(Archibald), earl and marquis of Argyle, was the son of Archibald earl of Argyle, by the lady Anne Douglas, daughter of William earl of Morton. He was born in the year 1593; and educated in the profession of the Protestant religion, according to the strictest rules of the church of Scotland, as it was established immediately after the reformation. During the commonwealth he was induced to submit to its authority. Upon the restoration, he was tried for his compliance; a crime common to him with the whole nation, and such a one as the most loyal and affectionate subject might frequently by violence be induced to commit. To make this compliance appear more voluntary and hearty, there were produced in court letters which he had wrote to Albemarle, while that general governed Scotland, and which contained expressions of the most cordial attachment to the established government. But, besides the general indignation excited by Albemarle's discovery of this private correspondence, men thought, that even the highest demonstrations of affection might, during jealous times, be exacted as a necessary mark of compliance from a person of such distinction as Argyle; and could not, by any equitable construction, imply the crime of treason. The parliament, however, scrupled not to pass sentence upon him, and he suffered with great constancy and courage.

(Archibald), earl of Argyle, son to the former, had from his youth distinguished himself by his loyalty and his attachment to the royal family. Tho' his father was head of the covenanters, he himself refused to concur in any of their measures; and when a commission of colonel was given him by the convention of estates, he forbore to act upon it till it should be ratified by the king. By his respectful behaviour, as well as by his services, he made himself acceptable to Charles when that prince was in Scotland and even after the battle of Worcester, all the misfortunes which attended the royal cause could not engage him to desert it. Under der Middeton he obstinately persevered to harass and infest the victorious English; and it was not till he received orders from that general, that he would submit to accept of a capitulation. Such jealousy of his loyal attachments was entertained by the commonwealth and protector, that a pretence was soon after fallen upon to commit him to prison; and his confinement was rigorously continued till the restoration. The king, sensible of his services, had remitted to him his father's forfeiture, and created him earl of Argyle; and when a most unjust sentence was passed upon him by the Scots parliament, Charles had anew remitted it. In the subsequent part of this reign Argyle behaved himself dutifully; and though he seemed not disposed to go all lengths with the court, he always appeared, even in his opposition, a man of mild dispositions and peaceable deportment.

A parliament was summoned at Edinburgh in summer 1681, and the duke was appointed commissioner. Besides granting money to the king, and voting the indefeasible right of succession, this parliament enacted a test, which all persons possessed of offices, civil, military, or ecclesiastical, were bound to take. In this test the king's supremacy was asserted, the covenant renounced, passive obedience assented to, and all obligations discharged of endeavouring any alteration in civil or ecclesiastical establishments. This was the state of the test as proposed by the courtiers; but the country party proposed also a clause of adherence to the Protestant religion, which could not with decency be rejected. The whole was of an enormous length, considered as an oath; and, what was worse, a confession of faith was there ratified which had been imposed a little after the reformation, and which contained many articles altogether forged by the parliament and nation. Among others, the doctrine of resistance was inculcated; so that the test being voted in a hurry, was found on examination to be a medley of absurdity and contradiction. Though the courtiers could not reject the clause of adhering to the Protestant religion, they proposed, as a requisite mark of respect, that all princes of the blood should be exempted from taking that oath. This exception was zealously opposed by Argyle; who observed that the sole danger to be dreaded for the Protestant religion must proceed from the perversion of the royal family. By insisting on such topics, he drew on himself the secret indignation of the duke of York, of which he soon felt the fatal consequences.

When Argyle took the test as a privy counsellor, he subjoined, in the duke's presence, an explanation which he had before hand communicated to that prince, and which he believed to have been approved by him. It was in these words. "I have considered the test, and am very desirous of giving obedience as far as I can. I am confident that the parliament never intended to impose contradictory oaths; therefore I think no man can explain it but for himself. Accordingly I take it as far as it is consistent with itself and the Protestant religion. And I do declare that I mean not to bind myself, in my station, and in a lawful way, from withstanding and endeavouring any alteration, which I think to the advantage of church or state, and not repugnant to the Protestant religion and my loyalty: and this I understand as a part of my oath." The duke, as was natural, heard it with great tranquillity: no one took the least offence: Argyle was admitted to sit that day in council: and it was impossible to imagine that a capital offence had been committed where occasion seemed not to have been given so much as for a frown or reprimand.

