John Campbell, 7th Duke of Argyll
Encyclopedia
John Douglas Edward Henry Campbell, 7th Duke of Argyll FRS
(21 December 1777 – 25 April 1847), known as Lord John Campbell until 1839, was a Scottish
peer and Whig
politician.
. His mother was Elizabeth Campbell, 1st Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon, who had been ennobled in her own right in 1776. Campbell was baptised on 18 January 1778 in St James's in Westminster
. He was educated privately and went then to Christ Church College, Oxford. In 1803, he travelled to Paris
, where he met Talleyrand as well as Napoleon; Campbell returned to England in the following year. He succeeded his older brother George Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll
in his titles in 1839.
, Campbell served in the Netherlands
under orders of Sir Ralph Abercromby
. He retired in 1801 forced by ill health and after two years was appointed lieutenant-colonel and commandant of the Argyll Volunteers. Following the rearrangement of the country's militias in 1809, he became colonel of the Argyll and Bute Militia.
He entered the British House of Commons
in 1799, having been elected for Argyllshire
as replacement for his uncle Lord Frederick Campbell. After the Act of Union 1801, he continued to represent the constituency also in the new Parliament of the United Kingdom
until 1822. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society
in 1819. Campbell was nominated Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland in 1841, an office he held for the next five years.
Campbell died, aged 69, in Inverary Castle in Argyllshire. Having been predeceased by his older son John in 1837, he was succeeded in the dukedom and his other titles by his second son George
. He was survived by his third wife until 1874.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
(21 December 1777 – 25 April 1847), known as Lord John Campbell until 1839, was a Scottish
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...
peer and Whig
British Whig Party
The Whigs were a party in the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, and Parliament of the United Kingdom, who contested power with the rival Tories from the 1680s to the 1850s. The Whigs' origin lay in constitutional monarchism and opposition to absolute rule...
politician.
Background
Campbell was the third son of John Campbell, 5th Duke of ArgyllJohn Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll
Field Marshal John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll , styled Marquess of Lorne from 1761 to 1770, was a Scottish soldier and nobleman.-Military career:...
. His mother was Elizabeth Campbell, 1st Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon, who had been ennobled in her own right in 1776. Campbell was baptised on 18 January 1778 in St James's in Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
. He was educated privately and went then to Christ Church College, Oxford. In 1803, he travelled to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he met Talleyrand as well as Napoleon; Campbell returned to England in the following year. He succeeded his older brother George Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll
George Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll
George William Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll GCH, PC , styled Earl of Campbell from 1768 to 1770 and Marquess of Lorne from 1770 to 1806, was a Scottish Whig politician and nobleman.-Background:...
in his titles in 1839.
Career
Campbell was commissioned into the British Army in 1797 as an ensign of the 3rd Foot Guards, commanded by his father. He purchased a lieutenantcy in 1799 and shortly afterwards became a captain. During the French Revolutionary WarsFrench Revolutionary Wars
The French Revolutionary Wars were a series of major conflicts, from 1792 until 1802, fought between the French Revolutionary government and several European states...
, Campbell served in the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
under orders of Sir Ralph Abercromby
Ralph Abercromby
Sir Ralph Abercromby was a Scottish soldier and politician. He rose to the rank of lieutenant-general in the British Army, was noted for his services during the Napoleonic Wars, and served as Commander-in-Chief, Ireland.He twice served as MP for Clackmannanshire and Kinross-shire, and was...
. He retired in 1801 forced by ill health and after two years was appointed lieutenant-colonel and commandant of the Argyll Volunteers. Following the rearrangement of the country's militias in 1809, he became colonel of the Argyll and Bute Militia.
He entered the British House of Commons
House of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
in 1799, having been elected for Argyllshire
Argyllshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Argyllshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1950, when it was renamed Argyll...
as replacement for his uncle Lord Frederick Campbell. After the Act of Union 1801, he continued to represent the constituency also in the new Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
until 1822. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
in 1819. Campbell was nominated Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland in 1841, an office he held for the next five years.
Family
Campbell married firstly Elizabeth, oldest daughter of William Campbell against the wishes of his father in 1802. They were divorced six years later and he remarried Joan, only daughter of John Glassel in 1820. By his second wife he had two daughters and two sons. After her death in 1828, he married thirdly Anne, oldest daughter of John Cuninghame in 1831; she was the widow of George Cunningham Monteath.Campbell died, aged 69, in Inverary Castle in Argyllshire. Having been predeceased by his older son John in 1837, he was succeeded in the dukedom and his other titles by his second son George
George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll
George John Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll KG, KT, PC, FRS, FRSE , styled Marquess of Lorne until 1847, was a Scottish peer, Liberal politician as well as a writer on science, religion, and the politics of the 19th century.-Background:Argyll was born at Ardencaple Castle, Dunbartonshire, the...
. He was survived by his third wife until 1874.