Biography of John Hamilton 1714-1755

In April 1711 [his father] James Hamilton 7th Earl Abercorn (age 25) and [his mother] Anne Plumer Countess Abercorn (age 21) were married. He the son of [his grandfather] James Hamilton 6th Earl Abercorn (age 50) and [his grandmother] Elizabeth Reading.

On 2nd March 1714 John Hamilton was born to James Hamilton 7th Earl Abercorn (age 27) and Anne Plumer Countess Abercorn (age 24).

On 10th March 1726 Richard Eliot (age 31) and [his future wife] Harriet Craggs (age 13) were married.

In December 1736 the "Louisa" was wrecked during a storm while sailing as escort to another bearing the king of England, George II. Lieutenant Hamilton (age 22) was the last man to leave the ship. In recognition of his gallant actions, he was presented to, and received by, the King.

On 11th January 1744 [his father] James Hamilton 7th Earl Abercorn (age 57) died. His son [his brother] James (age 31) succeeded 8th Earl Abercorn.

1746. Joshua Reynolds (age 22). Portrait of John Hamilton (age 31) dressed as a Hungraian Hussar.

On 28th April 1747 Richard Eliot (age 13) died. He was serving on the "Augusta" under the command of John Hamilton (age 33). While at port in Kinsale, he was taken by a sudden fever. Hamilton shouldered the duty of burying this favorite son of his dear friends before returning to England and the bereaved family.

On 19th November 1748 Richard Eliot (age 54) died. His good friend John Hamilton (age 34) subsequently married his widow [his future wife] Harriet Craggs (age 35).

On 20th November 1749 John Hamilton (age 35) and Harriet Craggs (age 36) were married at Holy Trinity Church, Cookham [Map] a year and a day after the death of her first husband Richard Eliot. He the son of James Hamilton 7th Earl Abercorn and Anne Plumer Countess Abercorn (age 59).

Around 1751 [his daughter] Anne Hamilton was born to John Hamilton (age 36) and [his wife] Harriet Craggs (age 38).

1753. Joshua Reynolds (age 29). Portrait of John Hamilton (age 38).

Life of Edmond Malone. [18th December 1755]. Captain Hamilton (age 41) was a very uncommon character; very obstinate, very whimsical, very pious, a rigid disciplinarian, yet very kind to his men. He lost his life as he was proceeding from his ship to land at Plymouth. The wind and sea were extremely high, and his officers remonstrated against the imprudence of venturing in a boat where the danger seemed imminent. But he was impatient to see his wife, and would not be persuaded. In a few minutes after he left the ship, the boat was upset and turned keel upward. The captain being a good swimmer, trusted to his skill, and would not accept of a place on the keel in order to make room for others, and then clung to the edge of the boat. Unluckily he had kept on his greatcoat. At length, seeming exhausted, those on the keel exhorted him to take a place beside them, and he attempted to throw off the coat, but finding his strength fail, told the men he must yield to his fate and soon afterwards sank while singing a psalm. — (From Lord Eliot.)

On 18th December 1755 John Hamilton (age 41) drowned in Portsmouth Harbour. He had returned from his first command following his marriage to [his wife] Harriet Craggs (age 42). Despite the weather being stormy he set out in a small boat for shore. The boat was overturned throwing all nine men into the rough water. Some of the men caught hold of the bottom of the upturned boat and waited for help to come from shore. Hamilton, confident in his swimming skills, swam around in the water – reportedly for twenty minutes – "exhorting the men to resignation in case they could not save themselves and, at the same time, encouraging them to exert their strength to preserve life". Along with two of his men, the Captain drowned before help arrived. One newspaper reported that, "The Loss of this Hon. Gentleman is great, he being much esteem'd for his Naval Abilities and exemplary Piety, (having Divine Service perform'd twice a Day at Sea to the Ship's Company) to whom he was a Father; his whole Behaviour was uniform and shew'd both the Christian and Gentleman." Hamilton's portmanteau was retrieved from the water by his footman (one of the six rescued men) and carried to shore. A "Gentleman" at Portsmouth set out immediately for London, with said portmanteau, to inform Harriot "in the discreetest manner possible" of her husband's death.

