Clan Campbell ( gd, Na Caimbeulaich ) is a Highland Scottish clan, historically one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans. The Clan Campbell lands are in Argyll and within their lands lies Ben Cruachan. The chief of the clan became the Earl and later Duke of Argyll.

History

Origins

In traditional genealogies of the Clan Campbell, the clan's origins are placed amongst the ancient Britons of Strathclyde; the earliest Campbell in written records is Gillespie who is recorded in 1263. Early grants to Gillespie and his relations were almost all in east-central Scotland, but the family's connection with Argyll came some generations before, when a Campbell married the heiress of the O'Duines and she brought with her the Lordship of Loch Awe. Because of this the early clan name was ''Clan O' Duine'' and this was later supplanted by the style ''Clann Diarmaid''. This name came from a fancied connection to ''Diarmid the Boar'', a great hero from early

Celtic mythology Celtic mythology is the body of myths belonging to the Celtic peoples.Cunliffe, Barry, (1997) ''The Ancient Celts''. Oxford, Oxford University Press , pp. 183 (religion), 202, 204–8. Like other Iron Age Europeans, Celtic peoples followed a ...

. The original seat of the Clan Campbell was either Innis Chonnell Castle on Loch Awe or Caisteal na Nigheann Ruaidh on Loch Avich. The clan's power soon spread throughout Argyll, though at first the Campbells were under the domination of the Lords of Lorne, chiefs of Clan MacDougall. The MacDougalls killed the Campbell chief Cailean Mór (Colin Campbell) in 1296. (See: Battle of Red Ford). All of the subsequent chiefs of Clan Campbell have taken ''MacCailean Mór'' as their Gaelic patronymic. Between 1200 and 1500 the Campbells emerged as one of the most powerful families in Scotland, dominant in Argyll and capable of wielding a wider influence and authority from Edinburgh to the Hebrides and western Highlands.

Wars of Scottish Independence

The family of Colin Campbell went on to become firm supporters of King Robert the Bruce and benefited from his successes with grants of lands, titles and good marriages. During the Wars of Scottish Independence the Campbells fought for Scotland against the English at the

Battle of Bannockburn The Battle of Bannockburn ( gd, Blàr Allt nam Bànag or ) fought on June 23–24, 1314, was a victory of the army of King of Scots Robert the Bruce over the army of King Edward II of England in the First War of Scottish Independence. It was ...

in 1314. During the 14th century the Clan Campbell rapidly expanded its lands and power. This is partly explained by the loyalty of Sir Neil Campbell (''Niall mac Caile''), (d.1315), to the cause of Robert the Bruce – a loyalty which was rewarded with marriage to Bruce's sister Mary. The family was also closely associated with the

Stewarts Stewart's or Stewarts can refer to: * Stewart's Fountain Classics, brand of soft drink **Stewart's Restaurants, chain of restaurants where the soft drink was originally sold * Stewart's wilt, bacterial disease affecting maize * Stewart's (departmen ...

as well as the Bruces in the time of Cailean Mór. Sir Neil, as a staunch ally of ''the Bruce'' was rewarded with extensive lands that had been taken from the forfeited MacDougall, Lords of Lorne and other enemies of the Bruces in Argyll.

15th century and royal relations

The Campbells gave support to the Crown throughout the 15th century. By the end of the 15th century the power of the Lords of the Isles (chiefs of

Clan Donald Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald ( gd, Clann Dòmhnaill; Mac Dòmhnaill ), is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry i ...

