Charles Hamilton, Count of Arran

Charles Hamilton (30 March 1691 – 13 August 1754) was the natural born son of James Hamilton, Earl of Arran and Lady Barbara FitzRoy.

Early life Hamilton was born in London in his maternal grandmother the Duchess of Cleveland's house, Cleveland House. He was born to the Earl of Arran, the future 4th Duke of Hamilton and his mistress Lady Barbara FitzRoy herself the natural daughter of Charles II of England and Barbara Villiers, Duchess of Cleveland. After his birth, his mother was sent out to become a Nun in the English Priory of St. Nicholas, at Pontoise in Normandy, France, taking the name Sister Benedicta, where she later became prioress in 1721. Hamilton himself was raised by her mother, the Duchess of Cleveland.

Life in France In 1698 on the marriage of his father to Elizabeth Gerard, Charles was sent to France. He was put under the aegis of the Charles Middleton, 2nd Earl of Middleton, James II's and James III's Secretary of State. While in France Hamilton was styled as the Count of Arran or in French as it would have been Comte d'Arran. Also while in France, Hamilton met and married his wife, Antoinette Courteney, daughter of Charles Courteney of Archambaud and Elizabeth Wyatt. Charles Courteney was a descendant of Francis Courtenay, de jure 4th Earl of Devon. Hamilton and Antoinette Courteney had one son.

Issue Charles Hamilton married Antoinette Courteney, daughter of Charles Courteney of Archambaud and Elizabeth Wyatt, in 1737 in Paris, France. They had one son together:

Charles Hamilton, born 16 July 1738 in Edinburgh, died 9 April 1800 in Holyroodhouse, married Catherine Napier, daughter of Sir Gerrard Napier, 5th Baronet of Middle March on 15 June 1760 and had two children.

Ancestors