Breadalbane, John Campbell, 1st earl of

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Breadalbane, John Campbell, 1st earl of [S] (1635–1717). Campbell took part in Middleton's rising in 1653, which was defeated by Monck. He obtained his peerage in a curious way, becoming creditor to the earl of Caithness, on whose death he was given estates and title, and married the widow. When in 1681 the Privy Council decided in favour of Caithness's male heir, Campbell was compensated with a new title as earl of Breadalbane. In 1689, though sympathetic to James II, he made his peace with William after Killiecrankie and from 1692 to 1696 was a lord of the Treasury [S]. He was much involved in the negotiations which led to the proclamation of August 1691 and the subsequent Glencoe massacre, though a later inquiry cleared him. He did not take part in the discussions on the Union, though he served as a representative peer 1713–15. In 1715 he sent some of his men to join Mar's rising, but escaped punishment, perhaps because he was 80 years of age. He was described as cheerful and agreeable, but Macky wrote that he was ‘wise as a serpent, and as slippery as an eel’.

J. A. Cannon

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John Campbell 1st earl of Breadalbane

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