) who were the Crown's most powerful rivals had been broken leaving the Campbells as the main power in the area. From this time onwards the Campbells acted as the main instrument of central authority in the area and this could be the real cause of the ancient enmity between the Campbells and the MacDonalds. Descendants of Sir Duncan Campbell, 1st Lord Campbell (''Donnchadh'') and his wife Lady Marjorie Stewart would be descendants of Robert the Bruce, King of Scotland and Robert II Stewart, King of Scotland. Lady Marjorie Stewart, b. 1390 was the daughter of King Robert II's son, Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany. This would make all descendants of Sir Duncan Campbell and Lady Marjorie Stewart descendants of Robert I Bruce and most of the early Kings of Scotland. The first Lord Campbell was created in 1445. It was from the 15th century that the Campbells came to take an increasingly prominent role. The personal reign of James I of Scotland, saw that king launch a great political assault on the Albany Stewarts and their allies in the west, however Duncan Campbell, 1st lord Campbell (''Donnchadh''), escaped the fate of his Albany kinsmen who were all either executed or exiled. Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll (''Cailean'') was en-nobled as the Earl of Argyll in 1457 and later became Baron of Lorn and was also granted lands in Knapdale, signs that the Argylls were one of the major forces in Scotland. In 1493 after the forfeiture of the MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, the Campbell lords may well have viewed themselves as natural successors to the Clan Donald in terms of leadership of the Gaels of the Hebrides and western Highlands. The Campbell lordship thus remained one of the most significant bastions of Gaelic learning and culture in late medieval and early modern Scotland. In the

Battle of Knockmary The Battle of Knockmary (or Battle of Rottenreoch) was a Scottish clan battle fought in 1511, or 1490 between the Clan Murray against the Clan Drummond and Clan Campbell, north of Crieff, Scotland. Background In 1511 (some sources say 1490), the ...

, 1490, men of the Clan Campbell and the Clan Drummond joined forces to defeat the Clan Murray. This also became known as the

Massacre of Monzievaird The Scottish Highlands, Scottish Highland Massacre of Monzievaird took place on 21 October 1490, at the church of Monzievaird, at Ochtertyre, near Hosh in Perth and Kinross, Perthshire. Some sources give the date as 1511. It was the culmina ...

. In 1499, Campbell of Inverliver defeated the

Clan Calder Clan Calder is a Highland Scottish clan.Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). pp. 369. The clan ...

at the

Battle of Daltullich The Battle of Daltullich was a Scottish clan battle that took place in the autumn of 1499 at a place called Daltullich which is near to Strathnairn in the Scottish Highlands. It was fought between men of the Clan Calder and Clan Campbell. The h ...

and Sir John Campbell, the younger son of the Earl of Argyll, received the estate of Calder and

Cawdor Castle Cawdor Castle is a castle in the parish of Cawdor in Nairnshire, Scotland. It is built around a 15th-century tower houses in Britain and Ireland, tower house, with substantial additions in later centuries. Originally a property of the Clan Calder ...

through his marriage to the heiress, Muriel Calder.

16th century and clan conflicts

In 1513 the 2nd Earl of Argyll was killed along with many of his clan at the Battle of Flodden.Clan Campbell Timeline
inveraray-castle.com. Retrieved 24 May 2014. The Battle of Langside took place in 1568 where the chief of Clan Campbell, Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll, commanded the forces who fought for Mary, Queen of Scots. In 1567, a conflict took place between the Clan Campbell and Clan Arthur. Duncan MacArthur and his son of the Loch Awe MacArthur family, became the victims of their own success when jealousy of their power drove neighbours to drown them in Loch Awe during a skirmish with the Clan Campbell. In the archives of Inveraray Castle a charter dated 1567 confirms that a pardon was granted to the Campbells of Inverawe for what became known as the "drowning of Clan Arthur". It is believed that the MacArthurs trying to defend themselves were driven into the loch. Centuries later in the 1970s an ancient sword was unearthed on the shore of the loch. For two centuries from the mid-15th century the Clan Gordon and Clan Campbell controlled the north-east and west of Scotland respectively, as the

magnate The magnate term, from the late Latin ''magnas'', a great man, itself from Latin ''magnus'', "great", means a man from the higher nobility, a man who belongs to the high office-holders, or a man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or ot ...

s who straddled the divide between the Scottish Highlands and

Scottish Lowlands The Lowlands ( sco, Lallans or ; gd, a' Ghalldachd, , place of the foreigners, ) is a cultural and historical region of Scotland. Culturally, the Lowlands and the Highlands diverged from the Late Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowl ...

