Portrait of James, 1st Duke of Hamilton (1606-1649)

Portrait of James, 1st Duke of Hamilton (1606-1649)
After Van Dyck (1599-1641)

In 1628 James was called to Court by Charles I who made him Hereditary Keeper of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in 1629 and K.G.in 1630. He carried the Sword of State at Charles' coronation in Edinburgh in 1633.

He had raised troops and served under King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, as an ally of the King of Bohemia in the 30 Years War in campaigns which ended with the death of the King at the battle of Lutzen in 1632.

The events which led from his appointment as King's Commissioner to Scotland in 1638 through to the defeat of his force of Royalists by Cromwell at the battle of Preston and his execution in 1649 require and deserve fuller study elsewhere.