James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn

For other persons named James Hamilton, see James Hamilton (disambiguation).

James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn.

James Hamilton, 5th Duke of Abercorn, KG (born July 4, 1934) is a Northern Irish peer and politician, and currently Lord Steward of the Household.

[edit] Biography

Hamilton was educated at Eton College and the Royal Agricultural College. In 1952, he was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards. From 1964 to 1970, he was MP for Fermanagh & South Tyrone. In 1986, he was appointed Lord Lieutenant of County Tyrone. In 1999, he was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Garter, and he is the colonel of the Irish Guards; additionally, he was appointed Lord Steward of the Royal Household in 2001.

He is one of the largest land owners in Northern Ireland with more than 15,000 acres (61 km²). His seat is Baronscourt, near Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

In 1966 he married Anastasia Alexandra "Sacha" Phillips (b. February 27, 1946), eldest daughter of Lt.-Col. Harold Pedro Joseph Phillips (1909–1980) and Georgina Wernher (b. 1919), elder daughter and co-heiress of Sir Harold Wernher, 3rd Baronet, of Luton Hoo, Bedfordshire). The Duchess is known by her second name Alexandra, and her nickname "Sacha". She is the elder sister of Natalia, wife of the Duke of Westminster.

The Duke and Duchess of Abercorn have two sons and a daughter:

James Harold Charles Hamilton, Marquess of Hamilton (b. 19 August 1969), who was styled Viscount Strabane before his father became Duke. On 7 May 2004 he married Tanya Marie Nation (b. 1971) at Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks. She was the eldest daughter of Douglas Percy Codrington Nation, the senior managing director of Bear Stearns. (1942–2001). They have one child, James Alfred Nicholas Hamilton, Viscount Strabane (b. 30 October 2005).

Lady Sophia Alexandra Hamilton (b. 1973), who was a model before 1996. She married British war journalist Anthony Loyd in 2002, but they divorced, without children, in 2005.
Lord Nicholas Edward Hamilton (b. 1979) who is not married.

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Lord Robert Grosvenor	Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone 1964–1970	Succeeded by Frank McManus
Honorary Titles
Preceded by James Hamilton-Stubber	Lord Lieutenant of Tyrone 1986–present	Succeeded by (current incumbent)
Preceded by The Viscount Ridley	Lord Steward 2001–present	Succeeded by (current incumbent)
Peerage of Ireland
Preceded by James Hamilton	Duke of Abercorn 1979–present	Succeeded by (current incumbent)
Order of precedence in the United Kingdom
Preceded by His Grace the Duke of Sutherland	His Grace the Duke of Abercorn United Kingdom Order of Precedence Gentlemen	Succeeded by His Grace the Duke of Westminster