. In 1594, Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll was granted a Royal Commission against George Gordon, 6th Earl of Huntly but was defeated at the Battle of Glenlivet.

17th century and Civil War

The support that the Campbells gave to the central Government brought them rewards: In 1607 Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll was granted the former MacDonald lands of Kintyre and in 1615 Campbell of Cawdor was allowed to purchase the Isle of Islay which had previously belonged to the Macleans of Duart. Kilchurn castle crop

At the

Battle of Inverlochy (1645) The Battle of Inverlochy occurred on 2 February 1645 during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms when a Royalist force of Highlanders and Confederate Irish troops under the overall command of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, routed and ...

, the Scottish

Covenanter Covenanters ( gd, Cùmhnantaich) were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland, and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. The name is derived from ''Covenan ...

forces led by

Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll Archibald Campbell, Marquess of Argyll, 8th Earl of Argyll, Chief of Clan Campbell (March 160727 May 1661) was a Scottish nobleman, politician, and peer. The ''de facto'' head of Scotland's government during most of the conflict of the 1640s and ...

were defeated by the Royalist forces of

James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (1612 – 21 May 1650) was a Scottish nobleman, poet and soldier, Lord Lieutenant, lord lieutenant and later viceroy and captain general of Scotland. Montrose initially joined the Covenanters in the Wa ...

whose army was mainly made up of Scots of the Clan MacDonald, Clan Maclean and others from Ireland. After the Battle of Inverlochy, Montrose and the Macleans burnt Castle Campbell, but the castle remained in Campbell hands. In the wake of the Battle of Inverlochy the Clan Lamont took the opportunity to raid the Campbell lands. The vengeful Campbells also ravaged the lands of the Clan Maclean who had fought against them at Inverlochy and in due course the Maclean's Duart Castle surrendered. In 1648 at the

Battle of Stirling (1648) The second Battle of Stirling was fought on 12 September 1648 during the Scottish Civil War of the 17th century. The battle was fought between the Engagers who were a faction of the Scottish Covenanters under the command of George Munro, 1st o ...

the Kirk Party Covenanter forces of Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll were defeated by the

Engager The Engagers were a faction of the Scottish Covenanters, who made "The Engagement" with King Charles I in December 1647 while he was imprisoned in Carisbrooke Castle by the English Parliamentarians after his defeat in the First Civil War. Bac ...

Covenanter forces of Sir

George Munro, 1st of Newmore Sir George Munro, 1st of Newmore (1602–1693) was a 17th-century Scottish soldier and member of parliament from the Clan Munro, Ross-shire, Scotland. He was seated at Newmore Castle. Between 1629 and 1634 Munro held command in the Swedish ar ...

who supported the

Earl of Lanark Lanark ( ; gd, Lannraig ; sco, Lanrik) is a town in South Lanarkshire, Scotland, located 20 kilometres to the south-east of Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Hamilton. The town lies on the River Clyde, at its confluence with Mouse Water. In 2016, t ...

. Among Argyll's dead was William Campbell of Glenfalloch killed in action. In 1672 a feud took place between the Clan Campbell and Clan Sinclair. Debt had forced George Sinclair, 6th Earl of Caithness to resign his titles and estates in favour of Sir John Campbell. Campbell took possession of the estates on Sinclair's death in May 1676, and was created earl of Caithness in June the following year. Sinclair's heir, George Sinclair of Keiss disputed the claim and seized the land in 1678. This was followed by the

Battle of Altimarlech The Battle of Altimarlach was a Scottish clan battle that took place on 13 July 1680, near Wick, Caithness, Scotland. It was fought in a dispute between Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy and George Sinclair of Keiss over who had the right to th ...