Argyle was much surprised a few days after, to find that a warrant was issued for committing him to prison; that he was indicted for high treason, leafling-making, and perjury; and that from the innocent words abovementioned an accusation was extracted, by which he was to forfeit life, honours, and fortune. It is needless to enter into particulars, where the iniquity of the whole is so evidently apparent. Though the sword of justice was displayed, even her semblance was not put on; and the forms of law were preferred to sanctify, or rather aggravate, the oppression. Of five judges, three did not scruple to find the guilt of treason and leafling-making to be incurred by the prisoner; a jury of 15 noblemen gave verdict against him; and the king, being consulted, ordered the sentence to be pronounced, but the execution of it to be suspended till further orders. Argyle, however, saw no reason to trust to the justice or mercy of such enemies: He made his escape from prison, and till he could find a ship for Holland he concealed himself during some time in London. The king heard of his lurking place, but would not suffer him to be arrested. All the parts, however, of his sentence, so far as the government in Scotland had power, were rigorously executed; his estate confiscated, his arms reversed and torn. Having got over to Holland, he remained there during the remaining part of the reign of Charles II. But thinking himself at liberty, before the coronation of James II. to exert himself in order to recover the constitution by force of arms, he concerted measures with the duke of Monmouth, and went into Scotland, to assemble his friends: but not meeting with the success he expected, he was taken prisoner; and being carried to Edinburgh, was beheaded upon his former unjust sentence, June 30, 1685. He showed great constancy and courage under his misfortunes: on the day of his death he ate his dinner very cheerfully: and, according to custom, slept after it a quarter of an hour or more, very soundly. At the place of execution, he made a short, grave, and religious speech; and, after solemnly declaring that he forgave all his enemies, submitted to death with great firmness.

Campbell (Archibald), first duke of Argyle, son to the preceding, was an active promoter of the revolution. He came over with the Prince of Orange; was admitted into the convention as Earl of Argyle, tho' his father's attainder was not reversed; and in the claim of rights the sentence against him was declared to be, what most certainly it was, a reproach upon the nation. The establishment of the crown upon the Prince and Princess of Orange being carried by a great majority in the Scottish convention, the earl was sent from the nobility, with Sir James Montgomery and Sir John Dalrymple from the barons and boroughs, to offer the crown, in the name of the convention, to their Majesties, and tendered them the coronation oath; for which, and many other eminent services, he was admitted a member of the privy council, and, in 1690, made one of the Lords of the Treasury. He was afterwards Campbell, afterwards made a colonel of the Scots horse guards; and, in 1694, one of the extraordinary Lords of Session. He was likewise created Duke of Argyle, Marquis of Kintyre and Lorn, Earl of Campbell and Cowell, Viscount of Lochow and Glengla, Lord Inverary, Mull, Morvern, and Terrey, by letters-patent, bearing date at Kensington the 23rd of June 1701. He sent over a regiment to Flanders for king William's service, the officers of which were chiefly of his own name and family, who bravely distinguished themselves through the whole course of the war. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Lionel Talmafh of Helmingham in the county of Suffolk, by Elizabeth duchess of Lauderdale his wife, daughter and heir of William Murray earl of Dyfart, by whom he left issue two sons and a daughter; namely, John duke of Argyle, the subject of the next article; Archibald, who succeeded his brother as Duke of Argyle; and Lady Anne, married to James Stuart, second earl of Bute, by whom she had the present earl.

