View source for James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Abercorn

{{Short description|Scottish earl and undertaker in Ireland (1575–1618)}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use shortened footnotes|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox noble
| name          = James Hamilton
| title         = [[Earl of Abercorn]]
| tenure        = 1606–1618
| spouse        = Marion Boyd
| issue         = [[James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Abercorn|James]], [[Claud Hamilton, 2nd Baron Hamilton of Strabane|Claud]], [[Sir George Hamilton, 1st Baronet, of Donalong|George]], & others
| issue-link    = #chldrn
| successor     = [[James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Abercorn|James, 2nd Earl of Abercorn]]
| birth_date    = 12 August 1575
| death_date    = 23 March 1618 (aged 42)
| death_place   = Monkton, [[Ayrshire]], Scotland
| resting_place = [[Paisley Abbey]]
| father        = [[Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley]]
| mother        = [[Margaret Seton]]
}}

'''James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Abercorn''' <small>[[Privy Council of Scotland|PC (S)]]</small> (1575–1618), was a Scottish diplomat for [[James VI and I|James VI]] and an [[Plantations of Ireland#Munster Plantation (1583 onwards)|undertaker]] (a term for a British colonist) in the [[Plantation of Ulster]] in the north of [[Ireland]].

== Birth and origins ==

James was born on 12 August 1575, probably at [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]], Scotland, the eldest son of [[Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley|Claud Hamilton]] and his wife [[Margaret Seton]].{{Sfn|Boyd|1907|p=182}} His father was a younger brother of the [[James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran|3rd Earl of Arran]], and would  be created [[Duke of Abercorn|Lord Paisley]] on 24 July 1587.{{Sfn|Cokayne|1910|p=2}}{{Sfn|Paul|1904|p=39}} His paternal grandfather was [[James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran|the 2nd Earl of Arran]] in the [[Peerage of Scotland]] and the [[Duke of Châtellerault]] in the [[Kingdom of France]]. His father's family descended from [[Walter fitz Gilbert of Cadzow|Walter FitzGilbert]], the founder of the [[Clan Hamilton|House of Hamilton]],{{Sfn|Chisholm|1910|p=[[:s:1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Hamilton (family)|878, line nine]]|ps=. "...&nbsp;the first authentic ancestor is one Walter FitzGilbert. He first appears in 1294–1295&nbsp;..."}} who had received the barony of [[Cadzow]] from [[Robert the Bruce]].{{Sfn|Paul|1907|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun04paul/page/341/ 341, line 12]|ps=. "At a later but uncertain date he received the barony of Cadzow from King Robert&nbsp;..."}}

James's mother was a daughter of [[George Seton, 7th Lord Seton]].{{Sfn|Burke|Burke|1915|p=[https://archive.org/details/b3136410x/page/54/ 54, left column, line 69]|ps=. "He [Claud Hamilton] was b. [born] 1543 and m. [married] 1&nbsp;Aug. 1574 Margaret, dau. [daughter] of George 5th Lord Seton. She d. [died] before 18&nbsp;Feb. 1616."}}{{Efn|Numbered as the 5th Lord Seton by [[James Balfour Paul]].{{Sfn|Paul|1904|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01paul/page/39/ 39, line 24]|ps=. "He [Lord Paisley] died in 1621, having married ... Margaret, daughter of 5th Lord Seton&nbsp;..."}}}} His parents had married in 1574 at [[Niddry Castle]], West Lothian, Scotland.{{Sfn|Burke|Burke|1915|p=[https://archive.org/details/b3136410x/page/54/ 54, left column, line 69]|ps=. "He [Claud Hamilton] was b. [born] 1543 and m. [married] 1&nbsp;Aug. 1574 Margaret, dau. [daughter] of George 5th Lord Seton. She d. [died] before 18&nbsp;Feb. 1616."}}{{Sfn|Paul|1911|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun08paul/page/590/ 290, line 19]|ps=. "Margaret, married at Niddry Castle, on 1&nbsp;August 1574 (contract 15 and 16&nbsp;June 1574), to Lord Claud Hamilton, fourth and youngest son of James, second Earl of Arran&nbsp;..."}} Both sides of the family were Scottish, Catholic, and supporters of [[Mary, Queen of Scots]]. His father and his father-in-law had both fought for her at [[Battle of Langside|Langside]] in 1568.

