Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton
Encyclopedia
Air Commodore
Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton and 11th Duke of Brandon, KT
, GCVO
, AFC
, PC
, DL
, FRCSE
, FRGS, (3 February 1903 – 30 March 1973) was a Scottish
nobleman and pioneering aviator.
He was the eldest of four brothers who were to make military history by all being at the rank of Squadron Leader
or above simultaneously at the outbreak of World War II
.
, London. He was the son of Alfred, the 13th Duke of Hamilton
and his wife Nina Benita Poore
. He was educated at Eton
and Balliol College, Oxford
, where he gained a Blue
in boxing
, this in turn led to his winning of the Scottish Amateur Middleweight
title. He also represented the university in rowing.
Styled Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale before he succeeded his father as the Duke of Hamilton
and Keeper of Holyroodhouse in 1940, he had been a prominent Unionist Member of Parliament
(MP) for East Renfrewshire
from 1930 until he succeeded. In 1935 in order to experience the life of the employees in his family's mines, he joined a Trades Union and worked for a time at the coal face, as plain 'Mr. Hamilton'.
He became interested in flying at an early age and served in the Royal Auxiliary Air Force
(RAuxAF) becoming the youngest Squadron Leader of his day, commanding 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron
from 1927 to 1936. He was involved in one of the more ambitious aeronautical flights of the early twentieth century, the Houston
-Mount Everest expedition. Flying in formation higher than any before; Lord Clydesdale, as he was known, was chief pilot on the first flight over Mount Everest
in 1933, flying a Westland PV-3
biplane
. The extremity endured by the crews of these aeroplanes helped demonstrate the need for pressurised cabins
in modern aircraft. It was also the first detailed and scientific survey of the Himalaya region. Indirectly, the expedition resulted in the formation of Scottish Aviation Ltd
(now part of BAE Systems
).
In recognition of his role in the expedition, he was decorated with the Air Force Cross
in 1935. As a pioneering early aviator he was regarded in much the same heroic way as the astronaut
s a generation later.
Later, at the outbreak of World War II
he resumed his commission, at the rank of Air Commodore
. He was responsible for air defence in Scotland, and took command of the Air Training Corps
.
Hamilton had attended the 1936 Summer Olympics
in Berlin
. A keen sportsman, he had flown his own plane to Germany where he was a member of a multi-party parliamentary group which had been invited to Berlin to observe the games by the German government.
In Berlin he attended numerous functions, including a grand dinner for the British contingent hosted by Joachim von Ribbentrop
the German ambassador to Britain and later Foreign Minister, where he was introduced to Hitler, and other leading members of the National Socialist
government. Hamilton had previously met Ribbentrop in London as the Ambassador to the Court of St. James's
. Hamilton was invited by Hermann Göring
to inspect the newly reinstated Luftwaffe
, for his professional interest in aviation. It has been suggested that Hamilton either through his own initiative or under instruction indulged in some minor espionage during these occasions. He did not, however, meet the deputy Führer Rudolf Hess
whilst in Germany.
Whilst in Germany Hamilton had met the Geopolitician
Albrecht Haushofer
, son of the distinguished Geopolitical academic Professor Karl Haushofer
.
The younger Haushofer had studied alongside Hess at Munich University. On Hess' rise to prominence within the Nazi Party, Haushofer became his advisor on foreign affairs.
Following the outbreak of war in 1939, memories of the earlier pan-European camaraderie of 1936 quickly faded. In 1940, upon his father's death, Hamilton succeeded to the Dukedom and was exerting all his efforts into the Air war, the aerial defence of his sector of Southern Scotland and Northern England.
; the reason for his doing so was ostensibly to meet with the Duke and plot a secret peace treaty that would lead to the supremacy of Germany within Europe and the reinforcement of the British Empire
without.
Hess crash landed at Floors Farm near Eaglesham
at 10:34pm and gave his name as "Alfred Horn", a friend of the Duke of Hamilton; Hess however, was taken to hospital for injuries sustained during his descent. Hamilton was informed of the prisoner and visited him whereupon he revealed his true identity. Hamilton immediately contacted Winston Churchill
, and informed him of the Deputy Führer's arrival. Hess was imprisoned by the British authorities until the end of the war and the subsequent Nuremberg trials
.
Hamilton came under pressure from the press to explain his role in the affair, with suspicions being raised that he may have been in prior contact with Hess. Questions were asked in the House of Commons
. On the 22 May, Sir Archibald Sinclair, the Secretary of State for Air
, gave this statement to the House:
for his friend Sir Harry Lauder
, said to be the largest funeral ever held in the town, and read The Lesson during the service describing Lauder as "a Great Scot".
and Lord Steward of the Household, holding the latter office until 1964.
