James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn

His Grace The Duke of Abercorn KG KP PC
The duke as Marquess of Hamilton in 1899.
Governor of Northern Ireland
In office 1922–1945
Monarch	George V Edward VIII George VI
Preceded by	None (office created)
Succeeded by	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
Religion	Anglican

Flag of the Governor of Northern Ireland

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 the accession of King Edward 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 the last non-royal 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.

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 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.

Ancestry

Ancestors of James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn

16. John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn               8. James Hamilton, Viscount Hamilton                       17. Catherine Copley               4. James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn                             18. Hon. John Douglas               9. Harriet Douglas                       19. Lady Frances Lascelles               2. James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn                                   20. Francis Russell, Marquess of Tavistock               10. John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford                       21. Lady Elizabeth Keppel               5. Lady Louisa Jane Russell                             22. Alexander Gordon, 4th Duke of Gordon               11. Lady Georgiana Gordon                       23. Jane Maxwell               1. James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn                                         24. Assheton Curzon, 1st Viscount Curzon               12. Hon. Penn Assheton Curzon                       25. Esther Hanmer               6. Richard Curzon-Howe, 1st Earl Howe                             26. Richard Howe, 1st Earl Howe               13. Lady Sophia Howe, 2nd Baroness Howe                       27. Mary Hartopp               3. Lady Mary Curzon-Howe                                   28. Colonel John Gore               14. Admiral Sir John Gore                       29. Bellamira Munbee               7. Anne Gore                             30. Admiral Sir George Montagu               15. Georgiana Montagu                       31. Charlotte Wroughton

Notes

1. Dod (1915), p. 40
2. "The King - the special Embassies". The Times (36410). London. 23 March 1901. p. 12.
3. Cokayne (1910), p. 10
4. Burke (2003), p. 6
5. The Times (London), Monday, 14 September 1953 p. 10 col. D

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