a town of Scotland, in Clydendale, seated on the river Clyde, eleven miles south east of Glasgow; from whence the noble family of Hamilton take their name, and title of duke. The town is seated in the middle of a very agreeable plain; and on the west of the town this family has a large park, which is near seven miles in circumference, inclosed with a high wall, full of deer and other game. The rivulet called Avon runs through the park, and falls into the river Clyde, over which last there is a bridge of free-stone. W. Long. 3° 50'. N. Lat. 55° 40'. The original name of this place, or the lands about it, was Cadzow or Cadgouw, a barony granted to an ancestor of the noble owner, on the following occasion. In the time of Edward II. lived Sir Gilbert de Hamilton, or Hampton, an Englishman of rank; who happening at court to speak in praise of Robert Bruce, received on the occasion an insult from John de Spenser, chamberlain to the king, whom he fought and slew. Dreading the resentment of that potent family, he fled to the Scottish monarch, who received him with open arms, and established him at the place possessed by the duke of Hamilton. In aftertimes the name was changed from Cadzow to Hamilton; and in 1445 the lands were erected into a lordship, and the then owner Sir James sat in parliament as lord Hamilton. The same nobleman founded the collegiate church at Hamilton in 1451, for a provost and several prebendaries. The endowment was ratified at Rome by the pope's bull, which he went in person to procure.—Hamilton-house or palace is at the end of the town; a large disagreeable pile, with two deep wings at right angles with the centre: the gallery is of great extent; and furnished, as well as some other rooms, with most excellent paintings.

Hamilton (Anthony, count), descended from a noble family in Scotland, was born in Ireland, and settled in France. He wrote several poetical pieces; and was the first who composed romances in an agreeable taste, without imitating the burlesque of Scarron. He is also said to be the author of the Memoirs of the count de Grammont, one of the best written pieces in the French language. His works were printed in 6 vols. 12mo. He died at St Germain-en-Laye, in 1720.

Hamilton (George), earl of Orkney, and a brave warrior, was the fifth son of William earl of Selkirk, and early betook himself to the profession of arms. Being made colonel in 1689-90, he distinguished himself by his bravery at the battle of the Boyne; and soon after, at those of Aghrim, Steinkirk, and Landen, and at the sieges of Athlone, Limerick, and Namur. His eminent services in Ireland and Flanders, through the whole course of that war, recommended him highly to king William III., that, in 1696, he advanced him to the dignity of a peer of Scotland, by the title of earl of Orkney; and his lady, the sister of Edward vicount Villiers, afterwards earl of Jersey, had a grant made to her, under the great seal of Ire- Hamilton, land, of almost all the private estates of the late king James, of very considerable value.

Upon the accession of queen Anne to the throne, he was promoted to the rank of major-general in 1702, and the next year to that of lieutenant-general, and was likewise made knight of the thistle. His lordship afterwards served under the great duke of Marlborough; and contributed by his bravery and conduct to the glorious victories of Bleinheim and Malplaquet, and to the taking several of the towns in Flanders.

In the beginning of 1710, his lordship, as one of the 16 peers of Scotland, voted for the impeachment of Dr Sacheverel; and the same year was sworn of the privy-council, and made general of the foot in Flanders. In 1712, he was made colonel of the royal regiment of fuzileers, and served in Flanders under the duke of Ormond. In 1714, he was appointed gentleman-extraordinary of the bed-chamber to king George I. and afterwards governor of Virginia. At length he was appointed constable, governor, and captain of Edinburgh castle, lord-lieutenant of the county of Clydesdale, and field-marshal. He died at his house in Albemarle-street, in 1737.

Hamilton (John), the 24th bishop of St Andrew's, to which he was translated from Dunkeld. He was natural son of James the first earl of Arran, and was in great favour at court whilst his friends remained in power. He was one of queen Mary's privy council, and a steady friend to that unfortunate princess. He performed the ceremony of christening her son, and was at different times lord privy seal and lord treasurer. The queen had reason to lament her not following the advice of this prelate, after the fatal battle of Langside, viz. not to trust her person in England. By the regent earl of Murray, he was declared a traitor, and obliged to seek shelter among his friends. He was unfortunately in the castle of Dumbarton when that fortress was taken by surprise, from whence he was carried to Stirling, where on April 1, 1570 he was hanged on a live tree. The two following satirical verses were written upon this occasion:

Vive die, felix arbor, femporque viroto Fronilibus, ut nobis tulia poma feras.