As eldest son he was given the [[courtesy title]] of Master of Paisley after the Scottish habit.{{Sfn|Paul|1904|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01paul/page/46/ 46, line 1]|ps=. "...&nbsp;commonly designated Master of Paisley."}} George had four brothers and one sister, [[Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley#chldrn|who are listed in his father's article]].

== Marriage and children ==
Shortly before or in 1592, Master Paisley married Marion, daughter of [[Thomas Boyd, 6th Lord Boyd]].{{Sfn|Paul|1904|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01paul/page/47/ 47, line 9]|ps=. "He [James Hamilton] married Marion, eldest daughter of Thomas, fifth Lord Boyd by Margaret&nbsp;..."}} Marion was a prominent [[Roman Catholic]] and would in 1628 be excommunicated by the synod of the [[Church of Scotland]] in Glasgow{{Sfn|Metcalfe|1909|p=[https://archive.org/details/historyofpaisley00metcuoft/page/236/ 236]|ps=. "In November, 1627, they were reported to the Synod, and on January 20, 1628, sentence of excommunication was pronounced against the Dowager countess&nbsp;..."}} after his death.

{{Anchor|chldrn}} <!-- Referenced by infobox issue-link -->
James and Marion had nine children, five boys:
# [[James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Abercorn|James]] (c. 1603 – c. 1670), succeeded as the 2nd Earl of Abercorn{{Sfn|Paul|1904|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01paul/page/48/ 48, line 22]|ps=. "James, second Earl of Abercorn, born about 1603, succeeded his father 1618&nbsp;..."}}
# [[Claud Hamilton, 2nd Baron Hamilton of Strabane|Claud]] (died 1638), established himself in Ireland{{Sfn|Paul|1904|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01paul/page/50/ 50, line 7]|ps=. "Dying 14 June 1638, he [Claude Hamilton] was buried in the church of Leckpatrick, County Tyrone."}}
# William (died 1681), was created [[Hamilton baronets#Hamilton baronets, of West Port|Baronet Hamilton of Westport]] and represented [[Henrietta Maria of France|Henrietta Maria]], Charles I's widow, at the pope{{Sfn|Millar|1890|p=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofnati25stepuoft/page/177/ 177, line 32]|ps=. "Sir William, the third son, represented Henrietta Maria, when queen dowager, at the papal court."}}{{Sfn|Burke|1869|p=[https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhera00inburk/page/2/ 2, right column, line 80]|ps=. "William (Sir), m. [married] Jane dau. [daughter] of Alexander Colquhoun, Laird of Luss, and widow of Alan, Lord Cathcart, but left no issue."}}{{Sfn|Paul|1904|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01paul/page/47/ 47, line 17]|ps=. "Sir William died at South Shields, 25&nbsp;June 1681"}}
# [[Sir George Hamilton, 1st Baronet, of Donalong|George]] (c. 1608 – 1679), was created [[Hamilton baronets#Hamilton baronets, of Donalong and Nenagh (1660)|Baronet Hamilton of Donalong]]{{Sfn|Millar|1890|p=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofnati25stepuoft/page/177/ 177, left column, line 48]|ps=. "On the Restoration he returned to England, was created a baronet of Ireland in 1660, and received other grants from Charles II in recompense for his services."}}
# Alexander (died before 4 May 1669), founded the German branch of the family{{Sfn|Paul|1904|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01paul/page/47/ 47, line 29]|ps=. "Sir Alexander Hamilton, of Holborn, London, married Elizabeth, daughter of&nbsp;... Bedingfield and died before 4&nbsp;May 1669, when administration of his estate was granted to a creditor, leaving with three daughters one son, Alexander, settled at the court of Philip William Elector Palatine&nbsp;..."}}

