Duncan Campbell (British Army officer, died 1837)

General Duncan Campbell (c. 1763 – 9 April 1837)^[1] was a Scottish soldier and Whig politician from Argyll. An officer in the Duke of Argyll's regiment of the British Army, he sat in the House of Commons for nine years in the interest of George Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll.

Early life and family

Campbell was the oldest son of Colonel Dugald Campbell of Ballimore. His mother Christian was the daughter of George Drummond, several times Lord Provost of Edinburgh. She was a sister of Alexander Drummond, consul at Aleppo, and the widow of David Campbell of Dunloskin.^[2]

He was educated at Glasgow University.^[2]

Army

Campbell was a captain in the 1st Foot (Royal Scots) in 1780; colonel commandant of the 98th Foot in 1794, and full colonel 1796; colonel of the 91st (Argyllshire Highlanders) Regiment of Foot in 1799; major-general in 1802, lieutenant general in 1808, and full general in 1819.^[2]

Parliament

Campbell was elected unopposed as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayr Burghs at a by-election in 1809.^[2] At this time, elections in the Ayr Burghs were determined by an alliance between Duke of Argyll and his ally the Earl of Bute, who between them controlled three of the five Burghs; the other two burghs, being outnumbered, acquiesced in the choices of Argyll and Bute.^[3]

The 1809 vacancy had been caused by the death aged 39 of the previous MP John Campbell of Shawfield and Islay, and Whig leaders had taken the opportunity to press Argyll to support a candidate of their choice. The Earl of Lauderdale proposed Sir William Cunynghame, 4th Baronet, but Argyll preferred a clansman, even though Duncan Campbell was not a close relative.^[3]

Campbell voted reliably as a Whig, but reportedly did not enjoy the Commons.^[2] Nonetheless, when Argyll was persuaded at the 1818 general election to support Bute's candidate Thomas Francis Kennedy, Campbell stood aside in the Ayr Burghs, but did not retire voluntarily. Instead he contested Berwick upon Tweed, where he was defeated by a margin of more than 2:1.^[4]

References

1. Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "A" (part 3)
2. Thorne, R. G. (1986). R. Thorne, ed. "CAMPBELL, Duncan (c.1763-1837), of Lochnell and Barbreck, Argyll". The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820. Boydell and Brewer. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
3. Henry, D. G.; Thorne, R. G. (1986). R. Thorne, ed. "Ayr Burghs 1790-1820". The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820. Boydell and Brewer. Retrieved 6 May 2015.
4. Thorne, R. G. (1986). R. Thorne, ed. "Berwick-upon-Tweed 1790-1820". The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820. Boydell and Brewer. Retrieved 6 May 2015.