Social Victorians/People/Abercorn

Also Known As

• Family name: Hamilton
• the Duke of Abercorn
  • James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn (10 August 1868 – 31 October 1885)
  • James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn (31 October 1885 – 3 January 1913)
  • James Albert Edward Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn (3 January 1913 – 12 September 1953)
• the Duchess of Abercorn
  • Louisa Russell Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn (10 August 1868 – 31 October 1885)
  • Maria Anna Curzon-Howe Hamilton (31 October 1885 – 3 January 1913)
• Dowager Duchess of Hamilton
  • Louisa Russell Hamilton, Duchess of Abercorn (31 October 1885 – March 1905)
  • Maria Anna Curzon-Howe Hamilton (3 January 1913 – )
• Subsidiary titles:
  • Marquess of Hamilton (courtesy title for the heir apparent)
    • James Albert Edward Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn (31 October 1885 – 12 September 1953)
  • Viscount Strabane (courtesy title for the heir apparent of the Marquess of Hamilton)

Acquaintances, Friends and Enemies

Friends

• The Royal Family, especially Albert Edward, Prince and Alexandra, Princess of Wales, in the generation of the 2nd duke.

Timeline

1832 October 25, James Hamilton and Louisa Russell married at Gordon Castle, Fochabers, Morayshire, in Scotland.

1854 May 23, Beatrix Frances Hamilton and George Frederick D'Arcy Lambton married.

1855 April 10, Harriet Georgiana Louisa Hamilton and Thomas George Anson married.

1858 October 26, Katherine Elizabeth Hamilton and William Henry Edgcumbe married.

1859 November 22, Louisa Jane Hamilton and William Montagu Douglass Scott married.

1868, the title the Duke of Abercorn was created.

1869 January 7, James Hamilton (2nd Duke) and Maria Anna Curzon-Howe married at St. George's Church, St. George Street, Hanover Square, in London.

1869 November 8, there may have been a double wedding: Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton and George Charles Spencer-Churchill married, and Maud Evelyn Hamilton and Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice married.

1871 November 28, George Francis Hamilton and Maud Caroline Lascelles married.

1878 July 20, Claud John Hamilton and Carolina Chandos-Pole married.

1882 March 16, Georgiana Susan Hamilton and Edward Turnour married.

1883 November 20, the marriage between Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Spencer-Churchill and George Charles Spencer-Churchill was annulled by petition from Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Spencer-Churchill (married in 1869).

1891 June 2, Ernest William Hamilton and Pamela Campbell married.

1894 November 1, James Albert Edward Hamilton and Rosaline Cecilia Caroline Bingham married at St. Paul's Church, Knightsbridge, in London.

1897 June 28, Monday, according to the Morning Post, James Hamilton, 2nd Duke and Maria, Duchess of Abercorn were invited to the Queen's Garden Party, the official end of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in London, as were James Albert Edward Hamilton, Marquis and Rosaline, Marchioness of Hamilton.

1897 July 2, Friday, Alexandra Phyllis Hamilton (#64 on the list of people who were present) attended the Duchess of Devonshire's fancy-dress ball at Devonshire House, as did her uncle Lord Frederick Spencer Hamilton (#84), the Marquess of Hamilton (#657), and a Mr. Ronald Hamilton (#105). Besides these, probably, a Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton also attended.

1902 January 14, Gladys Mary Hamilton and Ralph Francis Forward-Howard married.

1933 July 11, Claud Nigel Hamilton and Violet Ruby Ashton married.

Costume at the Duchess of Devonshire's 2 July 1897 Fancy-dress Ball

Lady Helen Stewart as Arch-duchess Marie Christine of Austria. ©National Portrait Gallery, London.

Lady Alexandra Hamilton

Lady Alexandra Hamilton was one of the archduchesses — along with with 3 or 4 other young women — in the entourage of the Marchioness of Londonderry, who led the Austrian procession as Marie Thérèse, Empress of the Holy Roman Empire. These young women were present at the ball as the daughters of Marie Thérèse, and the young men dressed as archdukes were present as her sons. Lady Alexandra Hamilton went as "Archduchess Marie-Josepha in the Archduchess Marie-Karoline and Emperor Joseph II section of the Austrian Court of Maria Theresa Quadrille."

The newspapers report that the archduchesses were all dressed alike, but only one photograph exists of any of these young women in costume — that of Helen Mary Theresa Vane-Tempest-Stewart (which is shown, right). The newspaper descriptions are on her page, with her portrait in costume, but they apply to all the archduchesses.

Lord Frederick Hamilton

Lord Frederick Hamilton, Vanity Fair, by "Spy," 7 February 1895

Lord Frederick Spencer Hamilton was 6th son and 13th child of the 1st Duke of Abercorn. No photograph of him in costume exists.

He is shown (at left) as he looked in 7 February 1895 in a Spy caricature in Vanity Fair. This caricature portrait, by Leslie Ward ("Spy") is called The Pall Mall Magazine and is Number 647 in Vanity Fair's "Statesmen" series. He was editor of the Pall Mall Gazette 1896–1900.

