George Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney

Field Marshal George Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney, (February 1666

Military career

Ireland and the Low Countries Hamilton became a lieutenant colonel of Lloyd's Regiment of Enniskillen Foot in June 1689 and, having been promoted to brevet colonel, commanded the regiment at the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690, at the siege of Athlone in June 1691 and at the Battle of Aughrim, where he was wounded, in July 1691 during the Williamite War in Ireland. He also commanded the regiment at the siege of Limerick in October 1691 and then became colonel of the Royal Fusiliers in January 1692 before fighting with that regiment at the Battle of Steenkerque in August 1692 in the Low Countries during the Nine Years' War.

War of the Spanish Succession

Promoted to major general on 9 March 1702, Hamilton fought under John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough at the siege of Stevensweert in October 1702 during the War of the Spanish Succession. He returned to the continent in 1712 and continued to serve in the Army commanded by the Duke of Ormonde besieging Douai and then Bouchain until 1713.

Later life Hamilton became a Lord of the Bedchamber to George I and was installed as Governor of Edinburgh Castle in 1714. Promoted to field marshal (the first-ever promotion to this rank) on 31 January 1735, he commissioned the building of a temple at his Buckinghamshire home, Cliveden, by the architect Giacomo Leoni later that year.

Hamilton died at his home at Albemarle Street in London on 29 January 1737 and was buried at Taplow Court.

Family In 1695 Hamilton married Elizabeth Villiers, a former mistress of William III; they had three daughters: Lady Anne, suo jure Countess of Orkney, married William O'Brien, 4th Earl of Inchiquin Lady Frances, married Thomas Lumley-Saunderson, 3rd Earl of Scarbrough Lady Henrietta, married John Boyle, 5th Earl of Cork and Orrery.