Grand Masters of Scotland - Onondaga and Oswego Masonic ...

He was buried on 4 September 1852 in Hamilton Palace Mausoleum, Hamilton, Lanarkashire,
Scotland, although the Mausoleum itself was not completed until about 1854 to 1857.
In line with his grandiose enlargement of Hamilton Palace, Alexander, 10th Duke of Hamilton
(1767-1852), entertained various schemes to redesign or replace his family burial vault which
stood close to the east quarter of the palace in the aisle of the old and dilapidated collegiate
church. Between 1838 and 1841 these schemes involved David Hamilton (1768-1843), the
architect with whom the duke had collaborated on the enlargement of the palace, and, in 1846,
Henry Edmund Goodridge of Bath, designer of Beckford's Tower at Fonthill Abbey, Wiltshire for
the duke's father-in-law, William Beckford. Both architects produced designs for a chapel and
mausoleum on the medieval church site, close to the east flank of the palace. Neither came to
anything and in the end, in 1848, the commission eventually fell to the distinguished Edinburgh architect, David Bryce (1803-76),
and in relation to a fresh site north of the palace.
This sepia perspective of the east front by David Bryce, dated 9 July 1850, shows the superstructure of the mausoleum
essentially as it is today. The main differences between this perspective view and the building as completed reside in the finished
treatment of the arcaded entrance to the crypt and of the associated staircases and balustrade.
In the completed mausoleum, the crypt arcade comprises three, not five arches as shown here, the balustrade terminates in huge
scuptured lions, not simple scrolls, and the masonry facework is heavily vermiculated (of worm-like treatment) not just
conventionally rusticated. This perspective does, however, go so far as to sketch in the keystones of the five arches in the form of
sculptured heads. Like the lions, the three carved heads as existing are the work of the sculptor, Alexander Handyside Ritchie
(1804-70).
Hamilton Palace
was the largest non-Royal residence in the Western World in its heyday.
A former seat of the Dukes of Hamilton, it was built in 1695, subsequently much enlarged,
and demolished in 1921 due to ground subsidence.
It is widely acknowledged as having been one of the grandest houses in Scotland.
-----------
Sir Alexander Hamilton, 10th Duke of Hamilton was educated in Harrow School, Harrow on the Hill, London, England. He
matriculated in Christ Church, Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, on 4 March 1786. He graduated from Christ Church,
Oxford University, Oxford, Oxfordshire, on 18 February 1789 with a Master of Arts (M.A.).
He was styled as Marquess of Douglas and Clydesdale between 1799 and 1819.
He was invested as a:
Fellow, Royal Society (F.R.S.) on 20 May 1802.
Fellow, Society of Antiquaries (F.S.A.) on 27 May 1802.
Privy Counsellor (P.C.) on 18 June 1806.
He succeeded to the titles of;
10th Lord Aven and Innerdale [S., 1643] on 16 February 1819.
9th Lord Machansyre and Polmont [S., 1639] on 16 February 1819.
10th Earl of Arran and Cambridge [S., 1643] on 16 February 1819.
9th Earl of Lanark [S., 1639] on 16 February 1819.
7th Lord Abernethy and Jedburgh Forest [S., 1633] on 16 February 1819.
7th Earl of Angus [S., 1633] on 16 February 1819.
7th Duke of Brandon [G.B., 1711] on 16 February 1819.
7th Baron of Dutton [G.B., 1711] on 16 February 1819.
10th Duke of Hamilton [S., 1643] on 16 February 1819.
10th Marquess of Clydesdale [S., 1643] on 16 February 1819.
7th Marquess of Douglas [S., 1633] on 16 February 1819.
He held the offices of:
Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Lancaster between 1802 and 1806.
Lord-Lieutenant of Lanarkshire between 1802 and 1852.
Ambassador to St. Petersburg from 1806 to 1807.
Grand Master of the Freemasons [Scotland] between 1820 and 1822.
President of the Highland and Agricultural Society [Scotland] between 1827 and 1831.
Trustee of the British Museum between 1834 and 1852.
91