John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn

John James Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn KG PC (July 1756 – 27 January 1818) was the son of Captain Hon. John Hamilton and grandson of James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn.

He was educated at Harrow and Pembroke College, Cambridge. There he became the friend of William Pitt the Younger, a connection that would serve him well in later years.

He married, firstly, Catherine Copley, daughter of Sir Joseph Copley, 1st Baronet, on 20 June 1779. They had five children:
*Lady Harriet Margaret Hamilton (1780–1803), died unmarried.
*Lady Maria Hamilton (1782–1814), died unmarried.
*Lady Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton (1784–1812), married George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th Earl of Aberdeen and had issue.
*James Hamilton, Viscount Hamilton (1786–1814), married Harriet Douglas, granddaughter of James Douglas, 14th Earl of Morton and had issue.
*Lord Claud Hamilton (1787–1808), died unmarried.

He was a Tory MP for two boroughs in Cornwall from 1783 to 1789, when he succeeded to the Earldom. He was a supporter of his friend Pitt's first ministry, and a friend of William Pitt the Younger. He was created 1st Marquess of Abercorn on 15 October 1790, doubtless due to his political connections.

He married, secondly, his first cousin, Lady Cecil Hamilton, daughter of Reverend The Hon. George Hamilton, on 4 March 1792, but they were divorced in 1799 by an Act of Parliament. They had one child:
*The Lady Cecil Frances Hamilton (19 July 1795 – 7 July 1860), married William Howard, 4th Earl of Wicklow and had issue.

He was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland on 7 February 1794. Most of the Abercorn lands were in Ireland, and the Marquess made great efforts to build a voting bloc in the Irish Parliament from County Donegal and County Tyrone, although with relatively little success.

He married, thirdly, Lady Anne Jane Gore, daughter of Arthur Gore, 2nd Earl of Arran, on 3 April 1800.

He was invested as a Knight of the Garter on 17 January 1805.

Lord Abercorn died in 1818, aged 61 at Bentley Priory, Stanmore and his titles passed to his grandson, James Hamilton.

References

* [http://www.proni.gov.uk/records/private/aberc.htm Abercorn papers]