CAMPBELL, James (1737-1805), of Tuerechan, Argyll.

Published in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1754-1790, ed. L. Namier, J. Brooke., 1964
Available from Boydell and Brewer

Constituency

Dates

1780 - 22 July 1789

Family and Education

b. 16 Jan. 1737, 1st s. of James Campbell of Tuerechan, writer in Inverary, chamberlain of Argyll, by Elizabeth, da. of James Fisher of Durran, provost of Inverary; bro. of Archibald Campbell. educ. Glasgow Univ. 1750. m. 16 July 1761, Jean, da. of John Campbell of Askomil, Argyll, 5s. 7da. suc. fa. 1760; and bro. in the Inverneil estate and as heritable usher of the white rod 1791.  Kntd. 9 May 1788.

Offices Held

Provost, Inverkeithing 1777-89.

Ensign 30 Ft. 1755; lt. 60 Ft. 1756; capt. independent co. of ft. 1759; half pay 1763.

Biography

After his service in America,1Campbell seems to have lived in comparative obscurity until 1776 when, during his brother Archibald’s absence abroad, he took charge of his electoral interests in Stirling Burghs, became provost of Inverkeithing in 1777,2 and succeeded him as Member in 1780. In Parliament he consistently voted with every Administration: North, Shelburne, the Coalition, and the younger Pitt; and Robinson in January 1784 recognized that he would always support the party in power.3

He was returned in 1784 after a contest. He voted for parliamentary reform on 18 Apr. 1785, but did not vote on the Regency. There is no record of his having spoken in the House. When his brother Archibald, to whom he was under great obligation, returned from India in June 1789, James promptly vacated his seat in his favour.

He died 16 Mar. 1805.

Ref Volumes: 1754-1790

Author: Edith Lady Haden-Guest

Notes

  • 1. W. M. MacBean, Biog. Reg. of St. Andrews Soc. of New York (1922), i. no. 52.
  • 2. W. Stephen, Hist. Inverkeithing, 227.
  • 3. Laprade, 99.