He served as Chancellor of the University of St Andrews
from 1948 to 1973. He was admitted to the Order of the Thistle
in 1951. He was also a member of the Royal Company of Archers
, the Sovereign's bodyguard for Scotland.
He served as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
four times, in 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1958.
In 1963 the Duke was made honorary President of the Boys Brigade, he had been the treasurer since 1938. He was the President of the Air League
from 1959 to 1968.
The Duke served as President of the Hamilton Academy
FP (former pupil) Rugby Club, 1946-1955.
. They produced five sons:
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton and 11th Duke of Brandon, KT
Order of the Thistle
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland who asserted that he was reviving an earlier Order...
, GCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, AFC
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
, PC
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, FRCSE
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is an organisation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and advancement in surgical practice, through its interest in education, training and examinations, its liaison with external medical bodies and representation of the modern surgical workforce...
, FRGS, (3 February 1903 – 30 March 1973) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
nobleman and pioneering aviator.
He was the eldest of four brothers who were to make military history by all being at the rank of Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader
Squadron Leader is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also sometimes used as the English translation of an equivalent rank in countries which have a non-English air force-specific rank structure. In these...
or above simultaneously at the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life
Hamilton was born in PimlicoPimlico
Pimlico is a small area of central London in the City of Westminster. Like Belgravia, to which it was built as a southern extension, Pimlico is known for its grand garden squares and impressive Regency architecture....
, London. He was the son of Alfred, the 13th Duke of Hamilton
Alfred Douglas-Hamilton, 13th Duke of Hamilton
Lieutenant Alfred Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 13th Duke of Hamilton and 10th Duke of Brandon TD, DL was a Scottish nobleman and sailor.-Life and Succession:...
and his wife Nina Benita Poore
Nina Douglas-Hamilton, Duchess of Hamilton
Nina Mary Benita Douglas-Hamilton, Duchess of Hamilton . She was born in Salisbury, the daughter of Major Robert Poore, married Alfred Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 13th Duke of Hamilton and died in London....
. He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College, Oxford
Balliol College , founded in 1263, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England but founded by a family with strong Scottish connections....
, where he gained a Blue
University Sporting Blue
A Blue is an award earned by sportsmen and women at a university and some schools for competition at the highest level. The awarding of Blues began at Oxford and Cambridge Universities...
in boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
, this in turn led to his winning of the Scottish Amateur Middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
title. He also represented the university in rowing.
Styled Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale before he succeeded his father as the Duke of Hamilton
Duke of Hamilton
Duke of Hamilton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1643. It is the senior dukedom in that Peerage , and as such its holder is the Premier Peer of Scotland, as well as being head of both the House of Hamilton and the House of Douglas...
and Keeper of Holyroodhouse in 1940, he had been a prominent Unionist Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for East Renfrewshire
East Renfrewshire (UK Parliament constituency)
East Renfrewshire is a constituency of the British House of Commons, located in Scotland to the south of Glasgow. It elects one Member of Parliament at least once every five years using the First-past-the-post system of voting....
from 1930 until he succeeded. In 1935 in order to experience the life of the employees in his family's mines, he joined a Trades Union and worked for a time at the coal face, as plain 'Mr. Hamilton'.
Flight over Everest
Royal Auxiliary Air Force
The Royal Auxiliary Air Force , originally the Auxiliary Air Force , is the voluntary active duty reserve element of the Royal Air Force, providing a primary reinforcement capability for the regular service...
(RAuxAF) becoming the youngest Squadron Leader of his day, commanding 602 (City of Glasgow) Squadron
No. 602 Squadron RAF
No 602 Squadron is a Royal Auxiliary Air Force squadron. Originally formed in 1925 as a light bomber squadron, its role changed in 1938 to army co-operation and in 1939 to that of a fighter squadron....
from 1927 to 1936. He was involved in one of the more ambitious aeronautical flights of the early twentieth century, the Houston
Lucy, Lady Houston
Lucy, Lady Houston, DBE , born Fanny Lucy Radmall, was an English benefactor, philanthropist, adventuress and patriot.-Early life:...
-Mount Everest expedition. Flying in formation higher than any before; Lord Clydesdale, as he was known, was chief pilot on the first flight over Mount Everest
Mount Everest
Mount Everest is the world's highest mountain, with a peak at above sea level. It is located in the Mahalangur section of the Himalayas. The international boundary runs across the precise summit point...
in 1933, flying a Westland PV-3
Westland PV-3
-External links:**...
biplane
Biplane
A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two superimposed main wings. The Wright brothers' Wright Flyer used a biplane design, as did most aircraft in the early years of aviation. While a biplane wing structure has a structural advantage, it produces more drag than a similar monoplane wing...
