Field Marshal George Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney KT

Hamilton was born on 9th Feb 1666 at Hamilton Palace in Scotland. He served in the 1st Foot and later was made their Colonel (1692-1737) after a brief colonelcy of the Royal Fusiliers. As a serving officer he fought at all the major battles, Steenkirk, Landen and Namur, where he was seriously wounded. As a Major General he served under Marlborough, leading the final assault at Blenheim, pursuing the French after Ramillies, and playing a major role at Oudenarde and Malplaquet. He was the first British soldier to be promoted to the rank of Field Marshal, in 1736. He married Elizabeth Villiers in 1695 and in 1696 was raised to the peerage as 1st Earl of Orkney. He and Elizabeth had three daughters. As well as several portraits of him there is a wonderful bust carved by Michael Rysbrack the foremost British sculptor of the early 18th century, in the V&A museum. He died on 29th Jan 1737, in London.