Biography of Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby 1753-1797

On 26th January 1753 Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby was born to [her father] James Hamilton 6th Duke Hamilton 3rd Duke Brandon (age 28) and [her mother] Elizabeth Gunning Duchess Hamilton and Argyll (age 19).

On 17th January 1758 [her father] James Hamilton 6th Duke Hamilton 3rd Duke Brandon (age 33) died. His son [her brother] James (age 2) succeeded 7th Duke Hamilton, 4th Duke Brandon of Suffolk, 4th Baron Dutton of Cheshire.

On 3rd January 1759 [her step-father] John Campbell 5th Duke Argyll (age 35) and [her mother] Elizabeth Gunning Duchess Hamilton and Argyll (age 25) were married. He the son of John Campbell 4th Duke Argyll (age 66) and Mary Drummond Bellenden.

Letters of George III. 4265. [Undated. After 3rd January 1759] I send your Majesty the [her mother] Dutchess of Argyle's (age 25) letter to me, I know there is also one for you. Her indelicacy goes a great way, and I am of opinion with my humble advice that your Majesty would now do better to let the Duke of Manchester acquaint her that her daughter [Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby (age 5)] should not come to Court, or be ill received, as letting her come will open the door to others, for though she is not divorced, she has stood a public tryal. I declare I shall neither speak to mother or daughter, and if she leaves my family I shall but get rid of an impertinent person who has always behaved disrespectful to me.

There will be time enough to send to the Duke of Manchester. I shall not answer the Dutchess of Argyle's letter.

In 1761 [her mother] Elizabeth Gunning Duchess Hamilton and Argyll (age 27) was appointed Lady of the Bedchamber to Charlotte Mecklenburg Strelitz Queen Consort England (age 16).

On 21st July 1761 Archibald Douglas 1st Duke of Douglas (age 66) died. Duke Douglas extinct. His half second cousin twice removed [her brother] James (age 6) succeeded 3rd Marquess Douglas.

On 7th July 1769 [her brother] James Hamilton 7th Duke Hamilton 4th Duke Brandon (age 14) died at Hamilton Palace, Hamilton. His brother [her brother] Douglas (age 12) succeeded 8th Duke Hamilton, 5th Duke Brandon of Suffolk, 4th Marquess Douglas, 5th Baron Dutton of Cheshire.

On 9th November 1770 John Campbell 4th Duke Argyll (age 77) died. His son [her step-father] John (age 47) succeeded 5th Duke Argyll. [her mother] Elizabeth Gunning Duchess Hamilton and Argyll (age 36) by marriage Countess Argyll.

On 23rd June 1774 Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby (age 21) and Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby (age 21) were married. She the daughter of James Hamilton 6th Duke Hamilton 3rd Duke Brandon and Elizabeth Gunning Duchess Hamilton and Argyll (age 40).

On 21st April 1775 [her son] Edward Smith-Stanley 13th Earl of Derby was born to [her husband] Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby (age 22) and Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby (age 22). He married 30th June 1798 Charlotte Margaret Hornby Countess Derby and had issue.

1776 Angelica Kauffmann (age 34). Portrait of [her husband] Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby (age 23), Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby (age 22) and their son [her son] Edward Smith-Stanley 13th Earl of Derby.

In 1776 [her husband] Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby (age 23) was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire.

On 22nd February 1776 Edward Stanley 11th Earl of Derby (age 86) died. His grandson [her husband] Edward (age 23) succeeded 12th Earl Derby, 6th Baronet Stanley of Bickerstaffe. Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby (age 23) by marriage Countess Derby.

On 17th October 1776 [her daughter] Charlotte Smith-Stanley was born to [her husband] Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby (age 23) and Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby (age 23). She married Edmund Hornby.

Around 1777 George Romney (age 42). Portrait of Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby (age 23).

Around 1777 [her brother] Douglas Hamilton 8th Duke Hamilton 5th Duke Brandon (age 20) and [her sister-in-law] Elizabeth Anne Burrell Duchess Hamilton Duchess Brandon (age 19) were married. She by marriage Duchess Hamilton, Duchess Brandon of Suffolk. He the son of [her father] James Hamilton 6th Duke Hamilton 3rd Duke Brandon and [her mother] Elizabeth Gunning Duchess Hamilton and Argyll (age 43).

On 29th April 1778 [her daughter] Elizabeth Henrietta Smith-Stanley was born to [her husband] Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby (age 25) and Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby (age 25). She married 15th January 1795 Stephen Thomas Cole and had issue.

Around 1779 Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby (age 25) had a very public affair with John Frederick Sackville 3rd Duke Dorset (age 33). She moved out of the family home expecting a divorce. Her husband [her husband] Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby (age 26) announced he did not intend to divorce his wife and withdrew her access to their children. The countess was socially ostracised for the remainder of her life. She died on 14 Mar 1797. Six weeks later he married again.

On 20th December 1790 [her mother] Elizabeth Gunning Duchess Hamilton and Argyll (age 57) died in Argyll House 211 King's Road King's Road. Her son [her brother] Douglas (age 34) succeeded 2nd Baron Hamilton of Hameldon in Leicestershire. [her sister-in-law] Elizabeth Anne Burrell Duchess Hamilton Duchess Brandon (age 33) by marriage Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon in Leicestershire.

On 15th January 1795 [her son-in-law] Stephen Thomas Cole (age 30) and [her daughter] Elizabeth Henrietta Smith-Stanley (age 16) were married. She the daughter of [her husband] Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby (age 42) and Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby (age 41).

On 14th March 1797 Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby (age 44) died of tuberculosis.

On 1st May 1797 [her former husband] Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby (age 44) and Elizabeth Farren Countess Derby (age 38) were married. She by marriage Countess Derby. The marriage taking place six weeks after the death of his estranged wife Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby.

Before 1807 Angelica Kauffmann (age 65). Portrait of Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Derby.

On 21st October 1834 [her former husband] Edward Smith-Stanley 12th Earl of Derby (age 81) died. His son [her son] Edward (age 59) succeeded 13th Earl Derby, 7th Baronet Stanley of Bickerstaffe. [her daughter-in-law] Charlotte Margaret Hornby Countess Derby by marriage Countess Derby.