, 13 July 1680, between the Clan Campbell and the Clan Sinclair in which the Campbells were victorious. Legend has it that so many Sinclairs were killed that the Campbells were able to cross the river without getting their feet wet. Having failed to regain his inheritance by force, Sinclair of Keiss then turned to the law. He took his place as Earl of Caithness on 15 July 1681, and his lands were restored on 23 September. Campbell was made

Earl of Breadalbane Earl of Breadalbane and Holland is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1681 for Sir John Campbell, 5th Baronet, of Glenorchy, who had previously been deprived of the title Earl of Caithness. Creation Sir John, as a princi ...

by way of compensation. In 1678 Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll led the Campbell of Argyll militia on an expedition to the

Isle of Mull The Isle of Mull ( gd, An t-Eilean Muileach ) or just Mull (; gd, Muile, links=no ) is the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides (after Skye) and lies off the west coast of Scotland in the Council areas of Scotland, council area of Arg ...

and took Duart Castle from the Clan Maclean. However, Argyll was beheaded on 30 June 1685 for his participation in Argyll's Rising in support of the

Monmouth Rebellion The Monmouth Rebellion, also known as the Pitchfork Rebellion, the Revolt of the West or the West Country rebellion, was an attempt to depose James II, who in February 1685 succeeded his brother Charles II as king of England, Scotland and Ir ...

to depose Catholic James VII and II and place the Protestant James, Duke of Monmouth on the throne. Later in 1692 Archibald Campbell, 1st Duke of Argyll again gained possession of the Maclean's Duart Castle. In 1692, 38 unarmed people of the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed in the Massacre of Glencoe when a Government initiative to suppress Jacobitism was entangled in the long running feud between Clan MacDonald and Clan Campbell. The slaughter of the MacDonalds at the hands of the soldiers, led by Captain Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, after enjoying their hospitality for over a week was a major affront of Scots Law and Highland tradition. The majority of soldiers were not Campbells, but a roll call from a few months before included six Campbells in addition to Cpt. Robt. Campbell: Corporal Achibald Campbell, Private Archibald Campbell (elder), Private Donald Campbell (younger), Private Archibald Campbell (younger), Private James Campbell, Private Donald Campbell (elder), and Private Duncan Campbell. See also: Earl of Argyll's Regiment of Foot.

18th century and Jacobite Uprisings

Jacobite rising of 1715

During the Jacobite risings of the 18th century the Clan Campbell supported the British-Hanoverian Government. On 23 October 1715, chief John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll learned that a detachment of rebels was passing by Castle Campbell, towards

Dunfermline Dunfermline (; sco, Dunfaurlin, gd, Dùn Phàrlain) is a city, parish and former Royal Burgh, in Fife, Scotland, on high ground from the northern shore of the Firth of Forth. The city currently has an estimated population of 58,508. Accord ...

. He sent out a body of cavalry which attacked the rebel party and defeated it in what is now known as the

Skirmish of Dunfermline The Skirmish of Dunfermline was a conflict that took place on 24 October 1715 in Dunfermline, Scotland and was part of the Jacobite rising of 1715. It was fought between the forces of John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll who supported the British- ...

and took a number of prisoners, taking only light casualties.Chambers, Robert. (1856).
Biographical Dictionary of Eminent Scotsmen - Significant Scots John Campbell
'. (New edition along with the supplemental volume says by the Rev. Thos. Thomson). electricscotland.com. Retrieved 25, February 2012. A month later the British Government forces, including men from Clan Campbell, fought and defeated the Jacobites at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715. However, there were in fact a small number of Campbells who took the side of the Jacobites led by the son of Campbell of Glenlyon whose father had commanded the Government troops at the Massacre of Glencoe against the MacDonalds 22 years earlier. These two families then settled their differences and swore to be brothers in arms, fighting side by side in the Sheriffmuir. However, the British Government forces led by chief John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll defeated the Jacobites.

The Black Watch

General Wade's report on the Highlands in 1724 estimated the strength of the clan who supported the Government under the Duke of Argyll as 4,000 men, whilst those under Campbell of Breadalbane who had supported the Jacobites in 1715, as 1000 men. In 1725, six

Independent Highland Companies The Independent Highland Companies were irregular militia raised from the Scottish clans of the Scottish Highlands by order of the Government between 1603 and 1760 in order to help keep the peace and enforce the law in the Highlands and were reco ...

were formed to support the Government: three from Clan Campbell, one from Clan Fraser of Lovat, one from Clan Munro and one from

Clan Grant Clan Grant is a Highland Scottish clan. History Origins One theory is that the ancestors of the chiefs of Clan Grant came to Scotland with the Normans to England where the name is found soon after the conquest of that country, although some h ...

