Title: George Earl Hamilton Marsden
1George Douglas-Hamilton 10th Earl of Selkirk
CAPTAIN GEORGE "GEORDIE" NIGEL DOUGLAS-HAMILTON
THE 10TH EARL OF SELKIRK.
2WHO IS THIS MAN ?
3- Born at Merly, Wimborne, Dorset, he was the
second son of the 13th Duke of Hamilton and
Brandon and Nina Mary Benita, youngest daughter
of Major R. Poore, Salisbury. He was educated at
Eton College, Balliol College, Oxford, Edinburgh
University (LLB) and at the University of Bonn,
Vienna University and the Sorbonne. He was
admitted to the Faculty of Advocates in 1935,
taking silk in 1959.
4He played cricket for Wiltshire in the 1927 Minor
Counties Championship. He was a member of
Edinburgh Town Council from 193540 and served as
a Commissioner of General Board of Control
(Scotland) from 193639 and as a Commissioner for
Special Areas in Scotland from 1937-39. He
commanded 603 (City of Edinburgh) Squadron in the
Royal Auxiliary Air Force from 1934-38.
5World War II
6With the outbreak of World War II,
Douglas-Hamilton joined the Royal Air Force. He
served as Fighter Commands chief intelligence
officer and the personal assistant to Air Chief
Marshal Dowding. Douglas-Hamilton was also
involved in countering the German task force
operating near Ceylon. Douglas-Hamilton was
twice Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the Air
Force Cross in 1938 and the OBE in 1941. He
succeeded to Earldom upon the death of his father
in 1940, under terms of special remainder, his
elder brother becoming the 14th Duke of Hamilton.
7Post war activity
8On 6 August 1947, Douglas-Hamilton married Audrey
Sale-Barker, an alpine skiing champion and
prominent aviator. He was elected as a Scottish
representative peer from 194563, during which
time he served as a Lord in Waiting to King
George VI (195152) and to Queen Elizabeth II
(195253). He held Ministerial office as
Paymaster-General from November 1953-December
1955, as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
from December 1955-January 1957 and as First Lord
of the Admiralty from 1957-October 1959.
9He was UK High Commissioner for Singapore and
Commissioner General for South-East Asia from
195963, and UK Council Representative to
Southeast Asia Treaty Organization from 1960-63.
He was appointed a Privy Counsellor in 1955, and
awarded the GCMG in 1959 and the GBE in 1963. He
was appointed a Knight of the Thistle in 1976. He
held the office of Deputy Keeper of Holyroodhouse
between 1937 until his death, the Duke of
Hamilton being hereditary Keeper. He was made a
Freeman of Hamilton, Scotland, in 1938. He was
also an Honorary Chief of the Saulteaux Indians,
1967, and an Honorary Citizen of the City of
Winnipeg and of the town of Selkirk, Manitoba.
10END OF STORY.