Lady Ann Cunningham


Lady Anna Cunningham, Marchioness of Hamilton led a mixed-sex cavalry troop during the "Battle" of Berwick on 5 June 1639.

Background and family

Lady Anna was the fourth daughter of James Cunningham, 7th Earl of Glencairn and Margaret, daughter of Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy, a family noted for its early commitment to Protestantism. Her sister was the memoirist Lady Margaret Cunningham.
She married James Hamilton, 2nd Marquess of Hamilton on 30 January 1603. They had two sons, James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton and William Hamilton, 2nd Duke of Hamilton and three daughters, Lady Anne Hamilton, Lady Margaret Hamilton and Lady Mary Hamilton.

Historical importance

Her historical importance is as a defender of the Presbyterian Church in Scotland against Charles I attempts to convert the whole of Scotland to Anglicanism and her active leadership in the National Covenant resistance movement.
Her son, James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton, had sided with Charles I. When he attempted to land an army on the Scottish Coast in 1639, she organised the defences and "came forth with pistol which she vowed to discharge upon her son if he offered to come ashore."
Lady Ann Cunningham did, however, raise a cavalry troop and lead them on horseback, brandishing a pistol and threatening to shoot her son. This was during the Battle of Berwick on 5 June 1639. They rode under a banner showing a hand repelling a prayer book with the motto For God, the King, Religion and the Covenant.
The result led to the Scots' right to a free church assembly and a free parliament.
Her great-great-grandson was Sir William Hamilton the husband of Emma, Lady Hamilton who is best known as the mistress of Lord Nelson.