James Campbell (British Army officer, died 1745)
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Sir James Campbell | |
|---|---|
,_by_follower_of_Jean-Baptiste_van_Loo.jpg) Portrait by the circle of Jean-Baptiste van Loo, 1708 | |
| Governor of Edinburgh Castle | |
| In office 1738–1745 | |
| Monarch | George II |
| Preceded by | Lord Ross |
| Succeeded by | Lord Mark Kerr |
| Member of Parliament for Ayrshire | |
| In office 1727–1741 | |
| Preceded by | John Montgomerie |
| Succeeded by | Patrick Craufurd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1680 |
| Died | 11 May 1745 (aged 64–65) |
| Spouse(s) | Lady Jean Boyle Mure (m. 1720) |
| Children | 2, including James |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Scotland (1693–1707) Great Britain (1707–1745) |
| Branch/service | Scots Army (1693–1707) British Army (1707–1745) |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Battles/wars | |
Lieutenant-General Sir James Campbell[a] KB (c. 1680 – 11 May 1745) was a British army officer and Whig politician who represented the constituency of Ayrshire in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1727 to 1741. A distinguished cavalry officer, Campbell began his military career at a young age and fought in several conflicts of the Second Hundred Years' War, along with serving as the governor of Edinburgh Castle from 1738 until his death in 1745.
Born in Lawers, Perthshire into an aristocratic Scottish family, Campbell joined the Scots Army when he was just thirteen years old. During the War of the Spanish Succession, Campbell served in Europe in the Royal North British Dragoons, fighting in the battles of Blenheim, Oudenarde and Malplaquet and rising to the rank of lieutenant-colonel. Following the war's end, Campbell became involved in politics, supporting the succession of the House of Hanover.
In 1720, Campbell married Lady Jean Boyle Mure, with whom he had two children. Seven years later, Campbell was appointed Groom of the Chamber by George II of Great Britain in recognition of his military accomplishments. Campbell took his seat in Parliament after running unopposed in the 1727 British general election. A steadfast Whig when in Parliament, Campbell continued to climb the British Army's ranks, being promoted to lieutenant-general in 1740.
In 1742, the War of the Austrian Succession broke out and Campbell accompanied a British force to Continental Europe, where he participated in the Battle of Dettingen and was knighted. Campbell continued to see action in Europe, commanding Pragmatic Army troops which fought a French army near Antoing in 1745. During the battle, Campbell led several cavalry charges against French troops, and died of his wounds after a French cannonball tore off his leg.
James Campbell was born c. 1680 in Lawers, Perthshire.[2] His father, James Campbell, 2nd Earl of Loudoun, was an aristocrat and son of noted Covenanter John Campbell.[3] Campbell's mother was Lady Margaret Montgomerie, the daughter of landowner Hugh Montgomerie, 7th Earl of Eglinton.[2] His brother, Hugh Campbell, would go on to serve as the last Secretary of State of the Kingdom of Scotland prior to the Acts of Union.[4]
In September 1693, when he was approximately thirteen years old, Campbell enlisted in the Scottish Regiment of Foot Guards at the rank of lieutenant. After six years of military service, Campbell was promoted to the rank of captain in July 1699. In 1701, the War of the Spanish Succession broke out; the next year, Campbell was transferred to the Earl of Mar's Regiment of Foot, renewing his own officer's commission in the process.[2]
Campbell was then sent along with the rest of his regiment to Europe, where they fought in the Battle of Blenheim on 13 August 1704, a decisive victory for the Grand Alliance (of which the Kingdom of Scotland was a part). In August 1706, Campbell was transferred again, this time to the Royal North British Dragoons at the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He then fought at the battles of Oudenarde and Malplaquet, both major Allied victories.[2]
Political career
In 1713, the Treaty of Utrecht was signed between the Grand Alliance and the Kingdom of France, bringing British involvement in the conflict to an end (the kingdoms of Scotland and England having been united into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707).[5] After the treaty was signed, Campbell started becoming involved in British political affairs, joining forces with his brother Hugh in supporting the Hanoverian Succession to Britain's Queen Anne.[2]
In 1715, Campbell was transferred to Henry Cornewall's Regiment of Foot at the rank of colonel; two years later, he was transferred back to the Royal North British Dragoons at the same rank. When George II of Great Britain succeeded his father to the throne of Great Britain in 1727, he appointed Campbell to the position of Groom of the Chamber, a high-ranking position in Britain's royal household, in recognition of his "military gallantry".[2]
In the same year, Campbell became a Member of Parliament, running unopposed for the parliamentary constituency of Ayrshire at the 1727 British general election "through the influence of his brother." Campbell continued to sit in the House of Commons of Great Britain until the 1741 British general election, when he was defeated by Patrick Craufurd, an anti-Walpole[b] politician supported by John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll.[2][7]
Campbell continued to serve in the British Army during this period, though as historian Henry Morse Stephens noted, the tenure of Walpole as British Prime Minister "prevented Campbell from seeing service for twenty-eight years" as Walpole was committed to a policy of non-interventionism. In 1735, Campbell was promoted to the rank of Brigadier-General, and four years later in 1739 he was promoted again to the rank of Major-General.[2]
In 1738, Campbell was appointed to the position of Edinburgh Castle governor, succeeding Lord Ross.[2] His duties included supervising the castle's large garrison.[8] Campbell continued to hold this position until his death, being succeeded by Lord Mark Kerr.[9] During his tenure, a crow-stepped and classical residence for the governor, known as the Governor's House, was constructed inside the castle by army engineer Dugal Campbell in 1742.[10]
