http://www.tartans.com/clans/Hamilton/hamilton.html
The second Earl of Arran was made Regent while Mary, Queen of Scots was
still a child and he attempted to marry his son to her to secure the Throne
for his family. This union did not take place and Mary was married to the
Prince of France, the Dauphin. The Earl was created Duke of Chatelhault in
the French peerage in 1548 for his part in the marriage arrangements.
After the death of the Dauphin, Hamilton again hoped fro a union into his
own family and was sent into exile in 1561 when he openly opposed the
marriage of the Queen to Lord Darnley. He did however try to save the
ill-fated Queen after her escape from Loch Leven.
The 4th Earl of Arran and 3rd Duke of Chatelhault became Chancellor of
Scotland and keeper of the castles of Stirling and Endinburgh. He was
advanced to the rank of Marquess in 1599. Another branch of the family is
descended from his brother, Claude, who was made Lord Paisley in 1587 and
later created Lord Abercorn. Abercorn was later raised to an earldom and
finally a Dukedom in 1868.
In reward for the 3rd Marquess' support, Charles I made Hamilton the premier
peer in Scotland elevating him to a Duke. He led and army into England to
rescue Charles I but was defeated at Preston in 1648. He was beheaded in
1649.
The title fell to the Duke's daughetr Anne who married William Douglas, Earl
of Selkirk. Her son the 4th Duke, died in a duel in London in 1712. The 5th
and 6th Dukes extended the palace and built the splendid hunting lodge named
Chatelhault.
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