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THROUGH
Clan Crest © Art Pewter Silver Ltd,
East Kilbride, Scotland |
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| The Clan descended from the Norman Lord, Walter Fitz-Gilbert, to whom Cadzow was granted, by Robert the Bruce, for his support. Cadzow was later re-named Hamilton, which is in Lanarkshire.
James, 1st Lord Hamilton, married the daughter of James III in 1474. As a potential heir to the throne, Princess Mary’s son was made Earl of Arran and their home was Brodick Castle, which was made into a grand stately home by the clan chiefs in the 19th century. The 2nd Earl was heir to the throne of both James IV and Mary, Queen of Scots. As Regent to the young Mary, he proposed to marry his son to her but the match did not happen. However he was involved in the negotiations of the marriage of Mary to the heir of the French throne, which resulted in him being made Duke of Chatelherault in the French peerage, in 1548. The 4th Earl and 3rd Duke of Chatelherault was Chancellor of Scotland and responsible for the key strongholds of Stirling and Edinburgh. In 1599 he received advancement to the status of Marquess. The 3rd Marquess supported Charles I which resulted in a dukedom, and the standing of premier peer in Scotland. He fought for the king but was overcome at Preston in 1648 and subsequently beheaded.
Thereafter the title passed to a Anne, daughter of the 1st Duke despite being challenged in her right to succeed to the title. She was a strong, determined woman who set about laying the foundations for a considerable estate, at Hamilton. The 5th and 6th earls continued her work, extending the palace and building a hunting lodge. The estate is now a public park.
Hamilton Palace had to be demolished because of subsidence and the family seat is now Lennoxlove, near Haddington.
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