Douglas Proby

Born Douglas Hamilton, he was the only son of Lord Claud Hamilton (1813–1884) and his wife Lady Elizabeth Emma, second daughter of Granville Proby, 3rd Earl of Carysfort.[2] John Hamilton, 1st Marquess of Abercorn, was his great-grandfather and James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Abercorn, his uncle.[3] In 1904 he assumed by Royal licence the surname of Proby in lieu of his patronymic.[4] He was educated at Eton College and matriculated on 15 January 1875 at Christ Church, Oxford, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1879 and a Master of Arts in 1912.[2][5]

In January 1880, Proby was commissioned as 2nd lieutenant from the military college into the 109th Regiment of Foot.[6] He was exchanged to the Coldstream Guards in April[7] and when two years later the Anglo-Egyptian War erupted, he fought with the 1st Battalion .[2] He then became involved into the Mahdist War with the 2nd Battalion and took part in the Battle of Suakin in 1888.[2] After the end of the war in 1891, he was promoted to captain and transferred to the 5th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers.[8] From 1897, he recruited new soldiers around Glasgow and in the following year, was advanced to major.[2] Proby was attached to the Irish Guards in 1900 and became lieutenant-colonel after another four years.[2] He was promoted to brevet-colonel in 1907 and retired in the following year.[2] From 1914 Proby commanded a regimental district until 1917.[9]

Proby entered the British House of Commons as Member of Parliament for Saffron Walden in the January 1910 general election.[1] However, he lost his seat in the December general election of the same year, and never returned to Parliament.[1] He was appointed High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire in 1923 and was a Justice of the Peace for Northamptonshire and for Hampshire.[9] Proby represented the latter together with County Wicklow also as Deputy Lieutenant.[9] He was invested as an Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (OStJ).[3]

On 6 July 1882, Proby married Lady Margaret Frances Hely-Hutchinson, daughter of Richard Hely-Hutchinson, 4th Earl of Donoughmore, and had by her four sons and a daughter.[9] Proby died in 1931 at his residence Elton Hall.[9] His oldest son Granville was a lord-lieutenant and his third son Richard was created a baronet.[3]