James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton

James Hamilton, 4th Duke of Hamilton, was a Scottish nobleman and political figure who lived from 1658 to 1712. He was the son of William Douglas, 1st Marquess of Douglas, and Anne Hamilton, the eldest daughter of the 1st Duke of Hamilton. James inherited the dukedom of Hamilton from his uncle, William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton, in 1694. Hamilton was a prominent figure in Scottish politics and was known for his support of the Stuart monarchy. He served as Lord High Commissioner to the Scottish Parliament from 1698 to 1699, and again from 1702 to 1703. He was also appointed as a Knight of the Thistle in 1703. In 1707, Hamilton was one of the Scottish peers who signed the Treaty of Union, which united Scotland and England to form Great Britain. However, he remained a staunch supporter of the Jacobite cause and backed the unsuccessful rebellion of 1715, which aimed to restore James Francis Edward Stuart, the son of James II and VII, to the throne of Great Britain. Hamilton was killed at the Battle of Sheriffmuir, which was a decisive battle in the rebellion. Hamilton was married twice, first to Elizabeth Spencer in 1679 and then to Anne Cochrane in 1701. He had several children, including three sons who all died before him, and a daughter, Lady Anne Hamilton. His dukedom passed to his nephew, James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Hamilton.