Lord Claud Hamilton

"Bridegroom". Caricature by Spy published in Vanity Fair in 1878. Rt. Hon. Lord Claud John Hamilton (20 February 1843 – 26 January 1925) was a British aristocrat, Member of Parliament (MP), and a noted railway director during the Victorian era.

Early life Lord Claud was born at the Priory in Stanmore, Middlesex, the second son of James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Abercorn (later the 1st Duke of Abercorn) and his wife Lady Louisa Jane Russell, daughter of 6th Duke of Bedford.

He was educated at Harrow School.

Careers Before turning to political life, Hamilton served in the British Army. He purchased a commission as Ensign & Lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards on 27 May 1862, buying his promotion to Lieutenant & Captain on 8 August 1865, before retiring by sale of his commission on 8 June 1867.

On 10 July 1867 he was appointed Lieutenant-Colonel Commandant of the part-time Prince of Wales's Own Donegal Militia (later the 5th (Donegal Militia) Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers) in succession to his uncle, Lord Claud Hamilton (1813–1884). He was appointed Honorary Colonel of the battalion on 17 January 1891, in succession to his elder brother James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn.

In 1865, he became Conservative MP for Londonderry City until 1868 when he was appointed a Lord of the Treasury in Benjamin Disraeli's first ministry. In 1869, he became MP for King's Lynn until 1880, for Liverpool from 1880 to 1885, for Liverpool West Derby from 1885 until he resigned his seat in 1888, and for Kensington South from January 1910 to 1918.

Personal life On 20 July 1878, Lord Claud married Carolina Chandos-Pole (1857–1911), a daughter of Edward Sacheverell Chandos-Pole and Lady Anna Caroline Stanhope (daughter of the 5th Earl of Harrington). Together, they had two children: He was buried in Richmond Cemetery. He was 81 years of age.

Legacy A memorial was erected by Ida Flower in 1925 to the memory of her father. It can be found on the south wall of St John's-Hyde Park Church, London, W2.

Ancestry