. These companies were known by the name ''Reicudan Dhu'', or ''Black Watch''. The Regiment of the Line was formed officially in 1739 as the

43rd Regiment of Foot The 43rd (Monmouthshire) Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army, raised in 1741. Under the Childers Reforms it amalgamated with the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot (Light Infantry) to form the 1st and 2nd battalions of t ...

and first mustered in 1740, at Aberfeldy.

Jacobite rising of 1745

Just before 1745, the strength of the Clan Campbell had been put at a total of 5,000 men. During the Jacobite rising of 1745, the Clan Campbell continued their support for the British Government. They fought against the rebel Jacobites at the Battle of Falkirk (1746) where Government forces were defeated. However, shortly afterwards the Campbells held out during the Siege of Fort William where the Jacobites were defeated. The Campbells were also involved in the Skirmish of Keith around the same time. At the

Battle of Culloden The Battle of Culloden (; gd, Blàr Chùil Lodair) was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745. On 16 April 1746, the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force under Prince Wi ...

in 1746 where the Jacobites were finally defeated, involved in the fighting on the Government side were four companies from the Campbell of Argyll Militia, three companies from Loudon's Highlanders who were under the command of Lieutenant Colonel John Campbell and one company from the 43rd Highlanders who were under the command of Captain Dugald Campbell of Auchrossan.

Castles

Castles that have belonged to the Clan Campbell have included amongst many others: * Inveraray Castle in Argyll is the current seat of the Chief of Clan Campbell. The present symmetrical mansion with towers and turrets was built in 1743 and replaced an earlier 15th century castle. It contains a "clan room" with information for members of Clan Campbell. * Castle Campbell, which was originally known as ''Castle Gloom'', passed by marriage from the Clan Stewart to Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll who renamed it Castle Campbell. During the Civil War it was burned by General Monk for Oliver Cromwell and the Clan Ogilvy are also said to have torched it in revenge for the burning of Airlie Castle. *

Innis Chonnell Innischonnell (Scottish Gaelic: Innis Chonaill) is an island in Loch Awe, Scotland. It is part of Kilchrenan and Dalavich parish, in Argyll. The island is fourteen miles east of Kilmartin, Argyll. Castle The castle that stands on the wooded isla ...

, possibly the earliest seat of Clan Campbell. * Kilchurn Castle was seat of the Campbells of Glenorchy. The lands were originally held by the Clan MacGregor but they went to the Campbells of Glenorchy who built or re-built the castle. The castle was strengthened and improved after being damaged by the MacGregors at the end of the sixteenth century. Duncan Campbell of Glenorchy who was known as ''Black Duncan of the Seven Castles'' was responsible for building castles at Kilchurn, Achallader, Loch Dochart, Finlarig, Balloch (Taymouth) and Edinample. In 1654 the Campbells withstood a two-day siege in Kilchurn Castle by General Middleton who retreated from Cromwell's forces. * Achallader Castle, was seat of Sir Duncan Campbell of Glen Orchy which he acquired in 1590. * Finlarig Castle, was another seat of the Campbell of Breadalbane branch of the clan. *

Edinample Castle Edinample Castle is a late 16th-century tower house on the southern shores of Loch Earn near Balquhidder in the Stirling council area of Scotland. It was designated as a Category A listed building in 1971. History The estate was granted to Coli ...