Campbell (John), second duke of Argyle, and also duke of Greenwich and baron of Chatham, son to the subject of the preceding article, was born on the 10th of October 1680; and, on the very day when his grandfather suffered at Edinburgh, fell out of a window three pair of stairs high without receiving any hurt. At the age of 15, he had made considerable progress in classical learning. His father then perceived and encouraged his military disposition, and introduced him to king William, who in the year 1694 gave him the command of a regiment. In this situation he remained till the death of his father in 1703; when becoming duke of Argyle, he was soon after 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 reviving the Scottish order of the thistle, his grace was installed one of the knights of that order, and was soon after appointed high-commissioner to the Scotch parliament; where, being of great service in promoting the intended 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 Oudenard; 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 periwig. Soon after this hot action, he was sent to take the command in Spain; and after 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. At the breaking out of the rebellion in 1715, he was made commander in chief of his majesty's forces in North Britain; and was the principal means and cause of the total extinction, at that time, of the rebellion in Scotland, without much bloodshed. In direct opposition to him, or that part of the army he commanded, at the head of all his Campbells was placed Campbell earl of Braidalbin, of the same family and kindred, by some fatal error that ever misguided and misled that unhappy family of the Stuarts and all its adherents. The consequence was, that both sets of Campbells, from family affection, refused to strike a stroke, and retired out of the battle. He arrived at London March 6th 1716, and was in high favour: but, to the surprize of people of all ranks, he was in a few months divested of all his employments; and from this period to the year 1718, he signalized himself in a civil capacity, by his uncorrupted 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 was created duke of Greenwich. He continued in the administration during all the remaining part of that reign; and, after his late majesty's accession, 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 ministry more than those of the old, he gave up all his posts for the last time, and never after 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 very noble monument was erected in Westminster-Abbey, executed by the ingenious Roubillac.

The duke of Argyle, though never first minister, was a very able statesman and politician, most steadily fixed in those principles he believed to be right, and not to be shaken or changed. His delicacy and honour were so great, that it hurt him to be even suspected; witness that application said to be made to him by one of the adherents of the Stuart family before the last rebellion in order to gain his interest, which was considerable both in Scotland and England. He immediately sent the letter to the secretary of state; and it vexed him much even to have an application made him, lest any person should think him capable of acting a double part. When he thought measures wrong or corrupt, he cared not who was the author, however great or powerful he might be; witness his boldly attacking the great duke of Marlborough in the house of lords, about his forage and army contracts in Flanders, in the very zenith of his power and popularity, though in all other respects he was the most able general of his time. The duke of Argyle, on all occasions, spoke well, with a firm, manly, and noble eloquence; and seems to deserve the character given of him by Pope:

Argyle the state's whole thunder born to wield, And shake alike the senate and the field.

In private life, the duke's conduct was highly exemplary. He was an affectionate husband and an indulgent master. He seldom parted with his servants till age had rendered them incapable of their employments; and then he made provision for their subsistence. He was liberal to the poor, and particularly to persons of merit in distresses: but though he was ready to patronize deserving persons, he was extremely cautious Campbell (Archibald), third Duke of Argyle, brother to the subject of the preceding article, was born at Hamhouse, in England, in June 1682, and was educated at the University of Glasgow. He afterwards applied himself to the study of the law at Utrecht; but, upon his father's being created a Duke, he betook himself to a military life, and served some time under the duke of Marlborough. Upon quitting the army, in which he did not long remain, he applied to the acquisition of that knowledge which would enable him to make a figure in the political world. In 1705, he was constituted treasurer of Scotland, and made a considerable figure in Parliament, though he was not more than twenty-three years of age. In 1706, he was appointed one of the commissioners for treating of the Union; and the same year was created Lord Ornay, Dunoon, and Arrois, Viscount and Earl of Illay. In 1708, he was made an extraordinary Lord of Session; and when the Union was effected, he was chosen one of the Sixteen Peers for Scotland, in the first Parliament of Great Britain; and was constantly elected to every future Parliament till his death, except the fourth. In 1710, he was made Justice-General of Scotland. In 1711, he was called to the privy council; and upon the accession of George I., he was nominated lord register of Scotland. When the rebellion broke out in 1715, he again betook himself to arms, in defence of the house of Hanover, and by his prudent conduct in the West Highlands, he prevented General Gordon, at the head of three thousand men, from penetrating into the country, and raising levies. He afterwards joined his brother at Stirling, and was wounded at the battle of Dumbarton. In 1725, he was appointed keeper of the privy seal; and, from this time, he was entrusted with the management of Scottish affairs. In 1734, upon his resigning the privy seal, he was made keeper of the great seal, which office he enjoyed till his death. Upon the decease of his brother, he became duke of Argyle, hereditary justice general, lieutenant, sheriff, and commissary of Argylshire and the Western Isles, hereditary great master of the household, hereditary keeper of Dunstaffnage, Carrick, and several other castles. He was also chancellor of the University of Aberdeen; and laboured to promote the interest of that, as well as of the other universities of Scotland. He particularly encouraged the school of physic at Edinburgh, which has now acquired to high a reputation. Having the chief management of Scotch affairs, he was also extremely attentive to promote the trade, manufactures, and improvements of his country. It was by his advice that, after the rebellion in 1745, the Highlanders were employed in the royal army. He was a man of great endowments both natural and acquired, well versed in the laws of his country, and possessed considerable parliamentary abilities. He was likewise eminent for his skill in human nature, had great talents for conversation, and had collected one of the most valuable private libraries in Great Britain. He built himself a very magnificent seat at Inverary. The faculties of his mind continued sound and vigorous till his death, which happened suddenly on the 15th of April 1761, in the 79th year of his age. He was married, but had no issue; and was succeeded in his titles and the estates of the family by John Campbell, fourth duke of Argyle, son of the honourable John Campbell of Mammore, who was the second son of Archibald the ninth earl of Argyle.