—and four girls:
# Anne (1592–1620), married [[Hugh Sempill, 5th Lord Sempill]] in 1611{{Sfn|Paul|1910|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun07paul/page/555/ 555]|ps=. "He [Hugh Sempill] married in 1611&nbsp;... first Anne Hamilton, eldest daughter of James, 1st Earl of Abercorn."}}
# Margaret (died 1642), married Sir William Cunninghame of Caprington{{Sfn|Paul|1904|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01paul/page/48/ 48, line 9]|ps=. "Margaret, married 1628 to Sir William Cunningham of Caprington, in the County of Ayr, Knight, and died without issue."}}
# Isobel (1600–1620){{Sfn|Paul|1904|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01paul/page/48/ 48, line 12]|ps=. "8. Isobel named with her brothers and her sisters Margaret and Lucrece as parties to an action in the Court of Session on 4&nbsp;November 1620."}}
# Lucy (born before 1618), for whom a marriage was arranged with [[Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim (1645 creation)|Randal MacDonnell, 1st Marquess of Antrim]], but the wedding never took place{{Sfn|Paul|1904|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01paul/page/48 48, line 15]|ps=. "Lucy or Lucrece, contracted by her father, when very young, to Randal, Lord Dunluce, afterwards Marquess of Antrim, but he not abiding by the contract, she never married; and by letters from Whitehall, 28&nbsp;October 1627, the Earl of Antrim was ordered to pay £3000 to James, Earl of Abercorn for his son's failure to implement the contract."}}
{{Chart top|width=auto|collapsed=no|align=right|clear=right|Family tree}}
{{Tree chart/start|style=clear: both; font-size: 90%; width: 36em;}}
{{Tree chart|Txt|Txt=Lord Abercorn with his wife, parents, and other selected relatives.{{Efn|This family tree is partly derived from the Abercorn pedigree pictured in Cokayne.{{Sfn|Cokayne|1910|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerageo01coka/page/4/ 4]|ps=. "Tabular pedigree of the Earls of Abercorn"}} Also see the lists of siblings and children in the text.}}|boxstyle_Txt=border: 0 solid white; padding-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;}}
{{Tree chart/end}}
{{Tree chart/start}}
{{Tree chart| |JmsR2|y|MgtDg| | | | |GrgSn|boxstyle=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: white;
 |JmsR2=[[James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran|James<br />'''2nd Earl''']]<br />c. 1516 – 1575<br />Châtellerault|boxstyle_JmsR2=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: beige;
 |MgtDg='''Margaret<br />Douglas'''
 |GrgSn=[[George Seton, 7th Lord Seton|George<br />'''7th Lord<br />Seton''']]<br />1531–1586|boxstyle_GrgSn=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: wheat;}}
{{Tree chart| |,|-|-|^|v|-|-|-|.| | | |!}}
{{Tree chart|JmsR3| |JhnH1| |Claud|y|MgtSn|boxstyle=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: white;
 |JmsR3=[[James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran|James<br />'''3rd Earl''']]<br />1537–1609|boxstyle_JmsR3=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: beige;
 |JhnH1=[[John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton|John<br />'''1st Marquess<br />Hamilton''']]<br />1540–1604
 |Claud=[[Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley|Claud<br />'''1st Lord<br />Paisley''']]<br />1546–1621
 |MgtSn=[[Margaret Seton|'''Margaret<br />Seton''']]<br />d. 1616}}
{{Tree chart| | |,|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|^|-|-|.| }}
{{Tree chart| |Sbjct|y|MrnBd| |GrgHm| |FrdHm|boxstyle=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: white;
