Parliament revoked this grant in 1700. On 25 November 1695, Elizabeth was married to her cousin, Lord George Hamilton, the fifth son of the 3rd Duke of Hamilton. A few weeks later, on 3 January, he was honoured with the titles Earl of Orkney, Viscount of Kirkwall, and Baron Dechmont. Elizabeth, now the Countess of Orkney, served her husband's interests with great skill, and the marriage proved a happy one. Later in 1696 she founded Midleton College, a grammar school in County Cork, Ireland. Lady Orkney retained a degree of social importance in the Hanoverian era, and was hostess to George I and George II at her estate at Cliveden, Buckinghamshire. She died in London on 19 April 1733. Family Elizabeth was a first cousin of Barbara Villiers, a mistress of Charles II, as their fathers were brothers. Her paternal aunt was Elizabeth Villiers, Countess of Morton, the godmother and governess of Princess Henrietta. Her brother was Edward Villiers, 1st Earl of Jersey, whose great-grandson married Frances Twysden, yet another royal mistress. Issue By George Hamilton, 1st Earl of Orkney, son of Anne Hamilton, 3rd Duchess of Hamilton, and William Douglas-Hamilton, Duke of Hamilton, Elizabeth Villiers had three daughters, the eldest of whom inherited her husband's estate and title: Lady Anne, suo jure Countess of Orkney, married her cousin William O'Brien, 4th Earl of Inchiquin (170018 July 1777) on 29 March 1720 Lady Frances, married Thomas Lumley-Saunderson, 3rd Earl of Scarbrough Lady Henrietta, married John Boyle, 5th Earl of Cork Notes References Further reading 1657 births 1733 deaths Mistresses of English royalty Scottish countesses Elizabeth Hamilton, Countess of Orkney Mistresses of Scottish royalty William III of England 17th-century English women 18th-century English women 18th-century English people 17th-century Scottish women 17th-century Scottish people 18th-century Scottish women 18th-century Scottish people English ladies-in-waiting