Baron Gustaf or Gustav Ludvigsson Hamilton (late 1650s – 1691), known as the ''governor of
Enniskillen
Enniskillen ( , from , ' Ceithlenn's island') is the largest town in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It is in the middle of the county, between the Upper and Lower sections of Lough Erne. It had a population of 14,086 at the 2011 censu ...
'' (their chief of defence) in Northern Ireland, was colonel, and ''
de jure
In law and government, ''de jure'' (; ; ) describes practices that are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms, regardless of whether the practice exists in reality. The phrase is often used in contrast with '' de facto'' ('from fa ...
'' ''
friherre'' of
Deserf in
peerage of Sweden.
Biography
Gustav was born son of Swedish baron Ludvig Malkolmsson Hamilton (died 1662) and his wife lady Anna Karin Larsdotter Grubbe
Stiernfelt, daughter of lord Lars Pedersson Grubbe Stiernfelt, sometime Swedish Secretary of State, and his wife Karin Gotskalksdotter.
From father's side, In 1684, the English-held government, fearful of the
Mac Sweeney clan, placed a garrison in
Doe Castle, County Donegal, commanded by Major Gustavus Hamilton.
family fortress
Monea Castle. The
Enniskilleners chose him as their
governor
A governor is an politician, administrative leader and head of a polity or Region#Political regions, political region, in some cases, such as governor-general, governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the ...
. Colonel Hamilton fought for the Protestant cause. In 1689 the town of Enniskillen was subjected to a siege that year by Jacobite troops, during the
conflict which resulted from the ousting of
James II of England
James II and VII (14 October 1633 – 16 September 1701) was King of England and Monarchy of Ireland, Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII from the death of his elder brother, Charles II of England, Charles II, on 6 February 1 ...
by his Protestant rival,
William III of Orange
William III (William Henry; ; 4 November 1650 – 8 March 1702), also known as William of Orange, was the sovereign Prince of Orange from birth, Stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel in the Dutch Republic from 167 ...
. This siege was successfully resisted. As a direct result of this conflict Enniskillen developed not only as a market town but also as a garrison which became home to two regiments.
These events also sowed the seeds for the conflict which engulfed Northern Ireland during the latter half of the 20th century, commonly referred to as The Troubles.
Gustav incurred enormous financial losses in the Williamite wars and that impoverished his branch of the Hamilton clan.
After his death in 1691, his wife (Margaret Jones) and children (Andrew and Gustav, both became pastors) continued to live at Monea, but they had to sell the estate in 1704.
Gustav's namesake great-great-grandson,
barrister
A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdiction (area), jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include arguing cases in courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, jurisprud ...
Gustav Hamilton, then of
Dublin
Dublin is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Situated on Dublin Bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, and is bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, pa ...
, laid in mid-19th century claim to the baronial title and seat of Deserf in peerage of Sweden, as he was ''de jure'' 9th friherre of Deserf.
Notes
References
* – 1689 to 1690
External links
*
Gustaf Elgenstierna, Stamtavlor, book III, "Hamilton af Deserf"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hamilton, Gustav
1650s births
1691 deaths
History of County Fermanagh
Swedish people of Scottish descent
Williamite military personnel of the Williamite War in Ireland