James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn
| His Grace The Duke of Abercorn KG, KP, PC |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| The Duke of Abercorn. | |
| Governor of Northern Ireland | |
| In office 1922–1945 |
|
| Monarch | George V Edward VIII George IV |
| Preceded by | New office |
| Succeeded by | The Earl Granville |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 November 1869 Hamilton Place, Piccadilly, London |
| Died | 12 September 1953 (aged 83) London, England |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Unionist |
| Spouse(s) | Lady Rosalind Bingham |
| Children | 5 |
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.
Background and education
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 King Edward accession to the governments of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, Russia, Germany, and Saxony.[2]
Political career
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 St Patrick in 1922, and six years later became a Knight 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.
Family and children
Abercorn married Lady Rosalind Cecilia Caroline Bingham (1869–1958), only daughter of Charles Bingham, 4th Earl of Lucan and his wife Lady Cecilia Catherine Gordon-Lennox (1838–1910, daughter of Charles Lennox, 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 sons and a daughter, 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.
References
- Cokayne, George Edward (1910). Vicary Gibbs, ed. The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom. vol. I. London: The St Catherine Press Ltd.
- Burke, John (2003). Charles Mosley, ed. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 107th edition. vol. I. Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage and Gentry Llc.
- Charles Roger Dod and Robert Phipps Dod (1915). Dod's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage of Great Britain and Ireland for 1915. London: Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent and Co. Ltd.
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by the Duke of Abercorn
- Portraits of James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn at the National Portrait Gallery, London
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Arthur John Moore |
Member of Parliament for Londonderry City 1900 – 1913 |
Succeeded by David Cleghorn Hogg |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by Victor Cavendish |
Treasurer of the Household 1903–1905 |
Succeeded by Sir Edward Strachey, Bt |
| New office | Governor of Northern Ireland 1922–1945 |
Succeeded by The Earl Granville |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by Edward Archdale |
Lord Lieutenant of Tyrone 1917–1945 |
Succeeded by James Ponsonby Galbraith |
| Peerage of Ireland | ||
| Preceded by James Hamilton |
Duke of Abercorn 1913–1953 |
Succeeded by James Hamilton |
