John Douglas Edward Henry Campbell, 7th Duke of Argyll, (21 December 1777 – 25 April 1847), known as Lord John Campbell until 1839, was a Scottish peer and Whig politician.

Background

Campbell was born in London, the third son of John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll. 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 at St James's in Westminster. He was educated privately and later attended

Christ Church, Oxford Christ Church ( la, Ædes Christi, the temple or house, '' ædēs'', of Christ, and thus sometimes known as "The House") is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. Founded in 1546 by King Henry VIII, the college is uniqu ...

.Thorne (1986), p. 375 In 1803, he travelled to Paris, where he met Talleyrand as well as

Napoleon Napoleon Bonaparte ; it, Napoleone Bonaparte, ; co, Napulione Buonaparte. (born Napoleone Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French military commander and political leader who ...

; Campbell returned to England the following year. He succeeded his older brother George Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll in his titles in 1839.

Career

Campbell was commissioned into the British Army in 1797 as an ensign of the

3rd Foot Guards The Scots Guards (SG) is one of the five Foot Guards regiments of the British Army. Its origins are as the personal bodyguard of King Charles I of England and Scotland. Its lineage can be traced back to 1642, although it was only placed on the ...

, commanded by his father. He purchased a lieutenancy in 1799 and shortly afterwards became a captain. During the French Revolutionary Wars, Campbell served in the Netherlands under orders of Sir Ralph Abercromby.Douglas (1904), p. 388 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 The Argyll & Bute Militia was a part-time military unit in the west of Scotland from 1798 to 1909, serving in Home Defence during the French Revolutionary War, Napoleonic Wars and Second Boer War. Originally an infantry regiment, it was converted ...

. He entered the

British House of Commons The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the upper house, the House of Lords, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. The House of Commons is an elected body consisting of 650 mem ...

in 1799, having been elected for

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 ...

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.Cokayne (1910), p. 211

The British American Colonization Association

In 1841, the 7th Duke of Argyll, along with other British and Irish noblemen, established the British American Colonization Association, also known as the British American Association. This entity was involved in monetising the migration of foreign populations to British North America, which was not without controversy: Upon bankruptcy of the association, it was established that the Duke of Argyll was aware of the economic bubble created by the association, which resulted in lost wages for workers, and non-existent provisions for the migrants who participated in his colonization scheme.

Marriages and children

Argyll married firstly Elizabeth, eldest daughter of William Campbell against the wishes of his father in 1802.Burke (2001), p. 141 They were divorced six years later having had no children. Argyll married Joan, only daughter of John Glassel in 1820. They had three children:The Peerage, entry for 7th Duke of Argyll
/ref> * John Henry Campbell, Earl of Campbell (11 January 1821 – 27 May 1837) * George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll (30 April 1823 – 24 April 1900) he married Lady Elizabeth Leveson-Gower (30 May 1824 – 25 May 1878) on 31 July 1844. They have twelve children. He remarried Amelia Claughton (12 April 1843 – 4 January 1894) on 13 August 1881. He remarried, again, Ina McNeill on 30 July 1895 * Lady Emma Augusta Campbell (1825 – 30 May 1893) she married Rt. Hon. Sir John McNeill on 26 August 1870. After his second wife's death in 1828, Argyll married thirdly Anne, eldest daughter of John Cuninghame in 1831. She was the widow of George Cunningham Monteath. Argyll died, aged 69, in Inveraray Castle in ArgyllshireRivington (1848), p. 225 and was buried at Kilmun Parish Church. 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.Douglas (1904), p. 389 He was survived by his third wife until 1874.

Notes

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Argyll, John Campbell, 7th Duke of 1777 births 1847 deaths Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford British MPs 1796–1800 7 Fellows of the Royal Society Campbell, John Campbell, John, Lord Campbell, John, Lord Campbell, John, Lord Campbell, John, Lord Campbell, John, Lord Campbell, John, Lord Campbell, John, Lord Campbell, John, Lord Campbell, John, Lord Campbell, John, Lord UK MPs who inherited peerages 19th-century Scottish landowners J Scots Guards officers British Militia officers