John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll

The 4th Duke of Argyll.

General John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll KT PC (c. 1693 – 9 November 1770), was a Scottish Whig politician in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Biography

The Duke was the son of Hon John Campbell of Mamore, the second son of Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, and Elizabeth Elphinstone, daughter of John, 8th Lord Elphinstone.

Marriage & Children

In 1720 Campbell married Mary Drummond Ker, daughter of John Drummond Ker, 2nd Lord Bellenden of Broughton. They had the following children:^[1]

• Lady Caroline Campbell (born 12 January 1721, died 17 January 1803)
• Field Marshal John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll (born June 1723, died 24 May 1806)
• Lord William Campbell (born 1731, died 1778)

Military & Parliamentary Careers

Campbell joined the army at a young age, becoming a Lieutenant Colonel at the age of nineteen. However, he soon entered the world of politics, becoming Member of Parliament (MP) for Buteshire (1713–1715), Elgin Burghs (1715–1722 and 1725–1727), and finally Dunbartonshire (1727–1761). During most of his tenure as MP for Dunbartonshire, he was Groom of the Bedchamber.

Additionally, he served in the military during his tenure in Parliament—he became Colonel of the 39th Regiment of Foot (1737–1738) and the 21st Regiment of Foot (1738–1752), serving with honour in the Battle of Dettingen in 1741.

He rose quickly up the ranks, becoming a brigadier general in 1743, major general in 1744, and lieutenant general in 1747; he became colonel of the North British Dragoons in 1752, a position he held until his death.

Dukedom

Upon inheriting the dukedom and other titles upon the death of his cousin Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll, he left the House of Commons and became Governor of Limerick and a Scottish representative peer. He became a Privy Councillor in 1762, a general in 1765, and a Knight of the Order of the Thistle in that same year.

Death

The Duke died on 9 November 1770 and is buried at Kilmun Parish Church. He was succeeded in the dukedom and other titles by his elder son John. His younger son Lord William Campbell was the last British Governor of South Carolina.

Ancestry

Ancestors of John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll

16. Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll               8. Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll                       17. Lady Agnes Douglas               4. Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll                             18. William Douglas, 7th Earl of Morton               9. Lady Margaret Douglas                       19. Lady Anne Keith               2. The Hon. John Campbell                                   20. James Stuart, 3rd Earl of Moray               10. James Stuart, 4th Earl of Moray                       21. Lady Anne Gordon               5. Lady Mary Stuart                             22. Alexander Home, 1st Earl of Home               11. Lady Margaret Home                       23. The Hon. Mary Sutton               1. John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll                                         24. The Hon. James Elphinstone               12. Alexander Elphinstone, 6th Lord Elphinstone                       25. Margaret Forbes               6. John Elphinstone, 8th Lord Elphinstone                             26. Alexander Elphinstone, 5th Lord Elphinstone               13. The Hon. Lilias Elphinstone                       27. The Hon. Elizabeth Drummond               3. The Hon. Elizabeth Elphinstone                                   28. John Maitland, 1st Earl of Lauderdale               14. Charles Maitland, 3rd Earl of Lauderdale                       29. Lady Isabel Seton               7. Lady Isabel Maitland                             30. Richard Lauder               15. Elizabeth Lauder

External links

• Pedigree at Genealogics

References

1. The Peerage, entry for 4th Duke of Argyll