Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll
Encyclopedia
Gillespie Roy Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll (c. 1507 – 1558) was a Scottish
nobleman and politician
.
(died 1529) and Jean Gordon, daughter of Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly
. Immediately after succeeding to the title and offices of his father in 1529-1530, he was put in command of an expedition to quell an insurrection in the southern Scottish Isles. The voluntary submission of the main chiefs resulted; and Alexander of Isla, a prime mover in the insurrection, was able to convince King James V
that he was personally well disposed to the government. More than that, he argued the disturbances in the Isles were chiefly owing to the fact that the earls of Argyll had made use of the office of lieutenant over the Isles for their own personal aggrandisement. Campbell was therefore summoned before the king to give an account of the duties and rental of the Isles received by him; and, as the result of the inquiry, was committed for a time to prison. Shortly afterwards he was liberated, but was deprived of his offices, and they were not restored to him until after the death of James V.
In a charter of 28 April 1542, he is called ‘master of the king's wine cellar.’ Along with the Earls of Huntly and Moray he was named one of the council of the kingdom in the document which Cardinal Beaton produced as the will of James, and which appointed Beaton governor of the kingdom and guardian to the infant Mary, Queen of Scots. After the arrest of Beaton, 20 January 1543, Argyll retired to his own lands to muster a force to maintain the struggle against the Earl of Arran, who had been chosen governor. Shortly afterwards the Earls of Argyll, Bothwell, Huntly, and Moray, supported by many of the barons and landed gentry, as well as by bishops and abbots, assembled at Perth
, vowing their determination to resist the measures of the governor. On being summoned by the governor to disperse they did not resist; but when it became known that Henry VIII of England
had succeeded in arranging a treaty of marriage between the young queen Mary and Edward, Prince of Wales
, the Earls of Argyll, Huntly, Lennox, and Bothwell marched from Stirling
with a force of ten thousand men, and compelled the governor to surrender to their charge the infant queen, with whom they returned to Stirling.
In the summer of 1544 Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox
, who had gone over to the party of the English king, plundered the Isle of Arran
, and made himself master of Bute
and Rothesay Castle
. As he sailed down the River Clyde
he was fired on by the Earl of Argyll, who with four thousand men occupied Dunoon Castle. After a consultation with his English officers Lennox attacked Dunoon, landing and burning the village and church. Retreating then to his ships, he subsequently laid waste a large part of Kintyre
; but, as he had not succeeded in obtaining possession of Dumbarton Castle
it was a transient victory. On the forfeiture of the estates of Lennox, Argyll was rewarded with the largest share. Although Lennox continued to foment discontent in the Isles, the practical result of his actions was further to increase the power of Argyll.
At the battle of Pinkie, 10 September 1547, Argyll, with four thousand west highlanders, held command of the right wing of the Scottish army. In January 1548 he advanced to Dundee
to capture Broughty Castle
; but English negotiators deterred him, even if he denied the rumours that he favoured England, and had been bought off. At the siege of Haddington, he was made "knight of the cockle" by the king of France at the same time as the Earls of Angus and Huntly.
Argyll had come under the influence of John Knox
and the Scottish Reformation
. On his way to Geneva
in 1556 Knox stayed with him at Castle Campbell
. After the agreement of the barons, in December 1557, that the reformed preachers should teach in private houses till the government should allow them to preach in public, Argyll took on the protection of John Douglas, a Carmelite friar. To induce Argyll to renounce the reformed faith, John Hamilton, Archbishop of St. Andrews, sent him a long letter, to which he wrote a detailed answer.
He died between 21 August 1558 and 2 December 1558 at Dulnynn, Scotland. He was buried at Kilmun
, Cowal
.
and Janet Bethune and had as their child:
He married, secondly, Lady Margaret Graham, daughter of William Graham, 3rd Earl of Menteith
and Margaret Moubray, on 21 April 1541 at the Priory of Inchmahome
. He married thirdly, Catherine Maclean, daughter of Hector Og Maclean, 13th Clan Chief, on 12 March 1545/1546.
He had an illegitimate daughter:
His sister, Lady Catherine Campbell, survived a murder attempt by her husband, Lachlan Maclean of Duart
in 1527. Maclean rowed out to Lady's Rock
in the Firth of Lorne
one night at low tide and left his wife stranded.
Attribution
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
nobleman and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Biography
He was the eldest son of Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of ArgyllColin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Argyll
Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Argyll was a Scottish nobleman and soldier. He was the son of Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll and Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of John Stewart, 1st Earl of Lennox. In 1506/07 he married Lady Jean Gordon, the eldest daughter of Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly...
