Siddhesh Joshi (Editor)

James Hamilton (British Army officer, born 1777)

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Birth name
  
Jamie Anderson

Service/branch
  
British Army

Name
  
James Hamilton


Years of service
  
1792–1815

Allegiance
  
Great Britain

Rank
  
Lieutenant colonel

James Hamilton (British Army officer, born 1777)

Born
  
4 July 1777 Tayantroga (
1777-07-04
)

Battles/wars
  
War of the Seventh Coalition Battle of Waterloo

Relations
  
James Inglis Hamilton (adopted father)

Role
  
British Army officer, born 1777

Died
  
June 18, 1815, Waterloo, Belgium

Lieutenant colonel James Inglis Hamilton (born Jamie Anderson, 4 July 1777 – 18 June 1815) was a Colonel in the British Army killed at the Battle of Waterloo.

Contents

Early life

He was born as Jamie Anderson on 4 July 1777 at a camp of the Saratoga Campaign in New York. He was the second son of William Anderson, a Sergeant-Major of the 21st Foot. Hamilton was baptized on 28 August 1777. General James Inglis Hamilton adopted him following the Battle of Bemis Heights, and funded his education at Glasgow Grammar School and the University of Glasgow .

Military career

Hamilton's adopted father opened a spot in the British Army and Hamilton became a cornet in the Royal Scots Greys in 1792. This is when he changed his name to James Hamilton. Hamilton was promoted to lieutenant on 4 October 1793. On 15 April 1794, he was promoted to captain. Hamilton became major on 17 February 1803. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 16 June 1807, and he commanded the Royal Scots Greys. On 4 June 1814, Hamilton was promoted to Colonel.

Battle of Waterloo

By the time of the Battle of Waterloo he was a Lt. Colonel, commanding the Royal Scots Greys. While leading a charge on horseback, he lost his left arm. He put the reins in his mouth and continued the charge, even after his right arm was severed by a French lancer. Moments later he was shot and killed. He was found with a bullet wound through his heart, as well as other injuries; Hamilton's scabbard and silken sash were sent to his brother, Lieutenant Jno. Anderson, who died in Glasgow on 3 December 1816 from wounds received at the Battle of Salamanca.

Personal life

Hamilton married Mary Inglis Payne. Upon Hamilton's death, Payne was compensated £200.

He inherited Murdostoun Castle from his father on 18 August 1803.

References

James Hamilton (British Army officer, born 1777) Wikipedia