Lady Anna (Anne) Cunningham, Marchioness of Hamilton (died 1646Rosalind K. Marshall, "Cunningham, Anna , marchioness of Hamilton (d. 1647)", ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 200
accessed 15 Oct 2017
/ref>) led a mixed-sex

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

troop during the "Battle" of Berwick on 5 June 1639.

Background and family

Lady Anna was the fourth daughter of

James Cunningham, 7th Earl of Glencairn James Cunningham, 7th Earl of Glencairn (1552–1630) was a Scottish peer and member of the Privy Council of Scotland. Finlaystone House and estate in Inverclyde was the seat of the Earl of Glencairn and chief of clan Cunningham from 1405 to 1 ...

and Margaret, daughter of Sir

Colin Campbell of Glenorchy Colin Campbell of Glenorchy (1499–1583) was a Scottish courtier and landowner. Life Colin Campbell was the son of Colin Campbell (d. 1523), reckoned 3rd laird of Glenorchy, and Margaret Stewart (d. 1524), daughter of John Stewart, 2nd Earl of ...

, a family noted for its early commitment to

Protestantism Protestantism is a branch of Christianity that emphasizes Justification (theology), justification of sinners Sola fide, through faith alone, the teaching that Salvation in Christianity, salvation comes by unmerited Grace in Christianity, divin ...

. Her sister was the memoirist Lady Margaret Cunningham. She married

James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton and 4th Earl of Arran (1589 – 2 March 1625), styled Lord Aven from 1599 to 1604, was a Kingdom of Scotland, Scottish politician. He was the son of John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Hamilton and Margaret Ly ...

on 30 January 1603. They had two sons,

James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton (19 June 1606 – 9 March 1649), known as the 3rd Marquess of Hamilton from March 1625 until April 1643, was a Scottish nobleman and influential political and military leader during the Thirty Years' War and ...

(1606–1649) and

William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton (14 December 161612 September 1651) was a Scottish nobleman who supported both Royalist and Presbyterian causes during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Life Hamilton was born at Hamilton Palace in on 14 Dec ...

(1616–1651) and three daughters, Lady Anne Hamilton (married Hugh, 7th

Earl of Eglinton Earl of Eglinton is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created by James IV of Scotland in 1507 for Hugh Montgomerie, 3rd Lord Montgomerie. In 1859, the thirteenth Earl of Eglinton, Archibald Montgomerie, was also created Earl of Winto ...

), Lady Margaret Hamilton (died 1678, married John, Earl of Crawford and Lindsay) and Lady Mary Hamilton (died 1633, married James Douglas, 2nd

Earl of Queensberry Earl () is a rank of the nobility in the United Kingdom. In modern Britain, an earl is a member of the peerage, ranking below a marquess and above a viscount. A feminine form of ''earl'' never developed; instead, ''countess'' is used. The titl ...

). After her marriage, Ann managed the Hamilton estates, particularly when her husband was at court in London. She wrote account books in an italic hand, using a mixture of Arabic and Roman numerals. She made a payment to her writing teacher Mr John Queen.

Historical importance

Her historical importance is as a defender of the

Presbyterian Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...

Church in Scotland against

Charles I Charles I may refer to: Kings and emperors * Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings * Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily * Charles I of ...

attempts to convert the whole of Scotland to

Anglicanism Anglicanism, also known as Episcopalianism in some countries, is a Western Christianity, Western Christian tradition which developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the ...

and her active leadership in the National Covenant resistance movement. Her son,

, had sided with Charles I. When he attempted to land an army on the Scottish Coast in 1639, she organised the defences, raised a cavalry troop, and "came forth with pistol which she vowed to discharge upon her son if he offered to come ashore." A correspondent of the time, Edward Norgate, wrote, "She goeth in armour and with a pistoll by her side readie charged, and wishes him there, saying shee would burie the bullets in his bowells."''HMC 6th Report: Hood'' (London, 1877), p. 347. The cavalry rode under a banner showing a hand repelling a prayer book with the motto ''For God, the King, Religion and the Covenant''. This was at the time of the Battle of Berwick on 5 June 1639. The struggle with Charles I led to the Scots' right to a free church assembly and a free parliament. Her great-great-grandson was Sir William Hamilton the husband of

Emma, Lady Hamilton Dame Emma Hamilton (born Amy Lyon; 26 April 176515 January 1815), known upon moving to London as Emma Hart, and upon marriage as Lady Hamilton, was an English maid, model, dancer and actress. She began her career in London's demi-monde, beco ...

who is best known as the mistress of

Lord Nelson Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, 1st Duke of Bronte ( – 21 October 1805) was a Royal Navy officer whose leadership, grasp of strategy and unconventional tactics brought about a number of decisive British naval victories during the French ...

References

External links

Portrait of Lady Anne Cunningham, Marchioness of Hamilton
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunningham, Ann 16th-century births Year of birth uncertain 1646 deaths 17th-century Scottish military personnel Women in the English Civil War 17th-century Scottish women

Hamilton Hamilton may refer to: * Alexander Hamilton (1755/1757–1804), first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers of the United States * ''Hamilton'' (musical), a 2015 Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda ** ''Hamilton'' (al ...

Daughters of Scottish earls