 |Sbjct=James<br />'''1st Earl'''<br />1575–1618|boxstyle_Sbjct=border: 2px solid red; border-radius: 0.5em; background: lavender;
 |MrnBd='''Marion<br />Boyd'''<br />d. 1632<br />Recusant
 |GrgHm=[[George Hamilton of Greenlaw and Roscrea|'''George''']]<br />of Greenlaw<br />& Roscrea<br />d. bef. 1657
 |FrdHm=[[Frederick Hamilton (soldier)|'''Frederick''']]<br />1590–1647}}
{{Tree chart| |,|-|-|^|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|.}}
{{Tree chart|JmsA2|y| Kth | |CldS2| | |Grg1D|boxstyle=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: white;
 |JmsA2=[[James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Abercorn|James<br />'''2nd Earl''']]<br />d. c. 1670|boxstyle_JmsA2=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: lavender;
 |Kth=[[Katherine Clifton, 2nd Baroness Clifton|Katherine<br />'''2nd<br />Baroness<br />Clifton''']]<br />c. 1590 – 1637
 |CldS2=[[Claud Hamilton, 2nd Baron Hamilton of Strabane|Claud<br />'''2nd Baron<br />Hamilton<br />of Strabane''']]<br />d. 1638
 |Grg1D=[[Sir George Hamilton, 1st Baronet, of Donalong|George<br />'''1st Baronet<br />Donalong''']]<br />c. 1608 –<br />1679}}
{{Tree chart| | |,|'| | |,|-|-|^|.| | | |!}}
{{Tree chart| |GrgA3| |JmsS3| |GrgS4| | Jm3 |boxstyle=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: white;
 |GrgA3=[[George Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Abercorn|George<br />'''3rd Earl''']]<br />c. 1636 –<br />bef. 1683|boxstyle_GrgA3=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: lavender;
 |JmsS3=[[James Hamilton, 3rd Baron Hamilton of Strabane|James<br />'''3rd Baron<br />H. of<br />Strabane''']]<br />1633–1655
 |GrgS4=[[George Hamilton, 4th Baron Hamilton of Strabane|George<br />'''4th Baron<br />H. of<br />Strabane''']]<br />1636/7 – 1668
 |Jm3=[[James Hamilton (English army officer)|'''James''']]<br />c. 1630 – 1673<br />Courtier}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | | |,|-|-|-|(| | | |!}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | |CldA4| |ChlA5| |JmsA6|boxstyle=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: white;
 |CldA4=[[Claud Hamilton, 4th Earl of Abercorn|Claud<br />'''4th Earl''']]<br />1659–1691|boxstyle_CldA4=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: lavender;
 |ChlA5=[[Charles Hamilton, 5th Earl of Abercorn|Charles<br />'''5th Earl''']]<br />d. 1701|boxstyle_ChlA5=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: lavender;
 |JmsA6=[[James Hamilton, 6th Earl of Abercorn|James<br />'''6th Earl''']]<br />c. 1661 – 1734|boxstyle_JmsA6=border-width: 1px; border-radius: 0.5em; background: lavender;}}
{{Tree chart/end}}
{{Tree chart/start|style=clear: both;}}
{{Tree chart|Leg|Leg='''Legend'''|boxstyle_Leg=border: 0 solid white;}}
{{Tree chart/end}}
{{Tree chart/start|style=clear: both;}}
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{{Tree chart/end}}
{{Chart_bottom}}
== Life in Scotland ==
In 1597, the Master of Paisley sat for [[Linlithgowshire (Parliament of Scotland constituency)|Linlithgow]] in the [[Parliament of Scotland]]. He was also made a [[Gentleman of the Bedchamber]] and a member of the [[Privy Council of Scotland|Privy Council]] to [[James VI and I|James VI of Scotland]]. In 1600, the King created him hereditary [[Sheriff of Linlithgow]].
{{Sfn|Cokayne|1910|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerageo01coka/page/2/ 2, line 5]}} On 2 May 1602, the Master of Paisley carried the basin at the baptism of [[Robert Stuart, Duke of Kintyre and Lorne]] at [[Dunfermline Abbey]].<ref>[[James Maidment]], ''Ancient Heraldic and Antiquarian Tracts'' (Edinburgh, 1837), p. 55.</ref>

