John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll

The 4th Duke of Argyll.

General John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll KT PC (c. 1693 – 9 November 1770) was a Scottish Whig politician in the 17th and 18th centuries.

He was born to John Campbell, the third son of Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, and Elizabeth Elphinstone, daughter of John Elphinstone, 8th Lord Elphinstone. In 1720 he married Mary Drummond Ker, daughter of John Drummond Ker, 2nd Lord Bellenden of Broughton.

Campbell joined the army at a young age, becoming a lieutenant colonel at the age of nineteen. However, he soon joined the world of politics, becoming Member of Parliament (MP) for Buteshire (1713–1715), Elgin Burghs (1715–1722 and 1725–1727), and finally Dunbartonshire (1727–1761). During most of his tenure as MP for Dunbartonshire, he was Groom of the Bedchamber.

Additionally, he served in the military during his periods in Parliament—he became Colonel of the 39th Regiment of Foot (1737–1738) and the 21st Regiment of Foot (1738–1752), serving with honour in the Battle of Dettingen in 1741.

He rose quickly up the ranks, becoming a brigadier general in 1743, major general in 1744, and lieutenant general in 1747; he became colonel of the North British Dragoons in 1752, a position he held until his death.

Upon inheriting his peerages (when his cousin died in April 1761), he left the House of Commons and became Governor of Limerick and a Scottish representative peer. He became a Privy Councillor in 1762, a general in 1765, and a Knight of the Order of the Thistle in that same year.

His son Lord William Campbell was the last British Governor of South Carolina.

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Sir James Dunbar	Member of Parliament for Buteshire and Caithness 1713–1715	Succeeded by Sir Robert Gordon
Preceded by James Murray	Member of Parliament for Elgin Burghs 1715–1722	Succeeded by William Fraser
Preceded by William Fraser	Member of Parliament for Elgin Burghs 1725–1727	Succeeded by William Steuart
Preceded by John Campbell	Member of Parliament for Dunbartonshire 1727–1761	Succeeded by Sir Archibald Edmonstone
Military offices
Preceded by Thomas Wentworth	Colonel of John Campbell's Regiment of Foot 1737–1738	Succeeded by Richard Onslow
Preceded by Sir James Wood	Colonel of the Royal North British Fuzileers 1738–1752	Succeeded by The Earl Panmure
Preceded by The Earl of Rothes	Colonel of the 2nd (Royal North British) Regiment of Dragoons 1752–1770
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by Archibald Campbell	Duke of Argyll 1761–1770	Succeeded by John Campbell