William Douglas-Hamilton, 1st Earl of Selkirk and de jure uxoris Duke of Hamilton KG, PC (24
December 1634 – 18 April 1694), was the son of William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas and his second wife
Lady Mary Gordon. Both he and his wife, Anne Hamilton were 4th Great-Grandchildren of James IV through two of his illegitimate daughters.
Marriage
Douglas married Anne Hamilton, Duchess of Hamilton on
April 29, 1656. He was created Duke of Hamilton in 1660 on the petition of his wife, Anne Hamilton,
suo jure Duchess of Hamilton (daughter of the 1st Duke),
receiving also several of the other Hamilton peerages, but for his life only and on the assumption of the surname
Douglas-Hamilton for himself and his descendants. The Hamilton estates had been
declared forfeit by Oliver Cromwell after the activities of his wife's father and uncle
in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, (James 1st Duke of Hamilton was executed in 1643, and
William, 2nd Duke of Hamilton died at Worcester in 1651). Selkirk himself had been fined £1000. However the
lands were restored by 1657 after much machinations with the Protectorate.
Career
William supported Lauderdale in the early stages of his
Scottish policy, in which he adopted a moderate attitude towards the Presbyterians, but
the two were soon alienated, through the influence of the Countess of Dysart, according to Gilbert Burnet, who spent much time at
Hamilton Palace in arranging the Hamilton papers. With other Scottish noblemen who resisted Lauderdale’s measures Hamilton was
twice summoned to London to present his case at court, but without obtaining any result.
He was dismissed from the Privy Council in
1676, and on a subsequent visit to London,
Charles II refused to receive him. On the accession of James II he received numerous honours, but he was one of the first to enter into communication with
the Prince of Orange. He presided over the convention of Edinburgh, summoned at his request, which offered the Scottish crown to William and Mary in March 1689. His death took place at Holyrood on April 18, 1694. His wife survived
until April 17, 1716.
Children and Grandchildren
After a fruitless second marriage to Lady Anne Spencer, he married thirdly Elizabeth Gerard, and had 7 other children.
-
- Lord William Douglas-Hamilton
- Lady Elizabeth Douglas-Hamilton
- Lady Catherine Douglas-Hamilton
- Lady Charlotte Douglas-Hamilton
- Lady Susan Douglas-Hamilton
- James Douglas-Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton (1703–1743)
- Lord Anne Douglas-Hamilton
- Lord William Douglas-Hamilton married Christian Jargon. (Some sources say he died in France
in 1688, meaning he couldn't have married and had John.)
- John Douglas-Hamilton (he was supposedly kidnapped by pirates and brought to America when he
was 12.)
- Lady Susannah Douglas-Hamilton married 1st, Charles Hay, 3rd
Marquess of Tweeddale. She married 2nd, John Cochrane, 2nd Earl of Dundonald.
- Lady Catherine Douglas of Hamilton married John Murray, 1st Duke of Atholl (1660–1724)
- Charles Douglas-Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Selkirk
- John Douglas-Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Selkirk, 1st Earl of Ruglen married Anne Kennedy
- William Douglas-Hamilton, 4th Earl of Selkirk
- Anne Douglas-Hamilton, 2nd Countess of Ruglen
- George Douglas-Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney married
Elizabeth Villiers
- Hon. Frances Douglas-Hamilton
- Hon. Harriet Douglas-Hamilton
- Hon. Anne Douglas-Hamilton
- Lady Margaret Douglas-Hamilton
- Lady Anne Douglas-Hamilton married Alexander Grant
- Lord Basil Hamilton married Mary Dunbar
- William Douglas-Hamilton of Baldoon
- Basil Douglas-Hamilton
- Eleanor Douglas-Hamilton
- Catherine Douglas-Hamilton
- Lord Archibald Hamilton married Lady Jane
Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton, 6th Earl of Abercorn
- Jane Douglas-Hamilton
- Elizabeth Douglas-Hamilton
Sources
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