(died 1529) and Jean Gordon, daughter of Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly
Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly
Alexander Gordon, 3rd Earl of Huntly was a Scottish nobleman and the 3rd Earl of Huntly. He was granted Strathavon in Banffshire and the Brae of Lochaber. He was a member of the Privy Council of Scotland.-Biography:...
. Immediately after succeeding to the title and offices of his father in 1529-1530, he was put in command of an expedition to quell an insurrection in the southern Scottish Isles. The voluntary submission of the main chiefs resulted; and Alexander of Isla, a prime mover in the insurrection, was able to convince King James V
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
that he was personally well disposed to the government. More than that, he argued the disturbances in the Isles were chiefly owing to the fact that the earls of Argyll had made use of the office of lieutenant over the Isles for their own personal aggrandisement. Campbell was therefore summoned before the king to give an account of the duties and rental of the Isles received by him; and, as the result of the inquiry, was committed for a time to prison. Shortly afterwards he was liberated, but was deprived of his offices, and they were not restored to him until after the death of James V.
In a charter of 28 April 1542, he is called ‘master of the king's wine cellar.’ Along with the Earls of Huntly and Moray he was named one of the council of the kingdom in the document which Cardinal Beaton produced as the will of James, and which appointed Beaton governor of the kingdom and guardian to the infant Mary, Queen of Scots. After the arrest of Beaton, 20 January 1543, Argyll retired to his own lands to muster a force to maintain the struggle against the Earl of Arran, who had been chosen governor. Shortly afterwards the Earls of Argyll, Bothwell, Huntly, and Moray, supported by many of the barons and landed gentry, as well as by bishops and abbots, assembled at Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
, vowing their determination to resist the measures of the governor. On being summoned by the governor to disperse they did not resist; but when it became known that Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
had succeeded in arranging a treaty of marriage between the young queen Mary and Edward, Prince of Wales
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
, the Earls of Argyll, Huntly, Lennox, and Bothwell marched from Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
with a force of ten thousand men, and compelled the governor to surrender to their charge the infant queen, with whom they returned to Stirling.
In the summer of 1544 Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox
Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox
Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox was the 4th Earl of Lennox, and leader of the Catholic nobility in Scotland. He was the son of John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Lennox. His grandson was James VI of Scotland....
, who had gone over to the party of the English king, plundered the Isle of Arran
Isle of Arran
Arran or the Isle of Arran is the largest island in the Firth of Clyde, Scotland, and with an area of is the seventh largest Scottish island. It is in the unitary council area of North Ayrshire and the 2001 census had a resident population of 5,058...
, and made himself master of Bute
Bute
- People :* John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute , British Prime Minister in office between 1762 and 1763* Marquess of Bute, a peerage title in the Peerage of Great Britain* Lucian Bute , Romanian boxer...
and Rothesay Castle
Rothesay Castle
Rothesay Castle is a ruined castle in Rothesay, the principal town on the Isle of Bute, in western Scotland. Located at , the castle has been described as "one of the most remarkable in Scotland", for its long history dating back to the beginning of the 13th century, and its unusual circular...
. As he sailed down the River Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
he was fired on by the Earl of Argyll, who with four thousand men occupied Dunoon Castle. After a consultation with his English officers Lennox attacked Dunoon, landing and burning the village and church. Retreating then to his ships, he subsequently laid waste a large part of Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
; but, as he had not succeeded in obtaining possession of Dumbarton Castle
Dumbarton Castle
Dumbarton Castle has the longest recorded history of any stronghold in Great Britain. It overlooks the Scottish town of Dumbarton, and sits on a plug of volcanic basalt known as Dumbarton Rock which is high.-Iron Age:...
it was a transient victory. On the forfeiture of the estates of Lennox, Argyll was rewarded with the largest share. Although Lennox continued to foment discontent in the Isles, the practical result of his actions was further to increase the power of Argyll.
At the battle of Pinkie, 10 September 1547, Argyll, with four thousand west highlanders, held command of the right wing of the Scottish army. In January 1548 he advanced to Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
to capture Broughty Castle
Broughty Castle
Broughty Castle is a historic castle in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Scotland. It was completed around 1495, although the site was earlier fortified in 1454 when George Douglas, 4th Earl of Angus received permission to build on the site. His son Archibald Douglas, 5th Earl of Angus was coerced into...
