Biography of James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran 1516-1575

In or before 1490 Thomas Hay Master of Yester (age 23) and [his mother] Elizabeth Home Countess Arran were married.

Before 28th April 1490 [his father] James Hamilton 1st Earl Arran (age 15) and [his mother] Elizabeth Home Countess Arran were married. She by marriage Lord Hamilton.

Around 1516 James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran was born to [his father] James Hamilton 1st Earl Arran (age 41) and [his mother] Elizabeth Home Countess Arran.

In 1529 [his father] James Hamilton 1st Earl Arran (age 54) died. His son James (age 13) succeeded 2nd Earl Arran.

Around 1530 [his brother-in-law] Alexander Cunningham 5th Earl Glencairn and [his sister] Janet Hamilton Countess Glencairn (age 15) were married. She the daughter of [his father] James Hamilton 1st Earl Arran and [his mother] Elizabeth Home Countess Arran. He the son of William Cunningham 4th Earl Glencairn (age 36) and Catherine Borthwick.

Around 1532 [his son] James Hamilton 3rd Earl Arran was born to James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran (age 16) and [his wife] Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault.

In 1532 James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran (age 16) and Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault were married. She by marriage Countess Arran. She the daughter of James Douglas 3rd Earl Morton and Catherine Stewart Countess Morton (age 37). He the son of James Hamilton 1st Earl Arran and Elizabeth Home Countess Arran. They were second cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England. She a great x 5 granddaughter of King Edward III of England.

Around 1535 [his daughter] Anne Hamilton Countess Huntley was born to James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran (age 19) and [his wife] Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault. She married 12th March 1558 her second cousin George Gordon 5th Earl Huntley, son of George Gordon 4th Earl Huntley, and had issue.

Around 1535 [his son] John Hamilton 1st Marquess Hamilton was born to James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran (age 19) and [his wife] Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault. He married 30th December 1577 his second cousin Margaret Lyon Marchioness Hamilton and had issue.

Around September 1543 James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran (age 27) was created 1st Duke Châtellerault. [his wife] Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault by marriage Duchess Châtellerault. He was awrded the Duchy for having arranged the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots and the Dauphin.

Before 9th June 1546 [his son] Claud Hamilton 1st Lord Paisley was born to James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran (age 30) and [his wife] Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault. He married after 16th June 1574 his third cousin once removed Margaret Seton Lady Paisley and had issue.

In March 1548 William Cunningham 4th Earl Glencairn (age 54) died. His son [his brother-in-law] Alexander succeeded 5th Earl Glencairn. [his sister] Janet Hamilton Countess Glencairn (age 33) by marriage Countess Glencairn.

After 22nd December 1553 [his son-in-law] James Fleming 4th Lord Fleming (age 19) and [his daughter] Barbara Hamilton Lady Fleming were married. She the daughter of James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran (age 37) and [his wife] Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault. They were half first cousin once removed. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward III of England.

In 1554 [his son-in-law] Hugh Montgomerie 3rd Earl Eglinton (age 23) and [his daughter] Jean Hamilton Countess Eglinton were married. She by marriage Countess Eglinton. She the daughter of James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran (age 38) and [his wife] Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault. He the son of Hugh Montgomerie 2nd Earl Eglinton and Marion Seton Countess Eglinton (age 59). They were third cousins.

On 12th March 1558 [his son-in-law] George Gordon 5th Earl Huntley and [his daughter] Anne Hamilton Countess Huntley (age 23) were married. She the daughter of James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran (age 42) and [his wife] Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault. He the son of George Gordon 4th Earl Huntley (age 44). They were second cousins.

On 10th September 1559 [his son] James Hamilton 3rd Earl Arran (age 27) met his father James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran (age 43) at Hamilton Palace, Hamilton.

On 25th June 1562 [his son-in-law] Hugh Montgomerie 3rd Earl Eglinton (age 31) and [his daughter] Jean Hamilton Countess Eglinton were divorced. See Memorials of the Montgomeries Pages 183-185.

Around 1574 [his sister] Janet Hamilton Countess Glencairn (age 59) died.

After 17th April 1574 [his daughter] Anne Hamilton Countess Huntley (deceased) died.

After 16th June 1574 [his son] Claud Hamilton 1st Lord Paisley (age 28) and [his daughter-in-law] Margaret Seton Lady Paisley (age 17) were married. He the son of James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran (age 58) and [his wife] Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault. They were third cousin once removed.

On 22nd January 1575 James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran (age 59) died. His son James (age 43) succeeded 3rd Earl Arran.

On 24th May 1579 [his former wife] Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault died.

[his daughter] Jean Hamilton Countess Eglinton was born to James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran and [his former wife] Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault. She married 1554 her third cousin Hugh Montgomerie 3rd Earl Eglinton, son of Hugh Montgomerie 2nd Earl Eglinton and Marion Seton Countess Eglinton.

[his son] David Hamilton was born to James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran and [his former wife] Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault.

[his daughter] Barbara Hamilton Lady Fleming was born to James Hamilton 2nd Earl Arran and [his former wife] Margaret Douglas Duchess Châtellerault. She married after 22nd December 1553 her half first cousin once removed James Fleming 4th Lord Fleming, son of Malcolm Fleming 3rd Lord Fleming and Janet Stewart Lady Fleming, and had issue.