John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton
| John Hamilton | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1535 |
| Died | 26 April 1604 |
| Title | 1st Marquess of Hamilton |
| Tenure | 1599-1604 |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Offices |
Commendator of Inchaffray Abbey Commendator of Arbroath |
| Successor | James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret Lyon, Countess of Cassilis |
| Parents |
James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran Margaret Douglas |
John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton (c. 1535 – 26 April 1604) was a Scottish nobleman.
Hamilton was the third son of James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran by his wife Margaret Douglas, a daughter of James Douglas, 3rd Earl of Morton. His elder brother, was James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran and younger was Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley.
In 1547, at an early age he was made Commendator of Inchaffray Abbey, a position he held until 1551, when he was made Commendator of Arbroath. He had the benefit of Arbroath until 1579, although he had previously had struggles with George Douglas (later Bishop of Moray and son of the Earl of Angus) over tenure.
Hamilton's older brother Lord James succeeded to the Earldom of Arran in 1575, but for reasons of his insanity, the care of the Hamilton estates was entrusted to Lord John. Hamilton was, like his family, a supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, and for that in 1579 he and his family were forfeited, by the government of James Douglas, 4th Earl of Morton, regent for the underage James VI of Scotland. Hamilton fled to England, then France. He returned to England and there stayed with his brother Claude in the North. While in England he reconciled himself with Archibald Douglas, 8th Earl of Angus who was also in exile there following the Raid of Ruthven. King James had by now come under the influence of James Stewart of Bothwellmuir, to whom the King had granted Hamilton's brother's earldom of Arran. Hamilton with his brother, Angus and others including the Earl of Mar and the Master of Glamis, with the connivance of Elizabeth I of England raised an army and entered Scotland and reached Stirling in October 1585. King James capitulated on 4 November and received the banished lords into his presence.
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