Douglas Proby

Douglas James Proby DL, JP (23 September 1856 – 18 November 1931), known as Douglas Hamilton until 1904, was a British politician and soldier.

Born Douglas Hamilton, he was the only son of Lord Claud Hamilton and his wife Lady Elizabeth Emma, daughter of Granville Proby, 3rd Earl of Carysfort. John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn, was his great-grandfather and James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, his uncle. In 1904 he assumed by Royal license the surname of Proby in lieu of his patronymic. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated with a Master of Arts. Proby served with the Irish Guards, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and Brevet Colonel, and was Commander of a Regimental District between 1914 and 1917.

Proby was also involved in politics elected Member of Parliament for Saffron Walden in the January 1910 general election. However, he lost his seat already in the December general election of the same year, and never returned to Parliament. He also held the honorary posts of High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and High Sheriff of Hampshire and Deputy Lieutenant of Hamsphire and County Wicklow and was Justice of Peace for Northamptonshire and for Hampshire. He was also invested an Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (OStJ).

[edit] Family

On 6 July 1882, Proby married Lady Margaret Frances Hely-Hutchinson, daughter of the 4th Earl of Donoughmore. They had five children:

Granville Proby (1883–1947)
Claud Richard Proby (1885–1901)
Major Sir Richard George Proby, 1st Baronet (see Proby Baronets)
Betty Alice Adeline Proby (1889-1978), married Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Henry Charles Lowry-Corry on 27 April 1920
Jocelyn Campbell Patrick Proby (b. 1900), married Elizabeth Angelique Kerr, daughter of William Archibald Hastings Kerr on 16 August 1930

Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Joseph Albert Pease	Member of Parliament for Saffron Walden January 1910–December 1910	Succeeded by Sir Arthur Cecil Tyrrell Beck