After seeing military service at home, Hamilton was summoned to Sweden in 1680 by his elder brother Malcolm, an officer in the Swedish army. There his earliest commission was as lieutenant of the Elfsburg regiment, in which he rose to be captain. In 1693 he and his brother were ennobled in Sweden as barons Hamilton de Hageby.[1]
Hamilton came to prominence in the wars of Charles XII, especially against the Danes in 1710 at the Battle of Helsingborg. He was in action defending against the Russians at Gävle in 1719. He became a general and master of the ordnance. He died in 1724, and was buried in the province of Jonköping.[1]
Family
Hamilton married a daughter of Henrik Ardvisson of Gothenburg, and left numerous children. His sixth son, Gustavus David Hamilton, was created Count Hamilton in 1751 and became a field marshal.[1]