The Washington herald., 1913-01-25

more than nonoeenarian. But the Dow
ager Duchess Of Meckienburg streiitz, q
British, princess, who never could rec
oncile herself to living in ''barbarous''
Germany ruled by that thief" Emperor
William /. who stole Hanover from her
kinsman, the blind King George" lives
| at ninety-one In the full enjoyment of
her faculties. II was to attend her birth
day anniversary that Queen Mary OF
England last summer Journeyed all the
way to that out-of-the-way little town in
North Germany. Franz Josef knew
Andrew jackson and Polk, who are gone
these many years. Another Of his con-
temporaries, Profirio Diaz, born in the
same year with him, In 1880. survives.
The historic link OF life between these
two held another tragedy OF the House
OF Hapsburg, the Mexican adventure of
his brother. Macmillan, and his untime-
ly death by violence, all caused by the
archmeddler, Napoleon III
The one thing that is not generally
known about the late Sir James Ham
ilton. Knight OF the Garter and second
Duke OF Abercorn, third marques Of
that name in the British peerage. un-
der which title he was a hereditary
member OF the House OF Lords, is that
he held also one OF the most ancient Of
French titles, that OF a Due Of Chatel-
lerault OF Poictou. granted by letters
pAtent of Henry ii OF France on Feb
ruary 5. las. to his ancestor. James
Hamilton, second Earl OF Arran and
Regent Of Scotland upon the death Of
James G542), who. in the year follow
ing. was proclaimed heir to the Scot
tish throne and appointed guardian Of
Queen Mary during her minority.
At the demise OF the first holder, in
1876, this French title descended to his
eldest son. James. third Earl Of Arran,
who died unmarried. II then devolved
to his brother. Lord John Qater first
marquess) Hamilton, and SO down the
line In this family 20 the present incum-
bent.
The Hamiltons derive their origin from
the famous old Norman family of the de
Reliomonts. Earls OF Leicester who -four
ished in Leicester County as the lords Of
the Manor of Hamilton. previous to the
extinction OF the Bellomonts Sir Gil
bert de Hamilton, the first Immediate
ancestor OF that great house. lived in
the time of Alexander II. King of Scot
land. His heir. Sir Walter Fitz Gilbert
Hamilton. attached himself to King Rob-
ert Bruce Q2sD. and by him was given
the grant Of Cadzow, which later be-
came the chief lordship OF the Hamilton
family
The fourth son OF James Hamilton the
aforementioned first Due de ChateIler-
ault, Lord Claud Hamilton and first
Baron Paiseley, was the most jealous
partisan of Mary Queen OF Scots, COM
manding the vanguard OF her forces in
the battle Of Langside O5ss. As a re-
suit he was outlawed and his estates
forfeited by the Regent Moray. But in
1913 James w restored TO him his rank
and fortune His son. in IeO3 was created
Baron Abercorn in the Scottish peerage
and three years later was made an earl.
In l7ss James Hamilton. eighth Earl of
Abercorn was created a Viscount Aber-
corn in the British peerage. His nephew.
John James, the ninth earl was made a
ma rquess OF that name and a KNIGHT of
the Garter in 17so. and his grandson the
second marques. twice Lord Lieutenant
"f Ireland and groom OF the stole to the
prince consort OF Queen Victoria, 1855 re-
ceived the title OF Duke Abercorn.
Upon his death in 1885 he was succeeded
ty son. James. the one whose death
oC CURED recently and who was lord of
Iedchamoer OF the late King Edward
when the latter was Prince of Wales:
also groom OF the stole OF the present
King.
His widow. the Dowager Duchess of
Abercorn. is an aunt. by marriage. to the
Duchess OF Marlborough, (Consuelo Van
derbilD. She was Lady Mary Curzon.
daughter OF Earl Howe. She is very ac-
tive in politics and was a stanch sur
porter of her husband. one Of the strorg
anti-home rulers for Ireland.
Marques Hamilton, who succeeds his
fc ther tC the dukedom. was born in 1853
and was returned as Unionist member
OF the House OF Commons for the
borough OF Londonderry in 1910 by the
narrow majority OF about one hundred
votes. He married a daughter OF the
Earl OF Lucan.
ET.NrI-p