Scottish judge
John Hamilton, Lord Magdalens (1561–1632) was a 16th/17th century Scottish judge and Senator of the College of Justice .
Life
Hamilton House in Preston, East Lothian
He was the son of Thomas Hamilton, Lord Priestfield , 3rd Laird of Priestfield , and his second wife, Elizabeth Murray, daughter of Sir Andrew Murray of Black Barony. His elder brothers included Thomas Hamilton, 1st Earl of Haddington and Andrew Hamilton, Lord Redhouse .[ 1]
He owned the Magdalens estate, east of Linlithgow .[ 2] He later also had a house near Prestonpans .[ 3]
In July 1622 he was created a Senator of the College of Justice : an Ordinary Lord of Session .[ 4] He was also Lord Clerk Register of Scotland.[ 5]
In 1626 he built Preston House in Preston village in East Lothian , south of Prestonpans, sometimes then called "Lord Magdalens House". The house is now called the "Hamilton House".[ 6]
He died at Holyrood House (prior to it becoming a royal palace) on 28 November 1632 and is buried in Holyrood Abbey . His position as Lord Clerk Register was filled by John Hay, Lord Barra .
Trivia
Dying with no sons the Magdalens estate was sold to the Dundas family. The estate is now home to the St Magdalene distillery .[ 7]
His house in East Lothian was taken over by the National Trust for Scotland in 1937.[ 8]
Family
In 1602 he married his cousin, Agnes Hamilton. They had two daughters: Anna and Elizabeth.
References