The family of Argyle was heritable justice-general for Scotland till abolished by the jurisdiction act. They are still heritable masters of the king's household in Scotland, and keepers of Dunstaffnage and Carrick.

(John), an eminent historical, biographical, and political writer, was born at Edinburgh, March 8, 1707-8. His father, Robert Campbell of Glenlyon, Esq.; was captain of horse in a regiment commanded by the then earl of Hyndford; and his mother, Elizabeth, daughter of —— Smith, Esq.; of Windsor in Berkshire, had the honour of claiming a descent from the poet Waller. Our author, their fourth son, was at the age of five years brought from Scotland to Windsor, where he received the first principles of his education; and at a proper age, he was placed out as clerk to an attorney, being intended for the law. This profession, however, he never followed; but by a close application to the acquisition of knowledge of various kinds, became qualified to appear with great advantage in the literary world. In 1736, before he had completed his 30th year, he gave to the public, in two volumes folio, "The Military History of Prince Eugene and the Duke of Marlborough;" enriched with maps, plans, and cuts. The reputation hence acquired, occasioned him soon after to be solicited to take a part in the "Ancient Universal History." Whilst employed in this capital work, Mr Campbell found leisure to entertain the world with other productions. In 1739, he published the "Travels and Adventures of Edward Brown, Esq.;" 8vo. In the same year appeared his "Memoirs of the Bathaw Duke de Ripperda," 8vo, reprinted, with improvements, in 1740. These memoirs were followed, in 1741, by the "Concise History of Spanish America," 8vo. In 1742, he was the author of "A Letter to a Friend in the Country, on the Publication of Thurlow's State Papers;" giving an account of their discovery, importance, and utility. The same year was distinguished by the appearance of the 1st and 2d volumes of his "Lives of the English Admirals, and other eminent British Seamen." The two remaining volumes were completed in 1744; and the whole, not long after, was translated into German. This was the first of Mr Campbell's works to which he prefixed his name; and it is a performance of great and acknowledged merit. In 1743, he published "Hermpius revivus;" a second edition of which, much improved and enlarged, came out in 1749, under the following title: "Hermpius Redivivus: or, the Sage's Triumph over old Age and the Grave. Wherein a method is laid down for prolonging the life and vigour of man. Including a Commentary upon an ancient Inscription, in which this great secret is revealed; sup-ported..." ported by numerous authorities. The whole interspersed with a great variety of remarkable and well-attested relations." This extraordinary tract had its origin in a foreign publication; but it was wrought up to perfection by the additional ingenuity and learning of Mr Campbell. In 1744, he gave to the public in two volumes folio, his "Voyages and Travels," on Dr Harris's plan, being a very distinguished improvement of that collection which had appeared in 1705. The time and care employed by Mr Campbell in this important undertaking, did not prevent his engaging in another great work, the "Biographia Britannica," which began to be published in weekly numbers in 1745, and extended to seven volumes folio; but our author's articles were only in the first four volumes; of which, Dr Kippis observes, they constitute the prime merit.