; but English negotiators deterred him, even if he denied the rumours that he favoured England, and had been bought off. At the siege of Haddington, he was made "knight of the cockle" by the king of France at the same time as the Earls of Angus and Huntly.
Argyll had come under the influence of John Knox
John Knox
John Knox was a Scottish clergyman and a leader of the Protestant Reformation who brought reformation to the church in Scotland. He was educated at the University of St Andrews or possibly the University of Glasgow and was ordained to the Catholic priesthood in 1536...
and the Scottish Reformation
Scottish Reformation
The Scottish Reformation was Scotland's formal break with the Papacy in 1560, and the events surrounding this. It was part of the wider European Protestant Reformation; and in Scotland's case culminated ecclesiastically in the re-establishment of the church along Reformed lines, and politically in...
. On his way to Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
in 1556 Knox stayed with him at Castle Campbell
Castle Campbell
Castle Campbell is a mediæval castle situated above the town of Dollar, Clackmannanshire in central Scotland. It was the seat of the Earls and Dukes of Argyll, chiefs of Clan Campbell.- History :...
. After the agreement of the barons, in December 1557, that the reformed preachers should teach in private houses till the government should allow them to preach in public, Argyll took on the protection of John Douglas, a Carmelite friar. To induce Argyll to renounce the reformed faith, John Hamilton, Archbishop of St. Andrews, sent him a long letter, to which he wrote a detailed answer.
He died between 21 August 1558 and 2 December 1558 at Dulnynn, Scotland. He was buried at Kilmun
Kilmun
Kilmun is a linear settlement on the north shore of the Holy Loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It runs between the head of the loch and connects with the village of Strone at Strone Point, where the loch joins the Firth of Clyde....
, Cowal
Cowal
thumb|Cowal shown within ArgyllCowal is a peninsula in Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands.-Description:The northern part of Cowal is mostly the mountainous Argyll Forest Park. Cowal is separated from the Kintyre peninsula to the west by Loch Fyne, and from Inverclyde and North Ayrshire to...
.
Family
He was married three times. He married, firstly, Lady Helen Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of ArranJames Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran
James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran and 2nd Lord Hamilton was a Scottish nobleman and first cousin of James IV of Scotland.-Biography:...
and Janet Bethune and had as their child:
- Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of ArgyllArchibald Campbell, 5th Earl of ArgyllArchibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll was one of the leading figures in the politics of Scotland during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, and the early part of that of James VI.-Biography:...
He married, secondly, Lady Margaret Graham, daughter of William Graham, 3rd Earl of Menteith
William Graham, 3rd Earl of Menteith
William Graham, 3rd Earl of Menteith was the third Earl of Menteith.-Biography:He was the son of Alexander Graham, 2nd Earl of Menteith and Margaret Buchanan. He was the great grandson of Malise Graham, 1st Earl of Menteith...
and Margaret Moubray, on 21 April 1541 at the Priory of Inchmahome
Inchmahome Priory
Inchmahome Priory is situated on Inchmahome , the largest of three islands in the centre of Lake of Menteith, close to Aberfoyle, Scotland....
. He married thirdly, Catherine Maclean, daughter of Hector Og Maclean, 13th Clan Chief, on 12 March 1545/1546.
He had an illegitimate daughter:
- Agnes Campbell who was married to Turlough Luineach O'NeillTurlough Luineach O'NeillToirdhealbhach Luineach Mac Néill Chonnalaigh Ó Néill , the earl of the Clan-Connell, was inaugurated as the King of Tyrone, upon Shane O’Neill’s death...
His sister, Lady Catherine Campbell, survived a murder attempt by her husband, Lachlan Maclean of Duart
Maclean of Duart
The Macleans of Duart or Maclean of Dowart are the main sept of the Scottish clan Clan Maclean, whose chief has his seat at Duart Castle, Isle of Mull.-History:Lachlan Lubanach Maclean was the first Maclean to occupy Duart Castle....
in 1527. Maclean rowed out to Lady's Rock
Lady's Rock
Lady's Rock is a skerry to the south west of Lismore in the Inner Hebrides. It is submerged at high tide and carries a naviagtion beacon. Eilean Musdile is to the north east, next to Lismore.-History:...
in the Firth of Lorne
Firth of Lorne
The Firth of Lorn is a body of water on Scotland's west coast, in Argyll and Bute. It lies between the Isle of Mull to the northwest and the Isles of Kerrera, Seil and Luing along with parts of the Scottish mainland southwest of Oban on the southeast side...
one night at low tide and left his wife stranded.
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Attribution