The Sheriff of Argyll was historically a royal officer charged with enforcing the king's rights in

Argyll 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 ...

; in Scotland, the concept of ''sheriff'' gradually evolved into a judicial position. Originally, the region of Argyll was served by the

sheriff of Perth The Sheriff of Perth was historically a royal official, appointed for life, who was responsible for enforcing justice in Perth, Scotland. Prior to 1748 most sheriffdoms were held on a hereditary basis. From that date, following the Jacobite upri ...

, however in 1326, king

Robert I Robert I may refer to: *Robert I, Duke of Neustria (697–748) *Robert I of France (866–923), King of France, 922–923, rebelled against Charles the Simple *Rollo, Duke of Normandy (c. 846 – c. 930; reigned 911–927) * Robert I Archbishop of ...

appointed his step-nephew-in-law, Dougal Campbell, to the newly created position of sheriff of Argyll; Dougall was the son of Neil Campbell, whose second wife was Robert's sister, Mary. The traditional stronghold of the Campbells was in the centre of the Argyll region, and Robert had wished to reward the Campbells for their service in his successful usurpation of king

John Balliol John Balliol ( – late 1314), known derisively as ''Toom Tabard'' (meaning "empty coat" – coat of arms), was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296. Little is known of his early life. After the death of Margaret, Maid of Norway, Scotland entered an ...

. Though named ''sheriff of Argyll'' the position was initially limited to Lorn, but expanded in later centuries. In 1633, the sheriff of Argyll newly acquired authority over Kintyre and

Knapdale Knapdale ( gd, Cnapadal, IPA: �kraʰpət̪əɫ̪ forms a rural district of Argyll and Bute in the Scottish Highlands, adjoining Kintyre to the south, and divided from the rest of Argyll to the north by the Crinan Canal. It includes two parishes, ...

, which had previously been under the

sheriff of Tarbert The Sheriff of Tarbert was the sheriff principal of Tarbertshire. The position continued in existence until 1633, when it was amalgamated into the position of the Sheriff of Argyll. Past sheriffs 16th century *William Hardy 1553 References {{ ...

. Prior to 1748 most sheriffdoms were held on a hereditary basis. From that date, following the Jacobite uprising of 1745, the hereditary sheriffs were replaced by salaried sheriff-deputes, qualified advocates who were members of the Scottish Bar. The post of sheriff of Argyll continued in existence until 1948, when it was amalgamated with the sheriffdom of Renfrew to form the position of

Sheriff of Renfrew and Argyll The Sheriff of Renfrew and Argyll was historically the royal official responsible for enforcing law and order and bringing criminals to justice in Renfrew and Argyll, Scotland. Prior to 1748 most sheriffdoms were held on a hereditary basis. Fro ...

Sheriffs of Argyll

* Dugal Campbell (12??– ) *

Alasdair MacDubhgaill Alexander of Argyll, also known as Alexander of Lorne, and Alexander MacDougall ( gd, Alasdair MacDubhgaill; died 1310), was a Scottish magnate from the late 13th and early 14th century. Alexander was the son of Ewen MacDougall, Lord of Argyll ...

, Lord of Lorne, 1293–???? * Dugal Campbell (1326) * Gillespie Campbell (1373) * Eóin MacDubhgaill (???) * Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll (1468) * George Campbell 1636-1655 *

Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll (26 February 1629 – 30 June 1685) was a Scottish peer and soldier. The hereditary chief of Clan Campbell, and a prominent figure in Scottish politics, he was a Royalist supporter during the latter stage ...

(died 1685) * James Stuart 1686– * Colin Campbell, 1691-1710 * Archibald Campbell of Danna, 1714-1748 based on above referenced Clan Campbell entries. * John Campbell of Danna, 1748-???? son of Archibald, as referenced in above Clan Campbell entries. ;Sheriffs-Depute * Charles Stewart, 1746-1757? Bonnie Prince Charlie's purse bearer at Battle of Culloden. * Archibald Campbell of Stonefield, –1776 * Robert Campbell of Asknish, 1776– >1808 * Donald MacLachlan, –1817 * Sir Humphrey Trafford Campbell, 1817–1818 * Robert Bruce, 1818–>1843 * George Campbell, Duke of Argyll, 1847–???? *

Edward Francis Maitland Edward Francis Maitland, Lord Barcaple (1803–1870) was a Scottish advocate and judge and Senator of the College of Justice. Life He was born at 36 George Square in Edinburgh on 16 April 1803, the son of Adam Maitland of Dundrennan. He was ed ...

, 1851–1855 * Thomas Cleghorn, 1855–1874 *

Alexander Forbes Irvine Alexander Forbes Irvine, 20th Laird of Drum FRSE JP DL LLD (1818–1892) was a Scottish landowner, advocate, philosopher and amateur astronomer. He was a prominent member of Clan Irvine and held the family seat of Drum Castle until his death. Life ...

, 1874–1891 * D. Mackechnie, 1892–1898 * James Ferguson, 1898–1905 * Alexander Logan M'Clure, 1905–1920 (

Sheriff of Aberdeen The Sheriff of Aberdeen was a royal official who was responsible for enforcing justice in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Prior to 1748 most sheriffdoms were held on a hereditary basis. From that date, following the Jacobite uprising of 1745, they were ...

, 1920–1932) * Andrew Henderson Briggs Constable, KC, 1920–1920 * John Lean Wark, 1920–1933 * John Robert Dickson, KC, 1933–1937 * Charles Mackintosh, KC, 1937–1942 ( Sheriff of Inverness, Elgin & Nairn, 1942) *

James Frederick Strachan James Frederick Strachan, Lord Strachan LLD (1894–1978) was a 20th-century Scottish law lord who served as a Senator of the College of Justice. Life He was born in 1894 the son of James Kelt Strachan of Errol (1860-1932) and his wife, Eli ...

, KC, 1942–1945 (

Sheriff of Perth and Angus Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

, 1945) * Thomas Murray-Taylor, KC, 1945–1946 (

, 1946–1948) *''For sheriffs after 1946 see

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sheriff Of Argyll

Argyll and Bute 14th-century establishments in Scotland 1948 disestablishments in Scotland

Sheriffs of Argyll

See also

References