James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil

Who was James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil?

James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil PC was a British politician and peer.

Hamilton was the son of James Hamilton and Hon. Anne Mordaunt, the daughter of John Mordaunt, 1st Viscount Mordaunt. He first stood for elected office in Ireland, and sat as the Member of the Irish House of Commons for Dundalk between 1715 and 1719. On 13 May 1719 he was created Baron Clanboye and Viscount of the City of Limerick in the Peerage of Ireland. As his titles were in the Irish peerage, he was not barred from election to the House of Commons of Great Britain and served as the MP for Wendover, Tavistock and for Morpeth. On 14 April 1746 he was invested as a member of the Privy Council of Ireland. On 24 November 1756 was created Earl of Clanbrassil, also in the Peerage of Ireland, and subsequently served as Governor of County Louth between 1756 and his death in 1758.

He married Lady Harriet Bentinck, daughter of William Bentinck, 1st Earl of Portland and Jane Martha Temple, on 15 October 1728. Together they had two children. He was succeeded by his only son, James Hamilton.