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 the war, recommended him so 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 Viscount Villiers, afterwards earl of Jersey, had a grant made to her, under the great seal of Ireland, 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, in 1702, to the rank of major-general, and the next year to that of lieutenant-general, and was likewise made knight of the Thistle. His lord- Hamilton, ship afterwards served under the great duke of Marlborough; and contributed by his bravery and conduct to the glorious victories of Blenheim 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 fusileers, 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 laudative verses were written upon this occasion:

Vive diu, felix arbor, semperque vireto Frondibus, ut nobis talia poma feras.