Biography of John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn 1756-1818

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

On 20th November 1749 [his father] John Hamilton (age 35) and [his mother] 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 [his grandfather] James Hamilton 7th Earl Abercorn and [his grandmother] Anne Plumer Countess Abercorn (age 59).

On 18th December 1755 [his father] John Hamilton (age 41) drowned in Portsmouth Harbour. He had returned from his first command following his marriage to [his mother] 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.

In July 1756 John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn was born to John Hamilton and Harriet Craggs (age 43) posthumously.

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

On 20th June 1779 John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 22) and Catherine Moyle (age 19) were married at St Marylebone Church.

In 1781 [his daughter] Harriet Margaret Hamilton was born to John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 24) and [his wife] Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn (age 21).

On 10th January 1784 [his daughter] Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Aberdeen was born to John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 27) and [his wife] Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn (age 24).

On 28th February 1785 [his daughter] Maria Hamilton was born to John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 28) and [his wife] Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn (age 25).

On 7th October 1786 [his son] James Hamilton was born to John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 30) and [his wife] Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn (age 26).

On 1st November 1787 [his son] Claud Hamilton was born to John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 31) and [his wife] Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn (age 28).

On 9th October 1789 [his uncle] James Hamilton 8th Earl Abercorn (age 76) died. His nephew John (age 33) succeeded 9th Earl Abercorn. [his wife] Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn (age 29) by marriage Countess Abercorn.

On 15th October 1790 John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 34) was created 1st Marquess Abercorn. [his wife] Catherine Moyle (age 30) by marriage Marchioness Abercorn.

On 13th September 1791 [his wife] Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn (age 31) died.

On 4th March 1792 John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 35) and Cecil Hamilton (age 21) were married. She by marriage Marchioness Abercorn. They were divorced in April 1799. She married the Joseph Copley 3rd Baronet (age 22) the following month; he being the brother of the Marquess' first wife Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn. They were first cousins.

On 19th July 1795 [his daughter] Cecil Frances Hamilton was born to John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 39) and [his wife] Cecil Hamilton Marchioness Abercorn (age 25) Coefficient of inbreeding 6.25%.

On 23rd May 1799 [his former brother-in-law] Joseph Copley 3rd Baronet (age 30) and [his wife] Cecil Hamilton Marchioness Abercorn (age 29) were married. She by marriage Lady Copley Sprotborough. He was the younger brother of her first husband's [John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 42)] first wife [his former wife] Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn.

In 1800 John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 43) and Anne Jane Gore (age 36) were married. She by marriage Marchioness Abercorn. She the daughter of Arthur Saunders Gore 2nd Earl Arran (age 65) and Catherine Annesley.

On 30th April 1803 [his daughter] Harriet Margaret Hamilton (age 22) died.

On 17th January 1805...

Henry Charles Somerset 6th Duke Beaufort (age 38) was appointed 626th Knight of the Garter by King George III of Great Britain and Ireland (age 66).

John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 48) was appointed 627th Knight of the Garter by King George III of Great Britain and Ireland.

On 28th July 1805 [his son-in-law] George Hamilton-Gordon 4th Earl Aberdeen (age 21) and [his daughter] Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Aberdeen (age 21) were married. She by marriage Countess Aberdeen. She the daughter of John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 49) and [his former wife] Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn.

In June 1808 [his son] Claud Hamilton (age 20) died.

On 8th October 1809 [his father-in-law] Arthur Saunders Gore 2nd Earl Arran (age 75) died. His son [his brother-in-law] Arthur (age 48) succeeded 3rd Earl Arran, 2nd Viscount Sudley of Castle Gore in County Mayo, 2nd Baron Saunders of Deeps in County Wexford, 5th Baronet Gore of Newtown in County Mayo. Mary Tyrrell 3rd Countess Arran (age 42) by marriage Countess Arran.

On 25th November 1809 [his son] James Hamilton (age 23) and [his daughter-in-law] Harriet Douglas Countess Aberdeen (age 17) were married. He the son of John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 53) and [his former wife] Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn.

On 20th February 1812 [his daughter] Catherine Elizabeth Hamilton Countess Aberdeen (age 28) died.

On 21st January 1814 [his daughter] Maria Hamilton (age 28) died.

On 27th May 1814 [his son] James Hamilton (age 27) died.

On 16th February 1816 [his son-in-law] William Howard 4th Earl of Wicklow (age 28) and [his daughter] Cecil Frances Hamilton (age 20) were married. She the daughter of John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 59) and [his wife] Cecil Hamilton Marchioness Abercorn (age 45).

On 27th January 1818 John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn (age 61) died. His grandson [his grandson] James (age 7) succeeded 2nd Marquess Abercorn, 10th Earl Abercorn.

On 19th June 1819 [his former wife] Cecil Hamilton Marchioness Abercorn (age 49) died. She was buried at St Mary's Church, Sprotbrough [Map].

Cecil Hamilton Marchioness Abercorn: On 13th March 1770 she was born to George Hamilton. On 4th March 1792 John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn and Cecil Hamilton were married. She by marriage Marchioness Abercorn. They were divorced in April 1799. She married the Joseph Copley 3rd Baronet the following month; he being the brother of the Marquess' first wife Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn. They were first cousins. On 23rd May 1799 Joseph Copley 3rd Baronet and she were married. She by marriage Lady Copley Sprotborough. He was the younger brother of her first husband's [John Hamilton 1st Marquess Abercorn] first wife Catherine Moyle Marchioness Abercorn.

On 3rd May 1827 [his former wife] Anne Jane Gore Marchioness Abercorn (age 64) died.