James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Clanbrassil

Who was James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Clanbrassil?

James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Clanbrassil KG KP PC was an Anglo-Irish peer, styled Viscount Limerick from 1756 to 1758.

Hamilton was the son of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Clanbrassil and Lady Harriet Bentinck.

He sat in the Irish House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Midleton between 1755 and 1758, and served as High Sheriff of Louth in 1757. On 17 March 1758, he succeeded to his father's titles and became Earl of Clanbrassil. As his title was in the Peerage of Ireland, he was not barred from election to the House of Commons of Great Britain. As such, he served as the MP for Helston from 1768 to 1774. On 4 July 1766 he was made a member of the Privy Council of Ireland and was Custos Rotulorum of County Louth between 1769 and 1798. On 5 February 1783 he was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter and on 11 March that year he was appointed a Knight Founder of the Order of St Patrick.

He married Hon. Grace Foley, daughter of Thomas Foley, 1st Baron Foley and Hon. Grace Granville, on 21 May 1774 at Oxford Chapel, Marylebone. He died without issue in 1798 and his titles became extinct.