gained the rank of Captain in the service of the 1st Life Guards.6 He gained the rank of Major in the service of the North Irish Horse.6 He held the office of Deputy Lieutenant (D.L.) of County Donegal.6 He succeeded to the title of 3rd Duke of Abercorn [I., 1868] on 3 January 1913.1 He succeeded to the title of 3rd Marquess of Hamilton, of Strabane, co. Tyrone [I., 1868] on 3 January 1913. He succeeded to the title of 7th Baron Mountcastle, co. Tyrone [I., 1701] on 3 January 1913. He succeeded to the title of 5th Viscount Hamilton [G.B., 1786] on 3 January 1913. He succeeded to the title of 12th Lord Paisley, Hamilton, Mountcashell and Kirkpatrick [S., 1606] on 3 January 1913. He succeeded to the title of 7th Viscount Strabane [I., 1701] on 3 January 1913. He succeeded to the title of 12th Earl of Abercorn [S., 1606] on 3 January 1913. He succeeded to the title of 4th Marquess of Abercorn [G.B., 1790] on 3 January 1913. He succeeded to the title of 13th Lord Hamilton, Baron of Strabane, co. Tyrone [I., 1617] on 3 January 1913. He succeeded to the title of 12th Lord Abercorn, co. Linlithgow [S., 1603] on 3 January 1913. He succeeded to the title of 12th Lord Paisley, co. Renfrew [S., 1587] on 3 January 1913. He succeeded to the title of 8th Baronet Hamilton, of Donalong, co. Tyrone and of Nenagh, co. Tipperary [I., 1660] on 3 January 1913. He was invested as a Knight, Order of St. Patrick (K.P.) in 1922.6 He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) [Northern Ireland] in 1922.6 He held the office of Governor of Northern Ireland between 1922 and 1945.6 He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws (L.L.D.) by Queen's University, Belfast, County Antrim, Ireland, in 1928.6 He was invested as a Knight, Order of the Garter (K.G.) in 1928.6 He was invested as a Knight of Grace, Order of St. John of Jerusalem (K.G.St.J.).6 He gained the rank of honarary Colonel in the service of the 9th AA Regiment.6 He was decorated with the award of the Royal Victorian Chain in 1945.6 He was invested as a Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1945.6