Other Events:

• Education: Harrow School, Harrow on the Hill, London
• Education: 02 Jul 1829; Matriculated, Christ Church, Oxford
• Office: 1844, Lord-Lt. of County Donegal
• Education: 05 Jul 1847; Graduated from Cambridge University, Cambridge (Doctor of Law L.L.D.)
• Education: 02 Jun 1856; Graduated from Oxford University, Oxford (Doctor of Civil Laws D.C.L.)
• Office: Between Jul 1866 and Dec 1868, Lord Lt. of Ireland
• Education: 21 Apr 1868; Graduated from Dublin University, Dublin (Doctor of Law L.L.D.)
• Probate: 27 Feb 1886, Valued at over 144, 000 Pounds

James married Louisa Jane Russell on 25 Oct 1832 in Gordon Castle, Fochabers, Morayshire, Scotland. Louisa was born on 08 Jul 1812 in Coats Castle, Pulborough, Sussex; died on 31 Mar 1905 in Coats Castle, Pulborough, Sussex. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Education: 24 Oct 1805; Matriculated, Christ Church, Oxford
• Elected: Between 1807 and 1812; M.P. for Liskeard

James married Harriet Douglas on 25 Nov 1809. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Education: 1776, Graduated M.A. from Pembroke College, Cambridge
• Elected: Nov 1783, M.P. for East Looe, Cornwall
• Elected: 1784, M.P. for St. Germans
• Title (Facts Pg): 1789, Succeeded to Title of 'Viscount Hamilton' in Great Britain
• Title (Facts Pg): 1789, Succeeded to Title of 'Viscount of Strabane' in Ireland
• Title (Facts Pg): 1789, Succeeded to Title of 'Earl of Abercon' in Scotland
• Elected: 19 Jul 1790, Took His Oaths and His Seat in the House of Lords in Ireland
• Title (Facts Pg): 15 Oct 1790, Created Marquess of Abercorn
• Elected: 7 Feb 1794, Sworn of the Privy Council in Ireland
• Title (Facts Pg): 17 Jan 1805, Nominated a Knight of the Garter
• Title (Facts Pg): 23 Apr 1805, Installed at Windsor on St. George's Day (Knight of the Garter)
• Will: 18 Mar 1809, With Four Subsequent Codicils
• Probate: 09 May 1818, London, England

Notes:

--- "Abercorn: The Hamiltons of Barons Court" by William J Roulston, 2014, page 90-1
There was no member of the family quite like the 1st Marquess before him, nor has there been one since. Anthony Malcomson, in the only recent essay that considers him in any detail, believed him to be "perhaps a fitter subject for fiction than biography". Elsewhere he has described him as "that truly proud northern leviathan". The Marquess' great-grandson, Lord Ernest Hamilton, who devoted a chapter to him in his book "Old Days and News", wrote that while he "could not, strictly speaking, lay claim to be reckoned, on all points, an exemplary character, he was, beyond question, an interesting one". A contemporary, the novelist Lady Morgan, wrote, "He was so organised to be the man he was that no education or example could have made him otherwise. Had he occupied the throne of his ancestors, he would have been the justest despot that ever reigned." The society hostess Lady Holland observed, "He is haughty and capricious, with enough of vanity to make him do a generous action, and with a dash of madness to make him do a lively one." Many of those who have commented on him have focused on his eccentricities or behaviour arising from his undoubted pride --- stories that he insisted his maidservants wore white gloves when changing the bed sheets or that he wore his Garter while out shooting. . . . His friend Sir Walter Scott called him "much misrepresented". The Marquess conduct at times may well have earned him the epithet "Don Magnifico" . . .

--- "The Scots Peerage" (Edinburgh, Scotland: David Douglas, 1904), volume I, page 66-8:
John James, ninth Earl of Abercorn, only son of the Hon. John Hamilton, was born after his father's death, July 1756. He was educated at Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he graduated M.A. in 1776, and was elected member of Parliament for East Looe, in Cornwall, on a vacancy in November 1783, and chosen for St. Germans at the general election 1784. He succeeded his uncle in 1789, as Earl of Abercorn in Scotland, viscount of Strabane in Ireland, and Viscount Hamilton in Great Britain. On 19 Jul 1790 he took the oaths and his seat in the House of Lords in Ireland. At the general election of the sixteen representatives of the Scots Peerage, 11 July 1790, the clerks refused to receive his signed list, as he had been created a peer of Great Britain since the Union. The question was carried to the House of Lords, where, 13 May 1793, in a committee for privileges, the point was decided in his favour. Meanwhile the Earl was created on 15 October 1790, Marquess of Abercorn; and was sworn of the Privy Council in Ireland 7 February 1794. He was nominated a Knight of the Garter 17 January 1805, and installed at Windsor on St. George's Day, 23 April following. A curious account of the almost royal progress of the Marquess and his family through Scotland on their way to Baron's Court in August 1813 is given by Sir Walter Scott.*

He married first, 20 June 1779, Catherine, daughter of Sir Joseph Copley, of Sprotborough, co. York, Baronet, by Mary, daughter of John Buller of Morval, Cornwall, and by her (who died at Stanmore Priory, Middlesex, 13 September 1791, and was buried 19 September, at Stanmore) had six children. . . .

The Marquess married, secondly, 4 March 1792, his cousin, Lady Cecil Hamilton, daughter of his uncle George already mentioned, and by her had a daughter. . . .

The Marquess married, thirdly, at her brother Viscount Sudley's house in Dover Street, Piccadilly, 3 April 1800, Lady Anne Jane, relict of Henry Hatton of Great Clonard, in the county of Wexford, member of Parliament for the borough of Donegal, to whom she was married October 1783. She was born April 1762, eldest daughter of Arthur Saunders, second Earl of Arran, in Ireland, by his first wife, the Hon. Catherine Annesley, only daughter of William, Viscount Glerawley. She died, without issue, at Naples 3 May 1827. The Marquess died 27 January 1818; his will, dated 18 March 1809, with four subsequent codicils, was proved in London 9 May 1818, and was succeeded by his grandson.

* "Life of Scott" iv. 95. Sir Walter was a frequent visitor to Stanmore Priory, and while there in April 1807 was correcting a proof of the Introduction to "Marmion", Canto 1., which contains the complimentary lines on Pitt and Fox. Lord Abercorn suggested that the tribute to Fox should be heightened, and it is said he himself penned several lines of eulogy. "Familiar Letters", i. 82. The "Lady of the Lake" was dedicated to the Marquess.

John married Catherine Copley on 20 Jun 1779. Catherine died on 13 Sep 1791 in Stanmore Priory, Middlesex; was buried on 19 Sep 1791 in St. John the Evangelist, Great Stanmore, Harrow, London. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]