Eldest son of the 2nd Earl of Arran and Duke of Châtelherault, who was Regent to the young Mary, Queen of Scots. Hamilton was held prisoner by his father’s enemies, first in St. Andrews (1543) and then in France (1548-59). While there he became Commander of the Scots Guards in that country (1550-7).
2. James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran
(c1532–1609)
was a Scottish nobleman and soldier who
fought against French troops during
the Scottish Reformation.
Born in 1532 or 1536
James was the eldest son of James
Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Arran who was next
in line for the Crown of Scotland
after Mary, Queen of Scots. Through his
mother Margaret Douglas he was
descended from James IV and Joan of
Scotland, daughter ofJames I.
3. As a potential royal heir he was
involved in various marriage
negotiations which all foundered.
James went to France in July
1548, possibly with, or soon
after, Mary, Queen of Scots, where
he became Commander of
the Scots Guards. When his
father, then known as ‘Regent
Arran,’ became a French Duke
4. James was made Earl of Arran.
The 1549 French edition of Andrea
Alciati’s Emblemes D’Alciat. was
dedicated to him. One of his
personal devices was a heart
pierced with an arrow pointing
down. He fought for the Scottish
Reformation, but spent the last 45
years of his life in seclusion.