On 24 March 1603, at the [[Union of the Crowns]] James VI also became King of England and reigned on both kingdoms in [[personal union]]. On 5 April 1603, the Master of Paisley was created Lord Abercorn, of [[Linlithgowshire]].{{Sfn|Cokayne|1910|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerageo01coka/page/2/ 2, line 8]}} This made him the first of the long line of earls, then marquesses, and finally dukes of [[Duke of Abercorn|Abercorn]].

His wife was a close friend of [[Anne of Denmark]]. In May 1603 Anne of Denmark came to [[Stirling Castle]] hoping to collect her son [[Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales|Prince Henry]], who was in the keeping of the [[John Erskine, Earl of Mar (1558–1634)|Earl of Mar]]. Anne fainted at dinner and when [[Jean Ker, Countess of Roxburghe|Jean Drummond]] and Marion Boyd, Mistress of Paisley, carried her to bed she had a miscarriage. The lawyer [[Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington|Thomas Haddington]] wrote an account of these events, and said the queen had told her physician [[Martin Schöner]] and the Mistress of Paisley that she had taken "some balm water that hastened her abort".{{Sfn|Fraser|1889|p=[https://archive.org/details/memorialsofearv200fras/page/209/ 209–211]|ps=. "...&nbsp;that scho had gottin sum balme watter, whilk haistnit hir abort."}}{{Sfn|Maidment|1838|p=[https://archive.org/details/cu31924028151177/page/n91/ 54–55]|ps=. "Letter of Lord Fyvie to King James VI}}

In 1604, Lord Abercorn, as he now was, served on a royal commission established to consider the [[Jacobean debate on the Union|union of the crowns]] of England and Scotland.{{Sfn|Cokayne|1910|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerageo01coka/page/2/ 2, line 10]}} Though the project failed, the king was content with his services. He received large grants of lands in Scotland.

On 10&nbsp;July 1606 he was further honoured by being created Earl of Abercorn,{{Sfn|Millar|1890|p=[https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofnati25stepuoft/page/177/ 177]|ps=. "...&nbsp;for his efforts in this matter he was rewarded with the title of Earl of Abercorn, by patent dated 10&nbsp;July 1606."}} Baron Paisley, Baron Hamilton, Baron Mountcastell, and Baron Kilpatrick.{{Sfn|Paul|1904|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01paul/page/46/ 46, line 17]|ps=. "...&nbsp;on 10 July 1606 he was advanced to the dignity of Earl of Abercorn, Baron of Paisley, Hamilton, Mountcastell, and Kilpatrick."}}{{Sfn|Cokayne|1910|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerageo01coka/page/2/ 2, line 11]|ps=. "On 10 July 1606, he was cr. Earl of Abercorn, Lord Paisley, Hamilton, Mountcastell, and Kilpatrick [S. [Scotland]] to him and his heirs male whatsoever."}} The family tree shows how the Abercorn title was inherited moving at the death of the 3rd Earl to the descendants of the 2nd son, Claud, and then at the death of the 5th Earl to the descendants of his 4th son, George.

== Plantation of Ulster ==
Lord Abercorn, as he was now, and his brothers [[Claud Hamilton of Shawfield]] and [[George Hamilton of Greenlaw and Roscrea]] were undertakers in James I's [[Plantation of Ulster]]. He appears on the list of undertakers of 1611 and was granted the great proportion of Donalong (2000 acres) and the small proportion of Strabane (1000 acres). He acquired the middle (medium-sized) proportion of Shean from Boyd at a later time. He was given pieces of land called Strabane, Donnalonge and Shean in [[County Tyrone]] that had been confiscated from the [[O'Neill dynasty|O'Neill clan]]. He built a castle at [[Strabane]]. His brother Claude Hamilton was given land in County Cavan.{{Sfn|MacNevin|1846|p=[https://archive.org/details/confiscationuls01macngoog/page/n192/ 188]|ps=. "1. Strabane 1000; 2. Donnalonge 1000; 3. Shean 1500 acres."}}{{Sfn|Paul|1904|p=46}}{{Sfn|Masson|1889|p=[https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=msu.31293027205842&view=1up&seq=86 lxxx]|ps=. "Undertakers for 3000 acres each:&nbsp;... James Hamilton, Earl of Abercorn (in County Tyrone)&nbsp;... Undertakers for 2000 acres each:&nbsp;... Sir Claud Hamilton (in County Tyrone)&nbsp;... Undertakers for 1500 acres each:&nbsp;... Sir George Hamilton (in County Tyrone)"}}

On 11 March 1614, Abercorn was summoned to attend the [[Parliament of Ireland]] and was granted the precedence of an earl in Ireland (confirmed by royal warrant on 31 March), although he was not an Irish peer. He was appointed to the [[Lord President of Munster|Council of Munster]] on 20 May 1615.{{Sfn|Cokayne|1910|p=2}}

== Death, succession, and timeline ==
The court physician [[Théodore de Mayerne]] treated Hamilton for sleeplessness and melancholy caused by overwork in September 1616. He noted that Hamilton had smallpox at the age of two and measles at the age of fifteen.<ref>Brian Nance, ''Turquet de Mayerne as Baroque Physician: The Art of Medical Portraiture'' (Brill, 2001), pp. 96, 134–135, 136.</ref>

