James Hamilton, 3rd Earl of Arran (1537–1609) was a Scottish nobleman and soldier who opposed the French-dominated regency during the Scottish Reformation. He was the eldest son of James Hamilton, Duke of Châtellerault, sometime regent of Scotland. He was of royal descent, and at times was third or fourth in succession to the Scottish crown; several royal marriages were proposed for him, but he eventually never married. He went to France with Mary, Queen of Scots, where he commanded the Scots Guards. After returning to Scotland, he became a leader of the Protestant party against Mary and her French supporters. However, he went insane in 1562 and was confined for the rest of his life. Birth and origins James Hamilton may have been born in 1537 or 1538, another source suggests 1532. His place of birth probably was Hamilton, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the eldest son of James Hamilton and his wife Margaret Douglas. His father was the 2nd Earl of Arran and would be created Duke of Châtellerault in France in 1548. His father also was the grandson of Mary Stewart, eldest daughter of James II of Scotland and was at this time, after King James V, the most senior, legitimate male descendant of King James II and, so heir presumptive for much of King James V's reign and the future 3rd Earl of Arran was next in succession after him. His father's family descended from Walter FitzGilbert, the founder of the House of Hamilton, who had received the barony of Cadzow from Robert the Bruce. James's, mother, Margaret Douglas, descended from James IV through an illegitimate daughter, and Joan of Scotland, daughter of James I. Both parents were Scottish. They had married in September 1532. In 1542, James and his father were displaced in the royal succession by the birth of James V's daughter, Mary (the future Mary, Queen of Scots) - until James V died only six days later. James's father became regent for the baby queen. Regent Arran's marriage plans The Regent proposed various royal marriages for his son, who was second in line for the crown. In March 1543, James V's widow, Mary of Guise told the English ambassador Ralph Sadler that the Regent "mindeth to marry" her daughter Queen Mary to his son, something she was anxious to avoid. In December 1543, French envoys heard that the Regent wanted to marry James to Henry