Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington
Encyclopedia
Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington (1563 – 29 May 1637), designated before his peerage as 'of Drumcarny, Monkland, and Binning', was a Scottish
administrator, Lord Advocate
, judge, and Lord Lieutenant
of Haddingtonshire.
as Lord Priestfield, by his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of James Heriot of Trabroun, Haddingtonshire, Thomas junior was educated in Paris
.
in 1587, a Lord of Session in 1592, appointed Lord Advocate
in 1596, Lord Clerk Register
in 1612, and in 1616 became Lord President of the Court of Session.
, his legal talents being useful to the king, and he was one of the eight men called the Octavians
who were appointed to manage the finances of Scotland. Widely regarded as an able administrator, Hamilton was entrusted with a large share in the government of Scotland when James removed to London in 1603. In 1612 he was appointed Lord Clerk Register to the Privy Council to succeed Lord Curriehill. After the death of James VI the earl resigned his offices, but served Charles I
as Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland
. James was referred familiarly to his friends as 'Tam o' the Cowgate', his Edinburgh residence being in that street.
as Lord Binning. Further, on 20 March 1619, he was created Earl of Melrose. Upon the death of the first and last Viscount of Haddington (on 28 February 1626), the king agreed to exchange the title of Earl of Melrose to that of Earl of Haddington
, with the original precedence and remainder to heirs male bearing the surname and Arms
of Hamilton. In 1628 The Earl of Haddington purchased the Tyninghame estate for 200,000 merks.
, and had, with two more daughters:
The 1st Earl married again (3) on 3 September 1613, Julian (buried 30 March 1637), daughter of Sir Thomas Ker of Ferniehirst
, and widow of Sir Patrick Hume of Polwarth, by whom he had another son:
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...
administrator, Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
, judge, and Lord Lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
of Haddingtonshire.
Family
The son of Sir Thomas Hamilton of Priestfield, a judge of the Court of SessionCourt of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland, and constitutes part of the College of Justice. It sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh and is both a court of first instance and a court of appeal....
as Lord Priestfield, by his first wife Elizabeth, daughter of James Heriot of Trabroun, Haddingtonshire, Thomas junior was educated in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Legal career
He was admitted an AdvocateAdvocate
An advocate is a term for a professional lawyer used in several different legal systems. These include Scotland, South Africa, India, Scandinavian jurisdictions, Israel, and the British Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man...
in 1587, a Lord of Session in 1592, appointed Lord Advocate
Lord Advocate
Her Majesty's Advocate , known as the Lord Advocate , is the chief legal officer of the Scottish Government and the Crown in Scotland for both civil and criminal matters that fall within the devolved powers of the Scottish Parliament...
in 1596, Lord Clerk Register
Lord Clerk Register
The office of Lord Clerk Register is the oldest surviving Great Officer of State in Scotland, with origins in the 13th century.The Clerk-Register was from ancient times the principal Clerk in the kingdom, from whom all other clerks, whatever their government positions, and who were essentially his...
in 1612, and in 1616 became Lord President of the Court of Session.
Administrator
He was on very friendly terms with James VIJames I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, his legal talents being useful to the king, and he was one of the eight men called the Octavians
Octavians
The Octavians were a financial commission of eight in the government of Scotland first appointed by James VI in January 1596. James's minister John Maitland, 1st Lord Maitland of Thirlestane had died a few months earlier, and his financial situation was troubled. They were a reforming body, eager...
who were appointed to manage the finances of Scotland. Widely regarded as an able administrator, Hamilton was entrusted with a large share in the government of Scotland when James removed to London in 1603. In 1612 he was appointed Lord Clerk Register to the Privy Council to succeed Lord Curriehill. After the death of James VI the earl resigned his offices, but served Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
as Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland
Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland
The office of Keeper of the Privy Seal of Scotland, one of the Great Officers of State, first appears in the reign of David II. After the Act of Union 1707 its holder was normally a peer, like the Keeper of the Great Seal...
. James was referred familiarly to his friends as 'Tam o' the Cowgate', his Edinburgh residence being in that street.
Peerages
On 19 November 1613, he was created a Lord of ParliamentLord of Parliament
A Lord of Parliament was the lowest rank of nobility automatically entitled to attend sessions of the pre-Union Parliament of Scotland. Post-Union, it is a member of the lowest rank of the Peerage of Scotland, ranking below a viscount...
as Lord Binning. Further, on 20 March 1619, he was created Earl of Melrose. Upon the death of the first and last Viscount of Haddington (on 28 February 1626), the king agreed to exchange the title of Earl of Melrose to that of Earl of Haddington
Earl of Haddington
Earl of Haddington is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1627 for the noted Scottish lawyer and judge Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Melrose. He was Lord President of the Court of Session from 1616 to 1625...
, with the original precedence and remainder to heirs male bearing the surname and Arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of Hamilton. In 1628 The Earl of Haddington purchased the Tyninghame estate for 200,000 merks.
Marriages
The 1st Earl of Haddington married, (1) c. 1588, Margaret (d. Dec 1596), only child of James Borthwick of Newbyres, by whom he had two daughters. He remarried (2) in 1597, Margaret (d. 31 May 1609), daughter of James Foulis of ColintonColinton
Colinton is a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland situated 6 kilometres south west of the city centre. It is bordered by Dreghorn to the south and Craiglockhart to the north-east. To the north-west it extends to Lanark Road and to the south-west to the City Bypass...
, and had, with two more daughters:
- Thomas Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Haddington, a CovenanterCovenanterThe Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
, Governor of Dunglass Castle, and killed there in a massive explosion on 30 August 1640. Married, with issue. - Sir John Hamilton of Trabroun (dvp). Married with issue who died young.
The 1st Earl married again (3) on 3 September 1613, Julian (buried 30 March 1637), daughter of Sir Thomas Ker of Ferniehirst
Ferniehirst Castle
Ferniehirst Castle is an L-shaped construction on the east bank of the Jed Water, about a mile and a half south of Jedburgh, in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, and in the former county of Berwickshire...
, and widow of Sir Patrick Hume of Polwarth, by whom he had another son:
- Robert Hamilton, born 14 May 1614 and killed in the explosion at DunglassDunglassDunglass is a location in East Lothian, Scotland, lying east of the Lammermuir Hills on the North Sea coast. It has a 15th century Dunglass Collegiate Church, now in the care of Historic Scotland...
Castle on 30 August 1640, unmarried.