Pryse Campbell of Cawdor

Pryse Campbell (1727 – 14 December 1768), was a Scottish politician. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Cardigan Boroughs, Inverness-shire and Nairnshire.

He was also the Lord Commissioner of the Admiralty and Lord Commissioner of the Treasury.

Early life and education Campbell was born in 1727 as the first son of John Campbell of Calder (or Cawdor). Campbell went on to attend Clare College, Cambridge in 1745.

Political career From his youth Campbell was intended for a parliamentary career, being mentioned as a possible candidate for Inverness-shire as early as December 1746; when he was 19. Unlike his father, Campbell was a strong supporter of Pitt the Elder, and it was thought Campbell might seem destined for a successful political career. Campbell later became an MP in 1754, when he was returned for Inverness-shire with the support of the Duke of Argyll. Argyll was supportive of the political aspirations of Simon Fraser of Lovat, a former Jacobite, but believed that 1754 was too soon for such a return for Fraser, and would cause offense in London.

He was succeeded by his son John, who was later created Baron Cawdor.