Historical and genealogical memoirs of the House of Hamilton

OF THE BRANCHES OF THE HOUSE OF HAMILTON. 245
II. Gustavus, the youngest son of
Peerage.
JT
Sir Frederick Hamilton, in the reign of
Charles II., was a Captain in the army ;
and, attending the Duke of Ormond,
chancellor of Oxford, to that university,
had the degree of Doctor of Laws con-
ferred on him, 6th August 1677. On
the accession of King James II. he was
sworn of his privy council ; but being a
steady assertor of the laws of his
country, he quitted that King's service
on his open violation of them, and was
attainted by his parliament. And when
the Irish army, under Major-General
Richard Hamilton, and Major Dominick
Sheldon, had taken the fort of Hills-
borough and plundered Lisburn, Bel-
fast and Antrim, and laid siege to Cole-
raine, they met with such a warm re-
ception from Major Gustavus Hamilton,
who commanded in the town, and spared
no charge or pains to make it tenable,
that they were forced to draw off with
considerable loss, and their designs
against Londonderry were for some
weeks retarded. On King William's
landing in England he raised four regi-
ments of foot and two of dragoons, in
two counties of Ireland where he was
then chosen governor. He marched to
Coleraine, repaired the ruined works of
that place, and defended it five weeks
against the whole Irish army, who twice
attempted to storm the town ; by which
means be covered the city of Deny
until all the arms, ammunition, and pro-
visions were thrown into it, which
enabled them to make so extraordinary
a defence ; he headed a regiment at the
battle of the Boyne, where, having his
horse killed under him, he narrowly viscount
J BOYNE.
escaped death. After this victory, he ,.. — —
waded the Shannon at the head of the
grenadiers, and storming the town of
Athlone, he wa% appointed, upon its
surrender, governor thereof, and was in
all the battles fought afterwards by
General Ginkle for the reduction of
the kingdom ; upon the accomplishment
whereof he was sworn of the privy
council to King William, made a Briga-
dier-General of his armies 30th March
1696, and had his sendees rewarded with
a grant of forfeited lands.
Queen Anne advanced him to the
rank of Major-General, 1st January
1703, in whose first parliament he re-
presented the co. of Donegall, and so
continued till created a Peer, of which
he was also C. Rotulorum and Vice-
Admiral of the province of Ulster. He
commanded a regiment at the siege of
Vigo, and behaved so well that the
Queen presented him with a consider-
able quantity of plate. In May 1710,
being of distinguished zeal for the pro-
testant interest, he was sworn of her
Majesty's privy council, as he was, 9th
October 1711, to King George the First,
who, in consideration of his faithful
services and loyalty, advanced him to
the dignity of Baron Hamilton of Stack-
allan, by privy seal, dated at St. James's
27th September, and by patent, at
Dublin, 20th October 1715; and, 12th
November, taking his seat in the House
of Peers, he was two days after appointed
one of the Lords to prepare a congratu-
latory address to his Majesty on his
most happy accession to the throne.
Hh