Derby Mercury. [19th December 1755]. Country News. Gosport, Dec. 19. Yesterday the Monarch went into Dock, and is expected out this Day. The same Afternoon a Six-Oar'd Boat, belonging to his Majesty's Ship the Lancaster, the Hon. John Hamilton (deceased), Esq; Commander, coming on Shore from the said Ship, with the Captain, his Footman, the Coxswain, and six Men in her, the Sail being gyb'd, she broach'd to and fill'd, by which Accident the Captain, Coxswain, and one of the men, were unhappily drown'd, the others were saved by Boats going to their Assistance. The Loss of this Hon. Gentleman is great, he being much esteem'd for his Naval Abilities and exemplary Piety, (having Divine Service perform'd twice a Day at Sea to the Ship's Company) to whom he was a Father; his whole Behaviour was uniform and shew'd both the Christian and Gentleman.

Derby Mercury. 26th December 1755. From Portsmouth our Correspondents acquaint us, that the Hon. John Hamilton's (deceased) Death is universally lamented. Various are the Reports about it; some say he had hold of the Yawl, and was wash'd off; others that he had grasped two Oars, saying, that Providence would soon send a Boat to their Assistance, but the Oars separating he was soon gone, to the great Grief of all who knew him. He descended from a noble Family, being Brother to the Earl of Abercorn, to whom he did Honour. He was coming on Shore to set out directly for London, where his Lady is, and had his Portmanteau with him, which was saved by his Servant; but this unhappy Accident disposed a Gentleman to set out immediately to acquaint her in the discreetest Manner possible with the melancholy News.

Oxford Journal. 27th December 1755. They write from Portsmouth that on Thursday last a Six-oared Boat, belonging to his Majesty's Ship Lancaster, the Hon. John Hamilton (deceased), Commander, coming on Shore from the said Ship, with the Captain, his Footman, the Coxswain, and six Men in her, the Sail being gibbed, she broached to and filled, by which Accident the Captain, Coxswain, and one of the Men were unfortunately drowned.

The others supported themselves by holding on some part of the Boat till Help came. The Captain got twice on the Boat which lay Keel uppermost, bu the Sea washed him off. When the Boat overset, the Captain had on a large Cloak, from which he with Difficulty disengaged himself, and swam about the Boat above twenty Minutes, exhorting the Men to Resignation in Case they could not save themselves, and at the same Time encouraging them to exert their Strength to preserve Life.

This honourable Gentleman was highly respected for his Naval Skill and exemplary Piety, having divine Service performed twice a Day at Sea to the Ship's Company, to whom he was a Father. His whole Behaviour was uniform, and shewed both the Christian and the Gentleman.

Caledonian Mercury. 27th December 1755. Extract of a Letter from Portsmouth, Dec. 19.

"Yesterday at Four o'Clock a most melancholy Accident happened to the Hon. Capt. Hamilton (deceased), of his Majesty's Ship Lancaster, lying at Spithead; who coming ashore in his Barge, in which were eight Men besides the Captain (the Sea running very high, about two Parts in three of their Way from Spithead, and by the Carelessness, it is said, of some of the People) they were overset, and the Captain unfortunately drowned, with three of the Men; the Weather at that Time being so bad that there was not a Boat of any Sort stirring near them. But as soon as possible Boats put out to their Relief, and took up five of the Men, who it seems supported themselves by holding on some Part of the Barge 'till help came, but too late to save the unhappy Gentleman, tho' he had got twice on the Barge (which lay at that Time Keel uppermost) but the Sea washed him off. When the Barge overset, the Captain had on a large Cloak, from which he with Difficulty disengaged himself, and swam about the Barge above twenty Minutes, exhorting the Men to Resignation in case they could not save themselves, and at the same time encouraging them to exert their Strength to preserve Life. In this Part of the World (and indeed I believe every where else, when the fatal Accident is known) Capt. Hamilton will be greatly lamented by all who had the Pleasure of knowing him, as he was a Gentleman who possessed every Qualification that might render himself, his Friends, and the People he commanded, happy.

P.S. One of the Men have been since cast ashore; but as it was Tide of Ebb when the Accident happened, it is a great Chance if any of the rest are found as yet."

In July 1756 [his son] John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn was born to John Hamilton and [his former wife] Harriet Craggs (age 43) posthumously.

On 1st February 1769 [his former wife] Harriet Craggs (age 56) died.