CAMPBELL, John, second Duke of Argyll, and also duke of Greenwich and baron of Chatham, son of the preceding, was born on the 10th of October 1680; and, on the very day when his grandfather suffered at Edinburgh, he fell out of a window three pair of stairs high without receiving any hurt. At the age of fifteen he had made considerable progress in classical learning. His father then perceiving his military disposition, encouraged
it, and introduced him to King William, who appointed Campbell him to the command of a regiment. In this situation he remained till the death of his father in 1709, when becoming Duke of Argyll, he was soon afterwards sworn of Queen Anne's privy council, made captain of the Scotch horse guards, and appointed one of the extraordinary lords of session. In 1704, her majesty having revived the Scottish order of the thistle, his grace was installed as one of the knights of that order, and was soon afterwards appointed high commissioner to the Scotch parliament; and having been of great service in promoting the union, he was on his return created a peer of England, by the titles of Baron of Chatham and Earl of Greenwich, and, in 1710, was made knight of the garter. His grace first distinguished himself in his military capacity at the battle of Oudenarde, where he commanded as brigadier-general, with all the bravery of youth, and the conduct of a veteran officer. He was present under the Duke of Marlborough at the siege of Ghent, and took possession of the town. He had also a considerable share in the victory obtained over the French at the battle of Malplaquet, by dislodging them from the wood of Sart, and gaining a post of great consequence. In this sharp engagement several musket-balls passed through the duke's clothes, hat, and peruke. Soon after the action he was sent to take the command in Spain; but on the reduction of Port Mahon he returned to England. His grace having now a seat in the House of Lords, he censured the measures of the ministry with such freedom, that all his places were disposed of to other noblemen; but at the accession of George I. he recovered his influence. On the breaking out of the rebellion in 1715 he was appointed commander-in-chief of the forces in North Britain, and was principally instrumental in effecting the total extinction of the rebellion in Scotland, without much bloodshed. He arrived in London early in March 1716, and was at first in high favour; but, to the surprise of people of all ranks, he was in a few months divested of his employments; and from this period to the year 1718 he signalized himself in a civil capacity, by his incorruptible patriotism and manly eloquence. In the beginning of the year 1719 he was again admitted into favour, appointed lord-steward of the household, and in April following created Duke of Greenwich. He continued in the administration during the remaining part of that reign, and, after the accession of George II., till April 1740, when he delivered a speech with such warmth, that the ministry being highly offended, he was again dismissed from his employments. To these, however, on the change of the ministry, he was soon restored; but not approving of the measures of the new administration any more than those of the old, he gave up all his posts for the last time, and never afterwards engaged in affairs of state. He now enjoyed privacy and retirement; and died of a paralytic disorder on the 4th of October 1743. To the memory of his grace a noble monument was erected in Westminster Abbey, executed by Roubillac.