He was heir to his estate before 1599. In November 1601 the courtier Roger Aston wrote that Campbell of Auchinbreck was one of the greatest followers of the Earl of Argyll and his standard bearer, able to command 500 Highland followers.[1] He raided Bute in 1602, and in May the Earl of Argyll was made to take hands with the Steward of Bute as a show of friendship at the baptism of Duke Robert.[2]
He was knighted by James VI and I in 1617. He was created a baronet, of Nova Scotia in 1628. MacPhail wrote (p. 65): “...(Dugald) was by King’s Charter 1st created Knight Baronet of Nova Scotia... (He received a charter wherein there are many privileges) “...dated at Whitehall, London 12 January 1628. He seems to have been knighted at an earlier date".
Dugald Campbell died during a fire at Auchinbreck Castle in 1641.