. The extremity endured by the crews of these aeroplanes helped demonstrate the need for pressurised cabins
Cabin pressurization
Cabin pressurization is the pumping of compressed air into an aircraft cabin to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for crew and passengers when flying at altitude.-Need for cabin pressurization:...
in modern aircraft. It was also the first detailed and scientific survey of the Himalaya region. Indirectly, the expedition resulted in the formation of Scottish Aviation Ltd
Scottish Aviation
Scottish Aviation Limited was a Scottish aircraft manufacturer, based at Prestwick in South Ayrshire.-History:Originally a flying school operator the company took on maintenance work in 1938....
(now part of BAE Systems
BAE Systems
BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, that has global interests, particularly in North America through its subsidiary BAE Systems Inc. BAE is among the world's largest military contractors; in 2009 it was the...
).
In recognition of his role in the expedition, he was decorated with the Air Force Cross
Air Force Cross (United Kingdom)
The Air Force Cross is a military decoration awarded to personnel of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, and formerly also to officers of the other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying, though not in active operations against the enemy"...
in 1935. As a pioneering early aviator he was regarded in much the same heroic way as the astronaut
Astronaut
An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft....
s a generation later.
Later, at the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
he resumed his commission, at the rank of Air Commodore
Air Commodore
Air commodore is an air-officer rank which originated in and continues to be used by the Royal Air Force...
. He was responsible for air defence in Scotland, and took command of the Air Training Corps
Air Training Corps
The Air Training Corps , commonly known as the Air Cadets, is a cadet organisation based in the United Kingdom. It is a voluntary youth group which is part of the Air Cadet Organisation and the Royal Air Force . It is supported by the Ministry of Defence, with a regular RAF Officer, currently Air...
.
World War II, the Hess Affair, and after
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
. A keen sportsman, he had flown his own plane to Germany where he was a member of a multi-party parliamentary group which had been invited to Berlin to observe the games by the German government.
In Berlin he attended numerous functions, including a grand dinner for the British contingent hosted by Joachim von Ribbentrop
Joachim von Ribbentrop
Ulrich Friedrich Wilhelm Joachim von Ribbentrop was Foreign Minister of Germany from 1938 until 1945. He was later hanged for war crimes after the Nuremberg Trials.-Early life:...
the German ambassador to Britain and later Foreign Minister, where he was introduced to Hitler, and other leading members of the National Socialist
National Socialist German Workers Party
The National Socialist German Workers' Party , commonly known in English as the Nazi Party, was a political party in Germany between 1920 and 1945. Its predecessor, the German Workers' Party , existed from 1919 to 1920...
government. Hamilton had previously met Ribbentrop in London as the Ambassador to the Court of St. James's
Court of St. James's
The Court of St James's is the royal court of the United Kingdom. It previously had the same function in the Kingdom of England and in the Kingdom of Great Britain .-Overview:...
. Hamilton was invited by Hermann Göring
Hermann Göring
Hermann Wilhelm Göring, was a German politician, military leader, and a leading member of the Nazi Party. He was a veteran of World War I as an ace fighter pilot, and a recipient of the coveted Pour le Mérite, also known as "The Blue Max"...
to inspect the newly reinstated Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
, for his professional interest in aviation. It has been suggested that Hamilton either through his own initiative or under instruction indulged in some minor espionage during these occasions. He did not, however, meet the deputy Führer Rudolf Hess
Rudolf Hess
Rudolf Walter Richard Hess was a prominent Nazi politician who was Adolf Hitler's deputy in the Nazi Party during the 1930s and early 1940s...
whilst in Germany.
Whilst in Germany Hamilton had met the Geopolitician
Geopolitik
Geopolitik is the branch of uniquely German geostrategy. It developed as a distinct strain of thought after Otto von Bismarck's unification of the German states but began its development in earnest only under Emperor Wilhelm II...
Albrecht Haushofer
Albrecht Haushofer
Albrecht Georg Haushofer was a German geographer, diplomat and author.Albrecht Haushofer's father was the retired General and geographer Karl Haushofer . His mother Martha . Albrecht had one brother, Heinz.Albrecht studied geography and history at Munich University...
