HAMILTON, JOHN (c. 1511-1571), Scottish prelate and politician, natural son of James Hamilton, 1st earl of Arran, be came a monk and abbot of Paisley. After studying in Paris he returned to Scotland, where, under his half-brother, the regent Arran, he was made keeper of the privy seal , bishop of Dunkeld (1545), archbishop of St. Andrews (1546) and finally became treasurer of the kingdom. He was imprisoned, owing to Protestant hostility, in 1563. After his release he was an active partisan of Mary queen of Scots ; he baptized the infant James, afterwards King James VI., and pronounced the divorce of the queen from Bothwell. After the battle of Langside, he took refuge in Dumbarton castle. Here he was seized, and on the charge of complicity in the murders of Lord Darnley and the regent Murray he was tried, and hanged on April 6, 15 71. The arch bishop had three children by his mistress, Grizzel Sempill.