John Hamilton, 4th Earl of Haddington

Haddington was born in 1626, second son of Thomas Hamilton, 2nd Earl of Haddington and Lady Catherine Erskine, a daughter of John Erskine, Earl of Mar.

Lord Haddington was a minor in 1645, when he succeeded his brother Thomas who had died from consumption in that year. Owing to lameness, Haddington did not participate in the military, but was a conscientious attender of Parliament. Haddington attended the coronation of Charles II at Scone Abbey in 1651, and was later fined the sum of £555 11s 8d under Cromwell's Act of Grace.[2]

Haddington died on 31 August 1669 at Tyninghame House, East Lothian.

In 1648, Lord Haddington wed Lady Christian Lindsay (d.1704), daughter to the Lord Treasurer of Scotland, John Lindsay, 17th Earl of Crawford, and had issue:

• Charles Hamilton, 5th Earl of Haddington
• Hon. Thomas Hamilton, died in infancy
• Hon. John Hamilton, died in infancy
• Hon. William Hamilton, died in infancy
• Lady Margaret Hamilton, married John Hope of Hopetoun, and had issue: Charles Hope, 1st Earl of Hopetoun
• Lady Catherine Hamilton, died in infancy
• Lady Anna Hamilton, died in infancy
• Lady Helen Hamilton, married William Anstruther
• Lady Susanna Hamilton, married Adam Cockburn, Lord Ormiston
• Lady Christian Hamilton, died in infancy
• Lady Elizabeth Hamilton, died in infancy
• Lady Mary Hamilton