William Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton

William Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton, KG, PC (24 December 1634 – 18 April 1694) was Duke of Hamilton in the Peerage of Scotland due to his marriage to Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton, which also allowed him to use his wife's subsidiary titles during his lifetime and to take the name Hamilton for him and their descendents. Born Lord William Douglas, he was the son of William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas and his second wife Lady Mary Gordon, a daughter of George Gordon, 1st Marquess of Huntly.

Early life and marriage
Lord William Douglas was created 1st Earl of Selkirk in 1646 at the age of 11. He supported the Royalist cause in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms and was fined £1000, under the terms of the English Commonwealth's Act of Pardon and Grace to the People of Scotland.

On 29 April 1656 Lord Selkirk married Anne Hamilton, Duchess of Hamilton. She was from a staunchly Royalist dynasty. Her estates had been declared forfeit by Oliver Cromwell after the activities of her father and uncle in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, (Her father James 1st Duke of Hamilton was executed by the English in 1649 at the end of the Second English Civil War, and William, 2nd Duke of Hamilton, her uncle, died following the Battle of Worcester in 1651). The lands and estate were restored by 1657 after much machinations with the Protectorate.

Restoration
After the Restoration Lord Selkirk was created Duke of Hamilton in 1660 on the petition of his wife, Anne Hamilton, suo jure Duchess of Hamilton (daughter of the 1st Duke), receiving also several of the other Hamilton peerages, but for his life only and on the assumption of the surname Hamilton for himself and his descendants.

The Duke of Hamilton supported John, Duke of Lauderdale in the early stages of his Scottish policy, in which he adopted a moderate attitude towards the Presbyterians, but the two were soon alienated, through the influence of the Countess of Dysart, according to Gilbert Burnet, who spent much time at Hamilton Palace in arranging the Hamilton papers. With other Scottish noblemen who resisted Lauderdale’s measures Hamilton was twice summoned to London to present his case at court, but without obtaining any result.

He was dismissed from the Privy Council in 1676, and on a subsequent visit to London, Charles II refused to receive him. On the accession of James II he received numerous honours, but he was one of the first to enter into communication with the Prince of Orange. He presided over the Convention of Edinburgh, summoned at his request, which offered the Scottish crown to William and Mary in March 1689. His death took place at Holyrood Palace on 18 April 1694. His wife survived until 17 April 1716.

Children


Lord Selkirk, married Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton and bore eleven children by her:


 * Lady Mary Hamilton (1657–1666)
 * James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton (1658–1712)
 * Lord William Hamilton (abt 1659–1688)
 * Lady Catherine Hamilton (1662–1707)
 * Charles Douglas, 2nd Earl of Selkirk (abt 1662-abt 1739)
 * John Hamilton, 1st Earl of Ruglen (abt 1664–1744)
 * George Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney (1666-abt 1737)
 * Lady Susannah Hamilton (1667-abt 1737
 * Lady Margaret Hamilton (1668–1731)
 * Lord Basil Hamilton (1671–1701)
 * Lord Archibald Hamilton (1673–1754)