Family and Education

b. 21 Aug. 1739, 2nd s. of James Campbell of Tuerechan, writer in Inveraray and chamberlain of Argyll, by Elizabeth, da. of James Fisher of Durran, provost of Inveraray. educ. Glasgow Univ. 1753; RMA, Woolwich. m. 8 July 1779, Amelia, da. of Allan Ramsay, portrait painter, s.p. KB 30 Sept. 1785.

Offices Held

Lt. 63 Ft. 1757, capt. 1760; sub.-engineer and lt. RE 1759; engineer extraordinary and capt.-lt. 1763; lt.-col. and chief engineer, Bengal 1768-72; lt.-col. 71 Ft. 1775, brevet col. 1779, maj.-gen. 1782; col. 74 Ft. 1787-d.

Lt.-gov. Jamaica 1781-2, gov. 1782-4; gov. Madras 1785-9; heritable usher of the white rod [S] 1790.

Biography

Campbell was a friend of Henry Dundas, who consulted him frequently on Indian affairs.1 He was reselected unopposed for Stirling Burghs in 1790 and again supported Pitt’s administration. His only known speech in the first session was on the corn bill, 11 Mar. Service in India had undermined his health and he died ‘of a cold’ 31 Mar. 1791, just after taking possession of a newly-purchased house in Grosvenor Square and after having been offered the command of the troops to be sent to Nootka Sound.2 He was buried at Westminster Abbey. At the by-election caused by his death, Dundas supported Campbell’s nephew out of respect ‘for his memory’. Campbell’s constituents liked and admired him, but they did not see ‘why a family so distant in Argyllshire should have a hereditary right’ to the burghs.3

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: D. G. Henry

Notes

• 1. HMC Fortescue, i. 481, 518; ii, 11.
• 2. Gent. Mag. (1791), i. 383; Public Advertiser, 5 Apr.; Morning Chron. 13 Apr. 1791.
• 3. SRO GD51/1/198/10/15, 21.