Douglas Proby

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Douglas James Proby DL, JP (23 September 1856 – 18 November 1931),[1] known as Douglas James Hamilton until 1904, was a British politician and soldier.

Background[]

Born Douglas Hamilton, he was the only son of Lord Claud Hamilton (1813–1884) and his wife Lady Elizabeth Emma, second daughter of Granville Proby, 3rd Earl of Carysfort.[2] John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn, was his great-grandfather and James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, his uncle.[3] In 1904 he assumed by Royal licence the surname of Proby in lieu of his patronymic.[4] He was educated at Eton College and matriculated on 15 January 1875 at Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1879 and a Master of Arts in 1912.[2][5]

Military career[]

In January 1880, Proby was commissioned as 2nd lieutenant from the military college into the 109th Regiment of Foot.[6] He was exchanged to the Coldstream Guards in April[7] and when two years later the Anglo-Egyptian War erupted, he fought with the 1st Battalion .[2] He then became involved into the Mahdist War with the 2nd Battalion and took part in the Battle of Suakin in 1888.[2] After the end of the war in 1891, he was promoted to captain and transferred to the 5th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.[8] From 1897, he recruited new soldiers around Glasgow and in the following year, was advanced to major.[2] Proby was attached to the Irish Guards in 1900 and became lieutenant-colonel after another four years.[2] He was promoted to brevet-colonel in 1907 and retired in the following year.[2] From 1914 Proby commanded a regimental district until 1917.[9]

Political career[]

Proby entered the British House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Saffron Walden in the January 1910 general election.[1] However, he lost his seat in the December general election of the same year, and never returned to Parliament.[1] He was appointed High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire in 1923 and was a Justice of the Peace for Northamptonshire and for Hampshire.[9] Proby represented the latter together with County Wicklow also as Deputy Lieutenant.[9] He was invested as an Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (OStJ).[3]

Family[]

On 6 July 1882, Proby married Lady Margaret Frances Hely-Hutchinson, daughter of Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 4th Earl of Donoughmore, and had by her four sons and a daughter.[9] Proby died in 1931 at his residence Elton Hall.[9] His oldest son was a lord-lieutenant and his third son was created a baronet.[3]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Leigh Rayment - British House of Commons, Saffron Walden". Archived from the original on 20 December 2009.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Who is Who 1926. London: Adam & Charles Black Ltd. 1926. p. 2374.
  3. ^ a b c "ThePeerage - Colonel Douglas James Proby". Retrieved 2 January 2007.
  4. ^ "No. 27701". The London Gazette. 2 August 1904. p. 4977.
  5. ^ Foster, Joseph (1888–1892). "Hamilton, Hon. Douglas James" . Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715–1886. Oxford: Parker and Co – via Wikisource.
  6. ^ "No. 24805". The London Gazette. 23 January 1880. p. 342.
  7. ^ "No. 24838". The London Gazette. 27 April 1880. p. 2726.
  8. ^ "No. 26164". The London Gazette. 22 May 1891. p. 2726.
  9. ^ a b c d e Burke, John (2001). Peter de Vere Beauclerk-Dewar (ed.). Burke's Landed Gentry of Great Britain. p. 596. ISBN 0-9711966-0-5.
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Saffron Walden
Jan 1910 – Dec 1910 		Succeeded by
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