John Campbell, 7th Duke of Argyll

John Douglas Edward Henry Campbell, 7th Duke of Argyll, (21 December 1777 – 25 April 1847 the third son of John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll. In 1803, he travelled to Paris, where he met Talleyrand as well as Napoleon; Campbell returned to England the following year.

Career Campbell was commissioned into the British Army in 1797 as an ensign of the 3rd Foot Guards, commanded by his father. He retired in 1801 forced by ill health and after two years was appointed lieutenant-colonel and commandant of the Argyll Volunteers. Campbell was nominated Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland in 1841, an office he held for the next five years.

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. They were divorced six years later having had no children.

Argyll married Joan, only daughter of John Glassel in 1820. They had three children:

John Henry 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 had 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. 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. He was survived by his third wife until 1874.