Lord Abercorn died on 23 March 1618, at [[Monkton, Ayrshire|Monkton]], Ayrshire, Scotland, predeceasing his father and was buried on 29 April 1618 in [[Paisley Abbey]] church.{{Efn|name=DoD|Born on 12 August 1575{{Sfn|Boyd|1907|p=[https://archive.org/details/calendarstatepa01boydgoog/page/n223/ 182, line 44]|ps=. "On the 12th instant [i.e. August 1575] Lord Claud Hamilton's wife, daughter to Lord Seton, was brought to bed of a son."}} and dead on 23 March 1618,{{Sfn|Burke|Burke|1909|p=[https://archive.org/details/b31363945/page/47/ 47, right column, line 50]|ps=. "He [the 1st Earl] d.v.p. [predeceased his father] 23&nbsp;March 1617-18&nbsp;..."}}{{Sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=43}} his final age was 42 years and seven months, but [[George Edward Cokayne|Cokayne]] and [[James Balfour Paul|Paul]] both give it as 43.{{Sfn|Cokayne|1910|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerageo01coka/page/3/ 3, line 1]|ps=. "He [James Hamilton] d. v.p. at Monkton 23 Mar. and was bur. 29 Ap. 1618 in the Abbey Church, Paisley, aged 43."}}{{Sfn|Paul|1904|p=[https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01paul/page/47/ 47, line 5]|ps=. "...&nbsp;he [James Hamilton] died in the parish of Monkton, a month after, in the life of his father, 23&nbsp;March 1618, aged forty-three, and was buried 29&nbsp;April following in the abbey church in Paisley."}}}}

He predeceased his father by three years and therefore never became Lord Paisley, but, having been created Earl of Abercorn, he did not miss this title. His eldest son, James, aged 14, succeeded him as the 2nd Earl of Abercorn. His widow died in Edinburgh in 1632.{{Sfn|Cokayne|1910|p=[https://archive.org/details/completepeerageo01coka/page/3/ 3, line 3]|ps=. "His widow, a prominent Rom. Cath., who was excommunicated in the kirk of paisley on 20 Jan. 1628, d. in the Canongate, Edinburgh, 26 Aug., and was bur. 13 Sep. 1632 with her husband."}} His brother, Sir George Hamilton of Greenlaw and Roscrea, helped to bring up the children and to convert them to the Catholic religion.{{Sfn|Wasser|2004|p=838}}

{|{{Table|hide}}
!colspan=3|Timeline
|-
!align="left"|Age!!align="left"|Date!!align="left"|Event
|-
|0||1575, 12&nbsp;Aug||Born, probably at [[Paisley, Renfrewshire|Paisley]]<ref name="FOOTNOTEBoyd1907[httpsarchiveorgdetailscalendarstatepa01boydgoogpagen223 182, line 44]"/>
|-
|{{Age|12 Aug 1575|1592}}||1592, about||Married Marion Boyd<ref name="FOOTNOTEPaul1904[httpsarchiveorgdetailsscotspeeragefoun01paulpage47 47, line 9]"/>
|-
|{{Age|12 Aug 1575|1603}}||''1603, 24&nbsp;Mar''||''Accession of [[James VI and I|King James&nbsp;I]], succeeding [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth&nbsp;I]]''{{Sfn|Fryde|Greenway|Porter|Roy|1986|p=[https://archive.org/details/handbookofbritis0000unse/page/44/ 44, line 1]|ps=. "James&nbsp;I&nbsp;... acc. 24&nbsp;Mar. 1603&nbsp;..."}}
|-
|{{Age|12 Aug 1575|5 Apr 1603}}||1603, 5&nbsp;Apr||Created Lord Abercorn, of [[Linlithgowshire]]<ref name="FOOTNOTECokayne1910[httpsarchiveorgdetailscompletepeerageo01cokapage2 2, line 8]"/>
|-
|{{Age|12 Aug 1575|10 Jul 1606}}||1606, 10&nbsp;Jul||Created Earl of Abercorn<ref name="FOOTNOTECokayne1910[httpsarchiveorgdetailscompletepeerageo01cokapage2 2, line 11]"/>
|-
|{{Age|12 Aug 1575|1611}}||1611||Undertaker in James's [[Plantation of Ulster]]<ref name="FOOTNOTEMacNevin1846[httpsarchiveorgdetailsconfiscationuls01macngoogpagen192 188]"/>
|-
|{{Age|12 Aug 1575|23 Mar 1618}}||1618, 23&nbsp;Mar||Died in [[Monkton, Ayrshire|Monkton]], [[Ayrshire]], Scotland{{Efn|name=DoD}} predeceasing his father
|}