, was another seat of the Campbell of Glenorchy branch of the clan. * Taymouth Castle, originally built by Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy in around 1580 and known as Balloch Castle, the current building was built between 1801 and 1842 and incorporates the cellars of the original stronghold. * Saddell Castle was owned by the Campbells from the late 17th century onwards. * Torosay Castle, built by John Campbell of Possil in 1858. * Castle Sween was granted to Colin Campbell in 1481 when he became the first Earl of Argyll, but it was captured by the MacDonalds in 1647. * Carnasserie Castle, has belonged to the Clan Campbell since the 16th century. *

Kilmartin Castle Kilmartin Castle is a 16th-century Z-plan tower house castle at Kilmartin, Scotland. Built by the Rector of Kilmartin and later owned by Clan Campbell. It was restored and refurbished as a bed and breakfast in the 1990s. References Extern ...

, passed to the Campbells in 1674. *

Ardkinglas Castle Ardkinglas House is a Category A listed country house on the Ardkinglas Estate in Argyll, Scotland. The estate lies on the eastern shore of Loch Fyne, and the house is located close to the village of Cairndow. Dating back to the 14th century ...

. *

Auchenbreck Castle Auchenbreck Castle; (or Auchinbreck) is located on the Cowal peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Its remains are situated in Kilmodan parish, near the mouth of Glendaruel, north of Tighnabruaich on the Cowal peninsula. Little remains of th ...

, held by the

Campbell of Auchinbreck The Campbell of Auchinbreck family was founded by Duncan Campbell in Glassary, Argyll, Scotland. He was the son of Lord Duncan Campbell, first Lord Campbell of the Clan Campbell, by his second wife Margaret, daughter of Sir John Stewart of Black ...

branch of the clan but demolished by 1870. *

, originally seat of the chiefs of Clan Calder, it later passed to the Clan Campbell of Cawdor. * Loudoun Castle in

Ayrshire Ayrshire ( gd, Siorrachd Inbhir Àir, ) is a historic county and registration county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine and it borders the counties of Re ...

, is a mansion dating from the early nineteenth century but includes work from a fifteenth century castle which was originally held by the Clan Crawford, but passed by marriage to the Campbells in the fourteenth century. This branch of the Clan Campbell sprung from Donald Campbell, second son of Colin Campbell of Lochaw. John Campbell, from another branch of the clan was made

Earl of Loudon Earl of Loudoun (pronounced "loud-on" ), named after Loudoun in Ayrshire, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1633 for John Campbell, 2nd Lord Campbell of Loudoun, along with the subsidiary title Lord Tarrinzean and Mauchlin ...

in 1641. In 1650 the castle was surrendered to General Monk for Cromwell after a siege in which the castle was damaged. The earl took part in Glencairn's rising in support of

Charles II of England Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685. Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...

in 1653. John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun fought for the British-Hanoverians during the Jacobite risings. *

Lesmoir Castle Lesmoir Castle was a 16th-century castle, about west of Rhynie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, south-west of Tap o' Noth, at Mains of Lesmoir.Coventry, Martin (1997) ''The Castles of Scotland''. Goblinshead. p.238 History Jock o’Scurdargue used t ...

Coventry, Martin (1997) ''The Castles of Scotland''. Goblinshead. p.238 * Castle and Lands of Auchruglen - East Ayrshire.

Tartans

Although mills produce many fabrics based on the Campbell tartan, the Clan Chief recognizes only four: *Campbell or Old Campbell:Which are the authentic Campbell tartans?
Retrieved 11 September 2007 In darker tones, it is more commonly known as the

Black Watch tartan The Black Watch, 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland (3 SCOTS) is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland. The regiment was created as part of the Childers Reforms in 1881, when the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regim ...

or the Government Sett. The Black Watch, first raised in 1695 to police the "black trade" of cattle smuggling in the Highlands, taking role later as a militia in 1725 by General Wade (after the act of Union in 1707), became what was the first Highland Regiment in the British Army. All Campbell tartans are based upon the Old Campbell tartan, as are many other clan tartans. The Black Watch variant was used, and is in current use, by several military units throughout the Commonwealth. *Campbell of Breadalbane: the tartan of the Campbells of the Breadalbane and Glenorchy branches. *Campbell of Cawdor: the tartan of the Campbells of the Cawdor branch. *Campbell of Loudoun: the tartan of the Campbells of the Loudoun branch. George Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll added a white line to his tartan to distinguish himself as the clan chief. He was the only member of the family to do so, but the tartan has persisted as "Campbell of Argyll" which, as with any other tartan not listed above, is not recognized as official by the clan.

