Duke of Abercorn
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The title Duke of Abercorn was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1868 and bestowed upon James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Abercorn. This article also covers the Earls and Marquesses of Abercorn, all named after Abercorn in Scotland.
In acknowledgement of his loyalty, James VI of Scotland (James I of England), conferred on Lord Claud Hamilton, third son of the second Earl of Arran, the title Lord Paisley. His son James Hamilton was created Lord Abercorn in 1603, then in 1606 he was made Earl of Abercorn and Lord of Mountcastle, Paisley, Hamilton and Kilpatrick. His successor, the 2nd Earl of Abercorn, was additionally created Lord Hamilton and Baron of Strabane; however, Claud Hamilton, the 4th earl, was outlawed after his death, and the Barony of Strabane was forfeited.
The 6th earl was additionally created Baron Mountcastle and Viscount Strabane on 2 September 1701. The 7th earl became the first of the Earls of Abercorn to be invested a Privy Counsellor, having been appointed to both the English and Irish Privy Councils. The 8th earl was created Viscount Hamilton of Hamilton in the peerage of Great Britain in 1786. He was succeeded by his nephew who was created Marquess of Abercorn in the Peerage of Great Britain in 1790, after having sat in the House of Commons as MP for East Looe and for St Germans. He was given the Garter in 1805.
The second marquess, who had been given the Garter in 1844, served as Lord Lieutenant of Ireland from 1866 to 1868; after that service, he was created Marquess of Hamilton and Duke of Abercorn (in the Peerage of Ireland). His successor, the second duke, continued the family tradition by being awarded the Garter in 1892; the third duke served as MP for Londonderry and as Governor of Northern Ireland, along with being created a Knight of St Patrick and given the Garter. Currently, the holder of the Dukedom of Abercorn is James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn.
The many subsidiary titles of the Duke of Abercorn are: Marquess of Abercorn (1790), Marquess of Hamilton (1868), Earl of Abercorn (1606), Viscount Strabane (1701), Viscount Hamilton (1786), Lord Paisley (1587), Lord Abercorn (1603), Lord Paisley, Hamilton, Mountcastell and Kilpatrick (1606), Lord Hamilton, Baron of Strabane in the County of Tyrone (1617), and Baron Mountcastle (1701). He is also a Irish Baronet, styled "of Dunalong in the County of Tyrone, and of Nenagh in the County of Tipperary" (1660 - the 6th earl was the 2nd baronet). The courtesy title of the Heir Apparent is Marquess of Hamilton, and that of his Heir Apparent Viscount Strabane. In France, the Dukes of Abercorn also use the title Duc de Châtellerault, although without any apparent legal justification.
Earls of Abercorn (1606)
- James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Abercorn (1575–1618) (previously created Lord Abercorn in 1603)
- James Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Abercorn (c. 1604–c. 1670)
- George Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Abercorn (c. 1636–c. 1680)
- Claud Hamilton, 4th Earl of Abercorn (c. 1659–c. 1691)
- Charles Hamilton, 5th Earl of Abercorn (d. 1701)
- James Hamilton, 6th Earl of Abercorn (c. 1661–1734)
- James Hamilton, 7th Earl of Abercorn (1685–1744)
- James Hamilton, 8th Earl of Abercorn (1712–1789)
- John Hamilton, 9th Earl of Abercorn (became Marquess of Abercorn in 1790) (1756–1818)
Marquesses of Abercorn (1790)
- John James Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn (1756–1818)
- James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Abercorn (became Duke of Abercorn in 1868) (1811–1885)
Dukes of Abercorn (1868)
- James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn (1811–1885)
- James Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Abercorn (1838–1913)
- James Hamilton, 3rd Duke of Abercorn (1869–1953)
- James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Abercorn (1904–1979)
- James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn (b. 1934)
Heir Apparent: James Hamilton, Marquess of Hamilton (b. 19 August 1969), until 1979 styled Viscount Strabane.