For the ball, Lord Frederick Hamilton was dressed

• as a "gentleman of the Court of Queen Elizabeth," wearing "crimson cloth of gold with jewelled belt."
• as a "Gentleman of the Court of Queen Elizabeth. Costume of crimson and cloth of g [sic] with jewelled belt."
• "in crimson cloth of gold and jeweled belt."
• "as a gentleman of the court of Queen Elizabeth, was dressed in a costume of crimson cloth-of-gold, with a jewelled belt."

Memoirs

• Hamilton, Frederic [sic] Spencer. My Yesterdays (3 vols.). Hodder and Stoughton, 1920.
  1. The Days Before Yesterday. The Internet Archive has this: https://archive.org/details/daysbeforeyester00hamiuoft/page/n5/mode/2up.
  2. Vanished Pomps of Yesterday. The Internet Archive has this: https://archive.org/details/vanishedpompsofy028823mbp.
  3. Here, There and Everywhere. The Internet Archive has this: https://archive.org/details/herethereeverywh0000hami.

"He will be the 3rd Duke" (James Hamilton, Marquis of Hamilton), Vanity Fair 16 February 1899

James Hamilton, Marquess of Hamilton

James Hamilton, Marquis of Hamilton was dressed in a "black velvet tunic; breeches and cloak trimmed jet; large hat, feathers, wig, sword, &c., of the period" of Charles II. No photograph of him in costume exists.

A caricature portrait (right) called He will be the 3rd Duke (James Hamilton, Marquess of Hamilton) by "Hadge" appeared in the 16 February 1899 issue of Vanity Fair, as Number 739 in its "Men of the Day" series, giving a sense of what he looked like at about the time of the ball.

In 1892 Hamilton joined the 1st Life Guards, so the uniform he is wearing in this portrait is likely that of an officer of the 1st Life Guards.

James Hamilton's wife Lady Rosalind Hamilton is not reported as having been present at the ball, perhaps because she was pregnant with her second child and gave birth in August, five weeks later, so she was around 8 months pregnant.

Ronald Hamilton

Mr. Ronald Hamilton, possibly Ronald James Hamilton, was dressed as a "Gentleman of the Court of Queen Elizabeth, in black velvet trimmed with jet."

Demographics

• Nationality: the title Duke of Abercorn is in the peerage of Ireland; the Marquess of Hamilton is in the peerage of the U.K.

Family

• James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn (21 January 1811 – 31 October 1885)
• Louisa Russell Hamilton (– March 1905)

1. Lady Harriet Georgiana Louisa Hamilton Anson (6 July 1834 – 23 April 1913)
2. Lady Beatrix Frances Hamilton Lambton (21 July 1835 – 21 January 1871)
3. Lady Louisa Jane Hamilton Scott (26 August 1836 – 16 March 1912)
4. Lord James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn (24 August 1838 – 3 January 1913)
5. Lady Katherine Elizabeth Hamilton Edgcumbe (9 January 1840 – 3 September 1874)
6. Lady Georgiana Susan Hamilton Turnour (7 July 1841 – 23 March 1913)
7. Lord Claud John Hamilton (20 February 1843 – 26 January 1925)
8. Rt. Hon. Lord Sir George Francis Hamilton (17 December 1845 – 22 September 1927)
9. Lady Albertha Frances Anne Hamilton Spencer-Churchill (29 July 1847 – 7 January 1932)
10. Lord Ronald Douglas Hamilton (17 March 1849 – DVP 6 November 1867)
11. Lady Maud Evelyn Hamilton Petty-Fitzmaurice, the Marchioness of Lansdowne (17 December 1850 – 21 October 1932)
12. Lord Cosmo Hamilton (16 April 1853 – 16 April 1853)
13. Lord Frederick Spencer Hamilton (13 October 1856 – 11 August 1928)
14. Lord Ernest William Hamilton (5 September 1858 – 14 December 1939)

• Harriet Georgiana Louisa Hamilton Anson (6 July 1834 – 23 April 1913)
• Thomas George Anson, 2nd Earl of Lichfield (15 August 1825 – 7 January 1892)

1. Lady Evelyn Anson ( – 2 July 1895)
2. Thomas Francis Anson, 3rd Earl of Lichfield (31 January 1856 – 29 July 1918)
3. Hon. Sir George Augustus Anson (22 December 1857 – 25 May 1947)
4. Major Hon. Henry James Anson (29 December 1858 – 26 February 1904)
5. Lady Florence Beatrice Anson (1860 – 25 September 1946)
6. Hon. Frederic William Anson (4 February 1862 – 2 April 1917)
7. Hon. Claud Anson (11 January 1864 – 25 December 1947)
8. Lady Beatrice Anson (1865 – 15 December 1919)
9. Hon. Francis Anson (7 March 1867 – 13 April 1928)
10. Lady Mary Maud Anson (1869 – 22 September 1961)
11. Lady Edith Anson (1870 – 8 October 1932)
12. Hon. William Anson (19 April 1872 – 22 June 1926)
13. Hon. Alfred Anson (15 April 1876 – 25 March 1944)

