John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll

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.[1] He was promoted to captain in 1741 and major in 1743.[1] He became Member of Parliament for Glasgow Burghs in March 1744 but was immediately deployed to Flanders to serve in the War of the Austrian Succession.[2]

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.[2] He went on to see action under Lieutenant General Henry Hawley at the Battle of Falkirk Muir where the British cavalry was completely routed in January 1746.[2] He also served under the Duke of Cumberland at the Battle of Culloden where the Jacobites were finally defeated in April 1746.[2]

In 1749 Campbell transferred to the command of the 42nd Regiment of Foot who were serving in Ireland: he went on to become adjutant-general in Ireland in 1754.[1] Promoted to colonel on 10 November 1755, he became colonel of the 54th Regiment of Foot in December 1755 and colonel of the 14th Dragoons in April 1757.[2] He was promoted to major-general on 25 August 1759[3] and to lieutenant general on 19 January 1761.[2] He took the courtesy title of Marquess of Lorne, and stood down from the House of Commons on his disqualification from representing a Scottish seat, when his father became 4th Duke of Argyll on 15 April 1761.[4] 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.[1] He became colonel of the 1st Regiment of Foot later that year.[4]

Campbell stood down from the House of Commons again when, on the formation of the Chatham Ministry, he was created Baron Sundridge in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in November 1766.[4] He was appointed Commander-in-Chief, Scotland in 1767, succeeded his father as 5th Duke of Argyll in November 1770 and was promoted to full general on 24 March 1778.[5] He went on to be colonel of the 3rd Regiment of Footguards in May 1782[6] and, having been appointed Lord Lieutenant of Argyllshire on 6 May 1794,[7] was promoted to field marshal on 30 July 1796.[8]

In retirement Campbell lived at Inveraray Castle and became an expert on agricultural improvement with a seat on the Board of Agriculture.[9] He died on 24 May 1806 and was buried at Kilmun Parish Church.[10]

The Battle of Culloden at which Campbell commanded a regiment

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.[2] She was later created Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon in her own right. They had five children:[11]

Elizabeth Gunning Portrait by Gavin Hamilton commissioned by James Hamilton, 6th 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)

• Heathcote, Tony (1999). The British Field Marshals, 1736–1997: A Biographical Dictionary. Barnsley: Leo Cooper. ISBN 0-85052-696-5.