, son of the distinguished Geopolitical academic Professor Karl Haushofer
Karl Haushofer
Karl Ernst Haushofer was a German general, geographer and geopolitician. Through his student Rudolf Hess, Haushofer's ideas may have influenced the development of Adolf Hitler's expansionist strategies, although Haushofer denied direct influence on the Nazi regime.-Biography:Haushofer belonged to...
.
The younger Haushofer had studied alongside Hess at Munich University. On Hess' rise to prominence within the Nazi Party, Haushofer became his advisor on foreign affairs.
Following the outbreak of war in 1939, memories of the earlier pan-European camaraderie of 1936 quickly faded. In 1940, upon his father's death, Hamilton succeeded to the Dukedom and was exerting all his efforts into the Air war, the aerial defence of his sector of Southern Scotland and Northern England.
Hess
On 10 May 1941, Hess parachuted into ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
; the reason for his doing so was ostensibly to meet with the Duke and plot a secret peace treaty that would lead to the supremacy of Germany within Europe and the reinforcement of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
without.
Hess crash landed at Floors Farm near Eaglesham
Eaglesham
Eaglesham , is a village and parish set in the west central Lowlands of Scotland - population 3,127 . Today it is chiefly a dormitory town for commuters to nearby Glasgow. The village is distinctive in being based around a large triangular green...
at 10:34pm and gave his name as "Alfred Horn", a friend of the Duke of Hamilton; Hess however, was taken to hospital for injuries sustained during his descent. Hamilton was informed of the prisoner and visited him whereupon he revealed his true identity. Hamilton immediately contacted Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, and informed him of the Deputy Führer's arrival. Hess was imprisoned by the British authorities until the end of the war and the subsequent Nuremberg trials
Nuremberg Trials
The Nuremberg Trials were a series of military tribunals, held by the victorious Allied forces of World War II, most notable for the prosecution of prominent members of the political, military, and economic leadership of the defeated Nazi Germany....
.
Hamilton came under pressure from the press to explain his role in the affair, with suspicions being raised that he may have been in prior contact with Hess. Questions were asked in the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
. On the 22 May, Sir Archibald Sinclair, the Secretary of State for Air
Secretary of State for Air
The Secretary of State for Air was a cabinet level British position. The person holding this position was in charge of the Air Ministry. It was created on 10 January 1919 to manage the Royal Air Force...
, gave this statement to the House:
- "When deputy Führer Hess came down with his aeroplane in Scotland on the 10th of May, he gave a false name and asked to see the Duke of Hamilton. The Duke being apprised by the authorities, visited the German prisoner in hospital. Hess then revealed for the first time his true identity, saying that he had seen the Duke when he was at the Olympic games at Berlin in 1936. The Duke did not recognise the Deputy Führer. He had however, visited Germany for the Olympic games in 1936, and during that time had attended more than one large public function, at which German ministers were present. It is, therefore, quite possible that the deputy Führer may have seen him on one such occasion. As soon as the interview was over, Wing Commander the Duke of Hamilton flew to England and gave a full report of what had passed to the Prime Minister, who sent for him. Contrary to reports which have appeared in some newspapers, the Duke has never been in correspondence with the Deputy Führer. None of the Duke's three brothers, who are, like him, serving in the Royal Air Force has either met Hess or has had correspondence with him. It will be seen that the conduct of the Duke of Hamilton has been in every respect honourable and proper." HansardHansardHansard is the name of the printed transcripts of parliamentary debates in the Westminster system of government. It is named after Thomas Curson Hansard, an early printer and publisher of these transcripts.-Origins:...
, 22 May 1941
Sir Harry Lauder
At the end of February 1950 the Duke led the funeral procession, on foot, through HamiltonHamilton, South Lanarkshire
Hamilton is a town in South Lanarkshire, in the west-central Lowlands of Scotland. It serves as the main administrative centre of the South Lanarkshire council area. It is the fifth-biggest town in Scotland after Paisley, East Kilbride, Livingston and Cumbernauld...
for his friend Sir Harry Lauder
Harry Lauder
Sir Henry Lauder , known professionally as Harry Lauder, was an international Scottish entertainer, described by Sir Winston Churchill as "Scotland's greatest ever ambassador!"-Early life:...
, said to be the largest funeral ever held in the town, and read The Lesson during the service describing Lauder as "a Great Scot".
Offices and positions held
He was appointed Privy CounsellorPrivy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
and Lord Steward of the Household, holding the latter office until 1964.