• James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn (24 August 1838 – 3 January 1913)
• Maria Anna Curzon-Howe Hamilton (23 July 1848 – 10 May 1929)

1. James Albert Edward Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn (30 November 1869 – 12 September 1953)
2. Claud Penn Alexander Hamilton (18 October 1871 – 18 October 1871)
3. Charlie Hamilton (10 April 1874 – 10 April 1874)
4. Alexandra Phyllis Hamilton (23 January 1876 – 10 October 1918)
5. Claud Francis Hamilton (25 October 1878 – 25 December 1878)
6. Gladys Mary Hamilton Forward-Howard (10 December 1880 – 12 March 1917)
7. Arthur John Hamilton (20 August 1883 – 6 November 1914)
8. (unnamed son) Hamilton (31 October 1886 – 31 October 1886)
9. Claud Nigel Hamilton (10 November 1889 – 22 August 1975)

• James Albert Edward Hamilton, Marquess of Hamilton and 3rd Duke of Abercorn (30 November 1869 – 12 September 1953)
• Lady Rosalind Cecilia Caroline Bingham (26 February 1869 – 18 January 1958)
  1. Lady Mary Cecilia Rhodesia Hamilton (21 January 1896 – 5 September 1984)
  2. Lady Cynthia Elinor Beatrix Hamilton (16 August 1897 – 4 December 1972)
  3. Lady Katharine Hamilton (25 February 1900 – 28 April 1985)
  4. James Edward Hamilton, 4th Duke of Abercorn (29 February 1904 – 4 June 1979)
  5. Captain Lord Claud David Hamilton (13 February 1907 – 15 February 1968)

• Claud John Hamilton (20 February 1843 – 26 January 1925)
• Carolina Chandos-Pole Hamilton (19 July 1857 – 21 September 1911)

1. Colonel Gilbert Claud Hamilton (21 April 1879 – 30 March 1943)
2. Ida Hamilton (23 July 1883 – November 1970)

• George Francis Hamilton (17 December 1845 – 22 September 1927)
• Lady Maud Caroline Lascelles Hamilton (1846 – 14 April 1938)

1. Ronald James Hamilton (26 September 1872 – 22 January 1958)
2. Anthony George Hamilton (17 December 1874 – 11 July 1936)
3. Robert Cecil Hamilton (31 January 1882 – 31 July 1947)

• Ernest William Hamilton (5 September 1858 – 14 December 1939)
• Pamela Campbell Hamilton ( – 11 May 1931)

1. Guy Ernest Frederick Hamilton (11 November 1894 – 23 November 1914)
2. Mary Brenda Hamilton (28 March 1897 – 14 March 1985)
3. Jean Barbara Hamilton (6 September 1898 – 2 November 1989)
4. John George Peter Hamilton (15 October 1900 – 17 June 1967)

Memoirs and Archives

1. The Abercorn Papers: GB 0255 PRONI/D623 (found via https://iar.ie/archive/abercorn-papers). A descriptive list is available to search online at: http://www.proni.gov.uk/. The collection is arranged as follows: D623/A Correspondence D623/B Title deeds and leases D623/C Rentals, accounts and vouchers D623/D Maps, plans, surveys, inventories and valuations D623/E Photographs, illuminations, addresses and albums D623/F Material still at Baronscourt D623/G Miscellaneous

Questions and Notes

1. DVP = decessit vita patris, died while the father was still living
2. Mr. Ronald Hamilton cannot be Frederick Hamilton's brother, who should be Lord Ronald Hamilton rather than Mr. Ronald Hamilton, and he died in 1867. He could be this Ronald Hamilton, who would be a Mr. Hamilton: http://www.thepeerage.com/p2163.htm#i21622. He was Lady Alexandra's cousin and nephew of the 1st Duke of Abercorn.
3. A Mr. Hamilton is mentioned in the Gentlewoman article: "Mr. Hamilton (Elizabethan costume), black velvet, trimmed gold." But a later reference in this same article to Mr. Ronald Hamilton matches the description in the Morning Post article, saying he wore black velvet with jet, rather than gold trim: "Mr. Ronald Hamilton (gentleman of the Court of Queen Elizabeth), black velvet with jet." (36, Col. 3b) I believe the other Mr. Hamilton is Mr. Claud Cole-Hamilton, particularly since Mrs. Hamilton was dressed as Amy Robsart and thus must be Lucy Charlewood Cole-Hamilton because of the description of her costume in the Album of photographs given to the Duchess of Devonshire later.
4. Claud John Hamilton is probably who attended the social events, because the other Claud, of whatever generation either died too young or was born too late.