James Hamilton, 1st Duke Of Abercorn

James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn (21 January 1811 – 31 October 1885), was an Anglo-Irish aristocrat and a member of the Conservative Party, who held the position of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on two separate occasions.

Born at Seymour Place in Mayfair, London, he was the son of James, Viscount Hamilton, and Harriet Douglas. His father was the eldest son of the 1st Marquess of Abercorn, and his maternal grandfather was The Hon. John Douglas, son of the 14th Earl of Morton. Abercorn's father died when he was three years old. In 1818, at the age of seven, he succeeded his grandfather in his titles and estates. He was educated at Harrow School and matriculated at Christ Church, Oxford, on 2 July 1829.

His early titles included Viscount Hamilton (from 1814 to 1818) and The Marquess of Abercorn (from 1818 until 1868). His initial political appointments included serving as deputy lieutenant of County Tyrone, where he had a family seat at Baronscourt. On 13 November 1844, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Donegal, and on 12 December 1844, he was invested as a Knight of the Garter at the age of 33.

Abercorn held several court positions, including Groom of the Stole to Prince Albert beginning 8 February 1846, and was appointed to the Privy Council on 25 February 1846. He served in this capacity until June 1859. He also received two honorary degrees: an LL.D. from Cambridge University on 5 July 1847, and a DCL from Oxford University on 4 June 1856.

From 11 April 1855 to 22 September 1860, he was Honorary Colonel of the Prince of Wales's Own Donegal Militia, and on 18 February 1860, he became a Captain in the London Scottish Rifle Volunteers. On 6 July 1866, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant (Viceroy) of Ireland under Prime Minister Lord Derby, a post he maintained after the resignation of Derby in 1868 and through the subsequent ministries.

On 10 August 1868, he was elevated to Marquess of Hamilton and Duke of Abercorn in the Peerage of Ireland. During this period, he received a third honorary degree, an LL.D. from Trinity College, Dublin. Following the Liberal victory in the 1868 general election, Abercorn resigned as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on 14 December 1868.

He and his family appeared, with some disguise, in Benjamin Disraeli's 1870 novel "Lothair." When Disraeli formed his second ministry, Abercorn was again appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland on 2 March 1874 and served as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Ireland until his death. He resigned from this role on 6 December 1876, partly due to his wife's health.

In 1878, he served as Envoy-Extraordinary for the investiture of King Umberto I of Italy with the Order of the Garter. In 1881, he was elected Chancellor of the University of Ireland. James Hamilton died at Baronscourt, County Tyrone, on 31 October 1885, and was buried in the cemetery at Baronscourt Parish Church.

Throughout his life, Abercorn was involved in sporting pursuits such as shooting. He was the tenant of Ewen Macpherson of Cluny at Loch Ericht and Benalder in the Central Highlands of Scotland. In 1836, he acquired land for shooting at Ardverikie, where the painter Sir Edwin Landseer was among the guests.

In 1832, he married Lady Louisa, the second daughter of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford. The marriage produced fourteen children, of whom thirteen survived infancy. Notable children include James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn, and seven daughters, all of whom were married into aristocratic families, often into peerage ranks.

James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, died in 1885 and was succeeded by his eldest son. His wife, Lady Louisa, died in 1905 at age 92.