HAMILTON, JOHN [SSNE 2595]

Surname

HAMILTON

First name

JOHN

Title/rank

COLONEL

Nationality

SCOT

Region

SKIRLING, TWEEDALE, BORDERS

Social status

OFFICER

Text source

John Hamilton of Traboun served first as a captain in his uncle Alexander Hamilton's [SSNE 380] regiment. In 1630 he became colonel for the regiment merging Hamilton's along with John Meldrum's [SSNE 572]. It was he who was promoted over his lieutenant-colonel, William Baillie [SSNE 1909]. There was also another John Hamilton, captain, and James Hamilton of Parklie in this regiment. Having served as a garrison troop at Elbing in 1630, he was employed under Horn in 1631 for the march from the Oder. He was at the battle of Breitenfeld in September. Sir John accompanied Gustav II Adolf on his victorious march through Thuringerwald to Wurzburg where his forces, along with those of Sir James Ramsay [SSNE 3315] stormed the castle after the city itself had capitulated. The author of the Swedish Intelligencer was particularly impressed by "The Valour of the Scottish nation in these warres". Hamilton was instrumental in taking the castle at Main after a Livland born lieutenant of Scottish parentage had lept on the drawbridge to hold it down. The Swedish king prevented him and his troops from making the final entrance into the fort - Sir John immediately requested his discharge from the army. He died 1638. In Lanark there is said to be a "ringklocka" inscribed "Vin be me Sir John Hamilton of Traboun 1628". After his departure, his regiment continued under the command of Ludowick Leslie [SSNE]. This is possibly Sir John Hamilton of Skirling who served Gustav II Adolf. 

The Swedish Intelligencer: The Second Part (London, 1632), pp.13-14; Register of the Privy Council of Scotland, 2nd series, IV, p.342; Swedish Krigsarkiv, Muster Roll, 1629/14,18-20; 1630/22-33; 1631/12-15; 1632/31; De Svenska Ätterna Hamilton en släktkrönika, by Hamiltonska Släktföreningen 1, (Göteborg, 1936), pp.85, 87, 90, 93-94; Rikskansleren Axel Oxenstiernas skrifter och brefvexling, first series, V, p.454.

Service record

SWEDEN, ALEXANDER/JOHN HAMILTON

Arrived 1629-01-01, as CAPTAIN

Departed 1632-12-31, as COLONEL + CHIEF

Capacity OFFICER, purpose MILITARY