HAMILTON, ALEXANDER [SSNE 2565]
Text source
In 1627 Alexander Hamilton became an ensign with William Grey's [SSNE 2549] recruited company in Swedish service. He was promoted to lieutenant in the Västmanland's regiment between 1629-38. In 1638 Hamilton became quartermaster and was promoted to captain two years later. In 1641 he was called to appear before the military court in a case involving Hans Forrat [SSNE 2272]. During this time Hamilton served under his countryman Colonel William Philip who gained the regiment in December 1644. Hamilton saw action in 1645. In one of the few reports where an individual is highlighted in actions around Gothenburg in August that year, Lars Kagge recounted the night storming of a Danish redoubt guarding one of the stone-bridges over the River Älv. It was manned by some 70 men and defended by two field pieces. In a heated action nearly all the defenders were killed by troops led on by Captain Alexander Hamilton from Philip’s Västmanland Regiment. In prosecuting the attack, Hamilton was shot twice and received a violent blow to the head. Kagg was pleased to report that he ‘presumed’ the captain to have survived. In 1648 Philip had cause to write to the Kirgskollegiet regardting the 'kapt Alexander Hamiltons stora motvillighet".
It is very possible that this man was the son of Malcolm Hamilton, Archbishop of Cashel and brother of Ludovic and Malcolm Hamilton who were both ennobled in Sweden. If so, he married Anna Speiser of Tyshbord and had three children.
Sources: Lt. Colonel George Hamilton, 'A History of the House of Hamilton' (Edinburgh, 1933), pp.1014-1015; RAOSB, second series, IX, 653. Lars Kagg to Axel Oxenstierna, 16 August 1645; Several letters can be found in Krigskollegium Kancelliet: Adressatregistratur till Krigskollegiets Registratur 1631-1654 from 31/3/1641 - including "18/6/1641 att inställa sig i krigsrätten d 19 juni och svara till det kapt Hans Foratt kan hava sig over honom att besvara" and up until 26/2/1648; 'Krigskollegium Kancelliet; Adressatregistratur till Krigskollegiets Registratur 1631-1654' William Philip 15/6/1648 "angående kapt Alexander Hamiltons stora motvillighet"; Swedish Krigsarkiv, Muster Roll, 1627/7,8; 1629/13,17; 1630/4; 1631/3; 1632/4; 1633/4,26; 1634/2,24,25; 1635/1,6,27,33,34; 1636/4; 1637/3,5,17; 1638/3,4,24;1639/3,14,15; 1640/4; 1641/5; 1642/4,15,16; 1643/5; 1644/3; 1645/4; 1646/3; 1647/4; 1648/3; 1650/4; 1651/3; 1652/3; 1653/2; 1654/2.
Service record
- SWEDEN, WILLAM GREY
- Arrived 1627-01-01, as ENSIGN
- Departed 1628-12-31, as ENSIGN
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY
- SWEDEN, VASTMANLAND
- Arrived 1629-01-01, as LIEUTENANT
- Departed 1654-12-31, as CAPTAIN
- Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY