Portrait of William, 1st Earl of Lanark and 2nd Duke of Hamilton (1616-1651)

Portrait of William, 2nd Duke of Hamilton (1616-1651)
By Adriaan Hanneman (1611-1680) Oval

The younger son of James, 2nd Marquis of Hamilton and Lady Anne Cunningham, William joined the Covenanters in 1641 and was one of the Commissioners sent by the Scottish Parliament to treat with Charles I at Newcastle.

Failing in the attempt to persuade the King to comply with the demands of the English Parliament and to "engage" Scotland to restore Charles on condition that Presbyterianism be established in England, he fled to Holland.
He succeeded to the Dukedom on the execution of his brother in 1649 and was created KG by Charles II in 1650. In 1651 he raised a regiment in Scotland which he led in the campaign which ended at the battle of Worcester where he was fatally wounded.