== Notes and references ==
=== Notes ===
{{Notelist}}

=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

=== Sources ===
{{Refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
* {{Cite book|editor-last=Boyd |editor-first=William K. |date=1907 |title=Calendar of the State Papers Relating to Scotland and Mary, Queen of Scots 1547–1603 |volume=V |publisher=Her Majesty's General Register House |location=Edinburgh |oclc=1137227125 |url=https://archive.org/details/calendarstatepa01boydgoog/}} – 1574 to 1581
* {{Cite book|last=Burke |first=Bernard |author-link=Bernard Burke |date=1869 |title=A Genealogical and Heraldic Dictionary of the Peerage and Baronetage of the British Empire |edition=31st |publisher=Harrison |location=London |oclc=1045624502 |url=https://archive.org/details/genealogicalhera00inburk/}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Burke |first1=Bernard |author1-link=Bernard Burke |last2=Burke |first2=Ashworth Peter |date=1909 |title=A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage and Companionage |edition=71st |publisher=Harrison |location=London |oclc=28297274 |url=https://archive.org/details/b31363945/}}
* {{Cite book|last1=Burke |first1=Bernard |author1-link=Bernard Burke |last2=Burke |first2=Ashworth Peter |date=1915 |title=A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage and Companionage |edition=77th |publisher=Harrison |location=London |oclc=1155471554 |url=https://archive.org/details/b3136410x/}}
* {{Cite EB1911|editor-last=Chisholm |editor-first=Hugh |date=1910 |wstitle= Hamilton (family) |volume=12 |pages=878&ndash;879 }}
* {{Cite EB1911|editor-last=Chisholm |editor-first=Hugh |date=1911 |wstitle= Abercorn, James Hamilton, 1st Earl of |volume=1 |page=43}}
* {{Cite book|last=Cokayne |first=George Edward |author-link=George Edward Cokayne |editor-last=Gibbs |editor-first=Vicary |editor-link=Vicary Gibbs (St Albans MP) |date=1910 |title=The complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant |edition=2nd |volume=I |publisher=St Catherine Press |location=London |oclc=228661424 |url=https://archive.org/details/completepeerageo01coka/}} – Ab-Adam to Basing
* {{Cite book|last=Fraser |first=William |author-link=William Fraser (historian) |date=1889 |title=Memorials of the Earls of Haddington |volume=II |publisher=Privately printed |location=Edinburgh |oclc=1048813025 |url=https://archive.org/details/memorialsofearv200fras/}}
* {{Cite book|editor-last=Fryde |editor-first=E. B. |editor2-last=Greenway |editor2-first=D. E. |editor3-last=Porter |editor3-first=S. |editor4-last=Roy |editor4-first=I. |date=1986 |title=Handbook of British Chronology |publisher=Offices of the Royal Historical Society |edition=3rd |series=Royal Historical Society Guides and Handbooks, No. 2 |location=London |isbn=0-86193-106-8 |url=https://archive.org/details/handbookofbritis0000unse/ |url-access=registration}} – (for timeline)
* {{Cite book|last=Lodge |first=John |author-link=John Lodge (archivist) |editor-last=Archdall |editor-first=Mervyn |editor-link=Mervyn Archdall (Irish antiquary) |date=1789 |title=The Peerage of Ireland or, A Genealogical History of the Present Nobility of that Kingdom |volume=V |publisher=James Moore |location=Dublin |oclc=264906028 |url=https://archive.org/details/peerageofireland05lodg/}} – Viscounts
* {{Cite book|last=Maidment |first=James |author-link=James Maidment |date=1838 |title=Letters and State Papers during the Reign of James the Sixth |publisher=Edinburgh Printing Company |location=Edinburgh |oclc=651884245 |url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924028151177/}}
* {{Cite book|editor-last=Masson |editor-first=David |editor-link=David Masson |date=1889 |title=The Register of the Privy Council of Scotland |volume=IX |publisher=H. M. General Register House |location=Edinburgh |url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=msu.31293027205842}} – 1610 to 1613
