Robert Nisbet-Hamilton

Robert Adam Nisbet-Hamilton PC, FRS, JP (1804 – 9 June 1877), known as Robert Dundas until 1835 and as Robert Christopher between 1835 and 1855, was a British Conservative Party politician. He served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster under the Earl of Derby between March and December 1852.

The Right Honourable Robert Nisbet-Hamilton FRS JP
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
In office 1 March 1852 – 17 December 1852
Monarch	Victoria
Prime Minister	The Earl of Derby
Preceded by	The Earl of Carlisle
Succeeded by	Edward Strutt
Personal details
Born	1804
Died	9 June 1877
Nationality	British
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Lady Mary Bruce (d. 1883)

Background

Born Robert Dundas, he was the eldest son of Philip Dundas (c.1763–1807, the fourth son of Robert Dundas of Arniston, the younger), and Margaret (daughter of John Wedderburn of Ballendean (1729–1803) and sister of Sir David Wedderburn, 7th Baronet (1775–1858)).[1][2]

He assumed the surname of Christopher in lieu of his patronymic in 1835 when his wife Lady Mary Bruce (see below) inherited the Christopher estates at Bloxholm and Wellvale in Lincolnshire. In 1855 he assumed the surname of Nisbet-Hamilton in lieu of Christopher after his wife succeeded to the Nisbet-Hamilton estates in Scotland, including Dirleton Castle and Archerfield House.[3]

Political career

Nisbet-Hamilton was returned to Parliament for Ipswich in 1827, a seat he held until 1831 and again briefly in 1835.[4] He also represented Edinburgh between 1831 and 1832[5] and North Lincolnshire between 1837 and 1857.[6] When the Conservatives came to power under the Earl of Derby in 1852, Nisbet-Hamilton was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster[7] and sworn of the Privy Council.[8] He remained as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster until the government fell in December 1852.

In 1833 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.[9]

Family

Nisbet-Hamilton married Lady Mary, daughter of General Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin and Mary, daughter and heiress of William Hamilton Nisbet, in 1828.[3][10][11] They had one daughter.[3] Nisbet-Hamilton died in June 1877, Lady Mary survived him by six years, dying in December 1883. [11]

Notes

1. DP Editor 1870, p. 327.
2. Debrett 1815, p. 1124.
3. nisbetts.com Two ladies of Dirleton
4. leighrayment.com House of Commons: Ilchester to Itchen
5. leighrayment.com House of Commons: Ealing to Elgin
6. leighrayment.com House of Commons: Lichfield and Tamworth to London and Westminster South
7. "No. 21297". The London Gazette. 2 March 1852. p. 671.
8. "No. 21296". The London Gazette. 27 February 1852. p. 633.
9. royalsociety.org Fellows of the Royal Society - N
10. historic-scotland.gov.uk An Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland: Dirleton
11. thepeerage.com Rt. Hon. Robert Adam Nisbet-Hamilton

References

• Debrett, John (1815), Debrett's baronetage of England: containing their descent and present state, their collateral branches, births, marriages, and issue, from the institution of the order in 1611... (3 ed.), Printed for F. C. and J. Rivington, p. 1124
• DP Editor (1870), Dod's peerage, baronetage, and knightage of Great Britain and Ireland: for ... : including all the titled classes, 30, Whittaker, p. 327

External links

• Portrait of Robert Nisbet-Hamilton at the National Portrait Gallery

External links

• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Robert Nisbet-Hamilton