He served as Chancellor of the University of St Andrews
Chancellor of the University of St Andrews
The Chancellor is the titular head of the University of St Andrews. His duties include conferring degrees, promoting the University’s image throughout the world, and furthering its interests, both within Scotland and beyond....
from 1948 to 1973. He was admitted to the Order of the Thistle
Order of the Thistle
The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle is an order of chivalry associated with Scotland. The current version of the Order was founded in 1687 by King James VII of Scotland who asserted that he was reviving an earlier Order...
in 1951. He was also a member of the Royal Company of Archers
Royal Company of Archers
The Royal Company of Archers is a ceremonial unit that serves as the Sovereign's Bodyguard in Scotland, a role it has performed since 1822 and the reign of King George IV, when the company provided a personal bodyguard to the King on his visit to Scotland. It is currently known as the Queen's...
, the Sovereign's bodyguard for Scotland.
He served as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
The Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland is the British Sovereign's personal representative to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland , reflecting the Church's role as the national church of Scotland, and the Sovereign's role as protector and member of...
four times, in 1953, 1954, 1955 and 1958.
In 1963 the Duke was made honorary President of the Boys Brigade, he had been the treasurer since 1938. He was the President of the Air League
Air League
For the Air League , see Australian Air LeagueThe Air League is an aviation society in the United Kingdom, founded in 1909.The aims and mission of the Air League are to promote the cause of British aviation by:...
from 1959 to 1968.
The Duke served as President of the Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy
Hamilton Academy was a school situated in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland.Described as "one of the finest schools in Scotland" in the Cambridge University Press County Biography of 1910, Hamilton Academy featured in the Scottish Secondary Teachers' Association Magazine article series on...
FP (former pupil) Rugby Club, 1946-1955.
Business positions held
- Director of Scottish AviationScottish AviationScottish Aviation Limited was a Scottish aircraft manufacturer, based at Prestwick in South Ayrshire.-History:Originally a flying school operator the company took on maintenance work in 1938....
Ltd - Deputy governor of the British Linen BankBritish Linen BankThe British Linen Bank was a commercial bank based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was acquired by the Bank of Scotland in 1969 and served as the Bank's merchant bank arm from 1977 until 1999.-Foundation:...
- President of SecuricorSecuricorSecuricor plc was one of the United Kingdom's largest security businesses. It was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but merged with Group 4 Falck in 2004.-History:...
(Scotland) Ltd - President of the Building Societies AssociationBuilding Societies AssociationThe Building Societies Association is the trade organisation of the building societies in the United Kingdom. In 2011 the 48 building societies in the UK had total assets of over £317 billion. 15 million adults have building society saving accounts and over 2.9 million adults are currently buying...
- Chairman of Nationwide Building SocietyNationwide Building SocietyNationwide Building Society is a British building society, and is the largest in the world. It has its headquarters in Swindon, England, and maintains significant administration centres in Bournemouth and Northampton...
(Scotland) - Chairman of Norwich UnionNorwich UnionNorwich Union was the name given to insurance company Aviva's British arm before June 2009. It was originally established in 1797. It is the biggest life insurance provider in the United Kingdom, and has a strong position in motor insurance...
Life and Fire Insurance Society (Scotland)
Marriage and issue
In 1937, he married the Lady Elizabeth Ivy Percy, the daughter of the Duke of NorthumberlandAlan Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland
Alan Ian Percy, 8th Duke of Northumberland KG CBE MVO TD was the son of Henry Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland and Lady Edith Campbell....
. They produced five sons:
- Angus Douglas-Hamilton, 15th Duke of HamiltonAngus Douglas-Hamilton, 15th Duke of HamiltonAngus Alan Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 15th Duke of Hamilton and 12th Duke of Brandon was the premier peer of Scotland...
(1938–2010) - James Douglas-Hamilton, Baron Selkirk of DouglasJames Douglas-Hamilton, Baron Selkirk of DouglasJames Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, Baron Selkirk of Douglas, PC, QC , briefly The 11th Earl of Selkirk and styled Lord James Douglas-Hamilton until 1997, is a Scottish Conservative politician who served as Member of Parliament for Edinburgh West then Member of the Scottish Parliament for the...
(b. 1942) - Lord Hugh Malcolm Douglas Hamilton (1946–1995)
- Lord Patrick George Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1950)
- Lord David Stephen Douglas-Hamilton (b. 1952)
See also
- George Nigel Douglas-Hamilton, 10th Earl of Selkirk
- Lord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonLord Malcolm Douglas-HamiltonWing Commander Lord Malcolm Avondale Douglas-Hamilton OBE, DFC was a Scottish nobleman and politician....
- Lord David Douglas-HamiltonLord David Douglas-HamiltonSquadron Leader Lord David Douglas-Hamilton was a Scottish nobleman, pilot, and boxer.The youngest son of Lt...