Lady Grizel Louise Hamilton

{{Short description|British aristocrat (1880–1976)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Lady Grizel Louise Hamilton

| image = Lady Grizel Winifred Louisa Cochrane.jpg

| caption =

| alt =

| birth_name = Hon. Grizel Winifred Louise Cochrane{{cite book |last1=Haughton |first1=Ida Clara Cochran |title=Chronicles of the Cochrans: Being a Series of Historical Events and Narratives, in which Members of this Family Have Played a Prominent Part |date=1925 |publisher=Stoneman Press Company |isbn=978-0-598-92653-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GHU7AAAAMAAJ&dq=Lady+Grizel+Winifred+Louise+Hamilton&pg=PA35 |access-date=18 July 2024 |language=en}}England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995

| birth_date = 14 May 1880

| birth_place = St George Hanover Square, London

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1976|12|5|1880|5|14}}The Daily Telegraph

07 Dec 1976, Tue · Page 12 - https://www.newspapers.com/image/750612183

| death_place = Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk

| spouse(s) = Lt.-Col. Hon. Ralph Gerard Alexander Hamilton, Master of Belhaven (m.1904-1918; Killed in action)

| children =

| father = Douglas Cochrane, 12th Earl of Dundonald

| mother = Winifred, Countess of Dundonald

| known_for = Hunting

| movement =

| notable_works =

| awards =

}}

Lady Grizel Winifred Louise Hamilton (née Cochrane; 14 May 1880 – 5 December 1976) was a Welsh and Scottish aristocrat.

She was the daughter of Winifred, Countess of Dundonald and Douglas Cochrane, 12th Earl of Dundonald and the wife of Lt.-Col. Hon. Ralph Gerard Alexander Hamilton, Master of Belhaven, who died in action during the First World War, she was a famous huntress.

International travel

File:Grizel Cochrane Yn Hela.jpg

Along with her husband, she was a keen huntress. She often traveled to Kenya, Africa, to embark on her big game hunting. Some of the animals she killed were: hippopotamus, wildebeest, leopard, rhinoceros, waterbuck, cape buffalo; her hunts were extensively covered in popular magazines and newspaper articles.Illustrated London News, Saturday 29 February 1908 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001578/19080229/060/0017The Bystander, 4 March 1908 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001851/19080304/027/0024

Personal life

Born in St George Hanover Square, London, she spent most of her childhood at Gwrych Castle, Abergele, Wales.

On 1 March 1904 (which landed on Saint David's Day), Grizel married Ralph Gerard Alexander Hamilton, Master of Belhaven at Henry VII Chapel, London. Their marriage was the first ever to be held at the venue during Lent, breaking a long-held tradition.

The service was arranged by her mother, Winifred, Countess of Dundonald. The event was kept small due to the chapel's limited space and quiet due to it being Lent, the altar was decorated with annunciation lilies. Hanging over the stall was the naval flag of Thomas Cochrane, 10th Earl of Dundonald (her great grandfather), on the flag rested a wreath tied with a white satin bow. Her father was absent from her wedding due to his military duties in Canada, in lieu of this, her uncle Thomas Cochrane walked her down the aisle and then her mother gave her away.London Evening Standard, 2 March 1904 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000183/19040302/076/0004The Queen, 5 March 1904 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002627/19040305/318/0068

In the last year of the First World War, Grizel became a widow when her husband was killed in action on Easter Sunday by a shell on the Western front, this affected her greatly, as she never remarried.Motherwell Times, 13 May 1921 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000473/19210513/039/0003Wishaw Press, 29 October 1920 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0002750/19201029/028/0002

In 1933, she was invited to open a £30,000 (~£1.7 million in 2021 after inflation) swimming pool at Rhos-on-Sea, Wales.Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette, 15 July 1933 - https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000640/19330715/215/0007

References