Count Anthony Hamilton

Born in Ireland around 1646, he came from the Hamilton family and spent much of his life in France after his Catholic family left Ireland during the upheavals of the mid-17th century. He later followed the Jacobite cause and remained closely connected to the exiled court of James II at Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

He is chiefly remembered for Mémoires de la vie du comte de Grammont, a brilliant account of court society built around his brother-in-law, the Count of Gramont. Written in French, the book became famous for its elegance, humor, and eye for character, helping secure his reputation as a master of polished anecdotal prose.

He also wrote imaginative tales, including fairy stories and satirical pieces, that showed a lighter, more playful side of his style. Though Irish by birth and of Scottish family background, he is often associated with French literature because he wrote with such ease and charm in French.