Chief

* Torquhil Ian Campbell is the 13th Duke of Argyll, Marquess of Kintyre and Lorne, Earl of Argyll, Campbell and Cowal, Viscount Lochawe and Glenyla, Lord Campbell, Lorne, Kintyre, Inveraray, Mull, Morven and Tyrie in the

peerage of Scotland The Peerage of Scotland ( gd, Moraireachd na h-Alba, sco, Peerage o Scotland) is one of the five divisions of peerages in the United Kingdom and for those peers created by the King of Scots before 1707. Following that year's Treaty of Union, ...

, Baron Sundridge of Coombank and

Baron Hamilton of Hameldon Baron Hamilton of Hameldon, of Hambledon in the County of Leicester, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain, held by the Duke of Hamilton from 1790 to 1799 and by the Duke of Argyll since 1799. It was created in 1776 for Elizabeth Gunni ...

in the

peerage of Great Britain The Peerage of Great Britain comprises all extant peerages created in the Kingdom of Great Britain between the Acts of Union 1707 and the Acts of Union 1800. It replaced the Peerage of England and the Peerage of Scotland, but was itself r ...

, 6th Duke of Argyll in the

peerage of the United Kingdom The Peerage of the United Kingdom is one of the five Peerages in the United Kingdom. It comprises most peerages created in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland after the Acts of Union 1800, Acts of Union in 1801, when it replaced the ...

, Baronet of Nova Scotia, Hereditary Master of the Royal Household in Scotland, Hereditary Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland, Hereditary Keeper of the royal castles of Dunoon,

Carrick Castle Carrick Castle is a 14th-century tower house on the west shore of Loch Goil on the Cowal peninsula in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is located between Cuilmuich and Carrick, south of Lochgoilhead. The castle stands on a rocky peninsula, and w ...

, Dunstaffnage Castle and Tarbet,

Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

of the Western coasts and isles, and

Chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boa ...

of the Honorable Clan Campbell. The chief's Gaelic title is ''MacCailein Mòr'' ('Son of Colin the Great'). Campbell is also the hereditary High Sheriff of

Argyllshire Argyll (; archaically Argyle, in modern Gaelic, ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a historic county and registration county of western Scotland. Argyll is of ancient origin, and corresponds to most of the part of the ancient kingdom of ...

, a Member of the Queen's Body Guard for Scotland, and a Member of the Royal Company of Archers.

Branches

*Campbell of Aberuchill *Campbell of Ardkinglas * Campbell of Argyll *

*Campbell of Barbreck (Old) *Campbell of Barcaldine * Campbell of Breadalbane and Holland * Campbell of Carrick Buoy * Campbell of Cawdor *

Campbell of Craignish The Campbells of Craignish (''Mac Dúbhghaill Creaginnis'' in the Scottish Gaelic or ''Gàidhlig''), form one of the oldest branches of the ancient and powerful Clan Campbell in Scotland.. They claim descent from Dugald Campbell, the second son ...

* Campbell of Dunstaffnage *Campbell of Duntroon * Campbell of Gartsford *Campbell of Glen Lyon * Campbell of Glenorchy *Campbell of Inverawe *Campbell of Inverneill *Campbell of Kenmore and Melfort *Campbell of Lochnell * Campbell of Loudoun * Campbell of Lundie (Old) *Campbell of Marchmont *Campbell of Ormidale (Old) *Campbell of Otter (Old) * Campbell of Possil *Campbell of Skipness * Campbell of Strachur *Campbell of Succoth

References

Works cited * Boardman, Steve, ''The Campbells 1250–1513.'' Edinburgh: John Donald, 2006. .
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland

External links

Clan Campbell Society (North America)

Friends of The Argyll Papers

Clan Campbell at MacBraveheart.co.uk

Campbell Tartans
{{Scottish clans Campbell Boars in heraldry