Gustavus Hamilton, 1st Viscount Boyne


Gustavus Hamilton, 1st Viscount Boyne PC fought for the Prince of Orange during the Williamite War in Ireland defending Coleraine in 1689, fighting at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, fording the Shannon at the second Siege of Athlone in June 1691, and fighting at Aughrim in July. He was ennobled by King George I.

Birth and origins

Gustavus was born in 1642, probably in Manorhamilton Castle, County Leitrim, Ireland, built by his father. He was the fourth child and third son of Frederick Hamilton and Sidney Vaughan. His father was the founder of a cadet branch of the House of Hamilton through the House of Abercorn, being the fifth and youngest son of Claud Hamilton, 1st Lord Paisley and brother of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Abercorn. This cadet branch would become the noble branch of the viscounts of Boyne with Gustavus being created Viscount Boyne near the end of his life. Gustavus's mother was a daughter of Sir John Vaughan, who had been governor of Londonderry.
His father named him for the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus for whom he had fought during the Thirty Years' War in Germany.

Early life

Gustavus studied at Trinity College, Dublin but seems to have abandoned his studies without obtaining a degree as in 1672 he went to France and became a captain in the regiment of Sir George Hamilton. Sir George was the son of his cousin Sir George Hamilton, 1st Baronet, of Donalong. Gustavus returned in 1676 after Sir George's death. Soon afterwards Gustavus was made a captain in the Irish Army. In 1677 he accompanied James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormond, to Oxford where he was awarded the degree of a Doctor of Civil Law by the University of Oxford. He was sworn of the Privy Council of England on the accession of King James II of England in 1685. Shortly after this appointment he quit this King's service and retired to his estate in Fermanagh.

Marriage and children

He married Elizabeth Brooke, second daughter of Sir Henry Brooke of Brookeborough, County Fermanagh.
They had three sons and a daughter:
  1. Frederick, who predeceased his father, married Sophia Hamilton in 1707 and had a son who became the 2nd Viscount;
  2. Gustavus of Red Wood, King's County, MP for Donegal;
  3. Elizabeth, married Charles Lambart; and
  4. Henry, MP for Donegal.

    Williamite War

At the Glorious Revolution, he was appointed colonel of the 20th Foot by William of Orange in 1689 and fought with his regiment in the defence of Coleraine. Driven from there by Richard Hamilton, he fell back on Enniskillen, of which he was appointed governor. In 1689 he was attainted by the Patriot Parliament.
On 1 July 1690, at the Battle of the Boyne in the following year, his horse was shot under him and he almost killed.
In June 1691 he fought at the second Siege of Athlone under Ginkel where on 30 June Gustavus took part in the daring attack over a ford on the River Shannon that captured the town. In this attack he commanded the cavalry together with General Thomas Tollemache while the infantry was commanded by Mackay, Tettau, Monceau de la Melonière and the Prince of Hesse.
In July he fought at the Battle of Aughrim. Ginkel organised his army in 4 divisions numbered from the north to the south and in two lines. Gustavus with his regiment was in the front line of the second division, i.e. a centre-right position.

Later life

Gustavus was Vice-Admiral of Ulster, a honorary position, from 1691 until 1710 when he passed the position to his son Frederick. It reverted to him on Frederick's death on 10 December 1715. He therefore was Vice-Admiral of Ulster again from 1716 until his death in 1723.
He was promoted brigadier-general in 1696 and major-general in 1704.
In May 1710, he was invested to the Privy Council of Ireland for Queen Anne.
From 1692 to 1713, Gustavus sat in the Irish House of Commons during the parliaments of 1692–1693, the parliament of 6 August 1675, the parliament of 1713–1714. In the parliament of 1692–1693 he was returned for Donegal County. In the parliament of the 6 August 1695 he was again returned for Donegal County. In the parliament of 1713–1714 he was returned for Strabane Borough.
He bought land near Slane in County Meath and built Stackallan House.
In 1715 he was elevated to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Hamilton of Stackallan, in the County of Meath by King George I. On 20 August 1717, Hamilton was further honoured by the King, when he was created Viscount Boyne, in the Province of Leinster, also in the Irish Peerage.
His wife died in 1721.

Death, succession, and timeline

Lord Boyne died on 16 September 1723 and was buried in the church of Stackallan, County Meath. His eldest son Frederick having predeceased him in 1715, Boyne was succeeded by his grandson Gustavus as the 2nd Viscount Boyne.