When the late Mr Dodley formed the design of "The Preceptor," which appeared in 1748, Mr Campbell was to assist in the undertaking; and the parts written by him were the Introduction to Chronology, and the Discourse on Trade and Commerce, both of which displayed an extensive fund of knowledge upon these subjects. In 1750, he published the first separate edition of his "Prefect State of Europe;" a work which had been originally begun in 1746, in the "Museum," a very valuable periodical performance, printed for Dodley. There is no production of our author's that hath met with a better reception. It has gone through six editions, and fully deserved this encouragement. The next great undertaking which called for the exertion of our author's abilities and learning, was "The Modern Universal History." This extensive work was published, from time to time, in detached parts, till it amounted to 16 volumes folio; and a second edition of it, in 8vo, began to make its appearance in 1759. The parts of it written by Mr Campbell were, the histories of the Portuguese, Dutch, Spanish, French, Swedish, Danish, and Oriental Settlements in the East Indies; and the Histories of the Kingdoms of Spain, Portugal, Algarve, Navarre, and that of France, from Clovis to 1676. As our author had thus distinguished himself in the literary world, the degree of L.L.D. was very properly and honourably conferred upon him, June 18, 1754, by the university of Glasgow.

His principal and favourite work was, "A political survey of Great Britain," 2 vol. 4to, published a short time before his death; in which the extent of his knowledge, and his patriotic spirit, are equally conspicuous. Dr Campbell's reputation was not confined to his own country, but extended to the remotest parts of Europe. As a striking instance of this, it may be mentioned, that in the spring of 1774, the empress of Russia was pleased to honour him with the present of her picture, drawn in the robes worn in that country in the days of John Bafliowicz, grand duke of Muscovy, who was contemporary with queen Elizabeth. To manifest the doctor's sense of her imperial majesty's goodness, a set of the "Political Survey of Britain," bound in Morocco, highly ornamented, and accompanied with a letter descriptive of the triumphs and felicities of her reign, was forwarded to St Petersburg, and conveyed into her hands by prince Orloff, who had resided some months in this kingdom.

Dr Campbell in 1736 married Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Vohe, of Leominster, in the county of Hereford, gentleman, with whom he lived nearly 40 years in the greatest conjugal harmony and happiness. So wholly did he dedicate his time to books, that he seldom went abroad; but to relieve himself as much as possible from the inconveniences incident to a sedentary life, it was his custom, when the weather would admit, to walk in his garden; or otherwise in some room of his house, by way of exercise. By this method, united with the strictest temperance in eating, and an equal abstinence from drinking, he enjoyed a good state of health, though his constitution was delicate. His domestic manner of living did not preclude him from a very extensive and honourable acquaintance. His house, especially on a Sunday evening, was the resort of the most distinguished persons of all ranks, and particularly of such as had rendered themselves eminent by their knowledge or love of literature. He received foreigners, who were fond of learning, with an affability and kindness which excited in them the highest respect and veneration; and his instructive and cheerful conversation made him the delight of his friends in general. He was, during the latter part of his life, agent for the province of Georgia in North America; and died at the close of the year 1775, in the 67th year of his age. The Doctor's literary knowledge was by no means confined to the subjects on which he more particularly treated as an author; he was well acquainted with the mathematics, and had read much in medicine. It hath been with great reason believed, that if he had dedicated his studies to the last science, he would have made a very conspicuous figure in the medical profession. He was eminently versed in the different parts of sacred literature; and his acquaintance with the languages extended not only to the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin among the ancient, and to the French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutch, among the modern; but likewise to the Oriental tongues. He was particularly fond of the Greek language. His attainment of such a variety of knowledge was exceedingly assisted by a memory surprisingly retentive, and which indeed astonished every person with whom he was conversant. In communicating his ideas, he had an uncommon readiness and facility; and the style of his works, which had been formed upon the model of that of the celebrated bishop Sprat, was perspicuous, easy, flowing, and harmonious. To all these accomplishments of the understanding, Dr Campbell joined the more important virtues of a moral and pious character. His disposition was gentle and humane, and his manners kind and obliging. He was the tenderest of husbands, a most indulgent parent, a kind master, a firm and sincere friend. To his great Creator he paid the constant and ardent tribute of devotion, duty, and reverence; and in his correspondences he showed that a sense of piety was always nearest his heart.