* {{Cite book|last=MacNevin |first=Thomas |date=1846 |title=The Confiscation of Ulster |publisher=[[James Duffy (Irish publisher)|James Duffy]] |location=Dublin |oclc=1042430849 |url=https://archive.org/details/confiscationuls01macngoog/}}
* {{Cite book|last=Metcalfe |first=William Musham |date=1909 |title=A History of Paisley |publisher=Alexander Gardner |location=Paisley |oclc=1046586600 |url=https://archive.org/details/historyofpaisley00metcuoft/}}
* {{Cite encyclopedia|last=Millar |first=Alexander Hastie |editor-last=Lee |editor-first=Sidney |editor-link=Sidney Lee |date=1890 |title=Hamilton, James, first Earl of Abercorn (d.1617) |encyclopedia=[[Dictionary of National Biography]] |volume=XXIV |publisher=[[MacMillan and Co.]] |location=New York |pages=176–177 |oclc=8544105 |url=https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofnati25stepuoft/page/176/}} <!-- The URL contains the number 25, but the volume is 24. -->
* {{Cite book|last=Paul |first=Sir James Balfour |author-link=James Balfour Paul |date=1904 |title=The Scots Peerage, Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland |volume=I |publisher=David Douglas |location=Edinburgh |oclc=505064285 |url=https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun01paul/}} – Abercorn to Balmerino (for Abercorn)
* {{Cite book|last=Paul |first=Sir James Balfour |author-link=James Balfour Paul |date=1907 |title=The Scots Peerage, Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland |volume=IV |publisher=David Douglas |location=Edinburgh |oclc=505064285 |url=https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun04paul/}} – Fife to Hyndford (for Walter FitzGilbert)
* {{Cite book|last=Paul |first=Sir James Balfour |author-link=James Balfour Paul |date=1910 |title=The Scots Peerage, Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland |volume=VII |publisher=David Douglas |location=Edinburgh |oclc=505064285 |url=https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun07paul/}} – Panmure to Sinclair (for Sempill)
* {{Cite book|last=Paul |first=Sir James Balfour |author-link=James Balfour Paul |date=1911 |title=The Scots Peerage, Founded on Wood's Edition of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland |volume=VIII |publisher=David Douglas |location=Edinburgh |oclc=505064285 |url=https://archive.org/details/scotspeeragefoun08paul/}} – Sumerville to Winton
* {{Cite encyclopedia|last=Wasser |first=Michael |editor1-last=Matthew |editor1-first=Colin |editor1-link=Colin Matthew |editor2-last=Harrison |editor2-first=Brian |editor2-link=Brian Harrison (historian) |date=2004 |title=Hamilton, James, first earl of Abercorn (1575–1618) |encyclopedia=[[Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]] |volume=24 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |location=New York |pages=837–838 |isbn=0-19-861374-1 |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_0198613741/page/837/ |url-access=registration}}
{{Refend}}
<!--
== External links ==
Deprecated, see list at WP:RSPSS. Preserved here for cross-checking.
* [http://www.thepeerage.com/p11023.htm#i110225 Genealogy of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Abercorn on The Peerage website]
-->

{{S-start}}
{{S-reg|sct}}
{{S-new|rows=2 |creation}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Baron Abercorn]] |years=1603–1618}}
{{S-aft|rows=2 |after=[[James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Abercorn|James Hamilton]]}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-ttl|title=[[Earl of Abercorn]] |years=1606–1618}}
{{S-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Abercorn, James Hamilton, 1st Earl of}}
[[Category:1575 births]]
[[Category:1618 deaths]]
[[Category:Nobility from Renfrewshire]]
[[Category:Earls of Abercorn|01]]
[[Category:House of Hamilton|James]]
[[Category:Members of the Parliament of Scotland 1617]]
[[Category:Members of the Privy Council of Scotland]]
[[Category:Peers of Scotland created by James VI]]
[[Category:People associated with West Lothian]]
[[Category:Scottish sheriffs]]
[[Category:Diplomats for the Kingdom of Scotland]]
[[Category:17th-century Scottish peers]]