Background
He was the son of Captain Honorary John Hamilton and grandson of James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn.
He was the son of Captain Honorary John Hamilton and grandson of James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn.
He was educated at Harrow and Pembroke College, Cambridge.
He was created 1st Marquess of Abercorn on 15 October 1790, doubtless due to his political connections. 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 was invested as a Knight of the Garter on 17 January 1805.
George West. East. Russell provided the following sketch of his aristocratic character:
This admirable nobleman always went out shooting in his Blue Ribbon, and required his housemaids to wear white kid gloves when they made his bed. 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. 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.
15th Parliament of Great Britain. 16th Parliament of Great Britain]
He was a Tory Member of Parliament for two boroughs in Cornwall from 1783 to 1789, when he succeeded to the Earldom.
