John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll

Field Marshal John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll (June 1723 – 24 May 1806), styled Marquess of Lorne from 1761 to 1770, was a British Army officer and politician. After serving as a junior officer in Flanders during the War of the Austrian Succession, he was given command of a regiment and was redeployed to Scotland where he opposed the Jacobites at Loch Fyne at an early stage of the Jacobite Rebellion and went on to fight against them at the Battle of Falkirk Muir and then at the Battle of Culloden. He later became adjutant-general in Ireland and spent some 20 years as a Member of Parliament before retiring to Inveraray Castle.

Military career

Born the son of John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll and Mary Campbell (née Bellenden), the daughter of John Bellenden, 2nd Lord Bellenden of Broughton, Campbell was educated at a private school in London and commissioned as second lieutenant in the 21st Royal Scots Fusiliers in 1739. He was promoted to captain in 1741 and major in 1743.

Campbell became lieutenant colonel commanding the 30th Regiment of Foot early in 1745 and was redeployed to Scotland where he opposed the Jacobites at Loch Fyne in November 1745 at an early stage of the Jacobite Rebellion. and to lieutenant general on 19 January 1761. He became Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Scotland in 1762 and was elected unopposed as Member of Parliament for Dover, an English seat, in January 1765. He went on to be colonel of the 3rd Regiment of Footguards in May 1782 and, having been appointed Lord Lieutenant of Argyllshire on 6 May 1794, was promoted to field marshal on 30 July 1796. In retirement Campbell lived at Inveraray Castle and became an expert on agricultural improvement with a seat on the Board of Agriculture; he was also first president of the Highland and Agricultural Society. He died on 24 May 1806 and was buried at Kilmun Parish Church.

Marriage and children

In 1759 Campbell married Elizabeth Gunning, widow of James Hamilton, 6th Duke of Hamilton and mother of James Hamilton, 7th Duke of Hamilton and Douglas Hamilton, 8th Duke of Hamilton. Lady Augusta Campbell (born 31 March 1760, died 22 June 1831) George John Campbell, Earl of Campbell (born 17 February 1763, died 9 July 1764) George William Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll (born 22 September 1768, died 22 October 1839) Lady Charlotte Susan Maria Campbell (born 28 January 1775, died 1 April 1861) John Douglas Edward Henry Campbell, 7th Duke of Argyll (born 21 December 1777, died 25 April 1847)