George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll
George John Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll and 1st KG, PC ( born April 30, 1823 Ardencaple Castle in Helensburgh, † April 24, 1900 at Inveraray Castle in Argyllshire ) was a British aristocrat, writer and liberal politician. Until 1847, he was known by the courtesy title Marquess of Kintyre and Lorne.
Political career
George Campbell was the second son of the politician Henry Campbell, 7th Duke of Argyll ( 1777-1847 ) and his second wife, Joan Glassel († 1828), a daughter of John and Helen Glassels Buchans. Paternal His grandparents were the Field Marshal John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll and Elizabeth Gunning, Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon.
George Campbell initially attended Eton College, then the University of St Andrews and later studied at Trinity College, University of Cambridge. After his Grand Tour in Italy, he was elected for the constituency to the House of Argyllshire. George Campbell was one of the closest allies of the Prince Consort Albert of Saxe- Coburg and Gotha.
After he had inherited his father's title in 1847, he took his seat in the House of Lords. Five years later he became Lord Privy Seal in the Cabinet Aberdeen. In 1855 he moved under Lord Palmerston in the Office of the Paymaster - General, before Lord Privy Seal was again in its second Cabinet. William Gladstone made Campbell 1868 for India - Minister. This office he lost in 1874 after the election victory of the Tories.
1880/81 Campbell was again Lord Privy Seal under Gladstone. In the following years, however, he turned more and more from Gladstone down because he refused the Ireland - policy ( Home Rule ).
Private and family life
On July 31, 1844 Campbell married in Trentham the Oberhof Dame ( Mistress of the Robes ) of Queen Victoria, Lady Elizabeth Georgiana Sutherland - Leveson - Gower ( 1824-1878 ), the second daughter of the politician George Sutherland - Leveson - Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland and Lady Harriet Elizabeth Georgiana Howard the. From the union thirteen children were born:
- John George Edward Henry (1845-1914), 9th Duke of Argyll
- Archibald (1846-1913) ∞ 1869 Janey Sevilla Callander († 1923)
- Walter (1848-1889) ∞ 1874 Olivia Rowlandson Milns († 1892)
- Edith (1849-1913) ∞ 1868 Henry George Percy, 7th Duke of Northumberland ( 1846-1918 )
- George Granville (1850-1915) ∞ 1879 Sybil Lascelles Alexander ( † 1947)
- Elisabeth (1853-1896) ∞ 1880 Lt.- Col. Edward Harrison Clough -Taylor († 1921)
- Colin (1853-1895) ∞ 1881-1884 ( marriage annulled ) Gertrude Elizabeth Blood ( 1857-1911 )
- Victoria (1854-1910), unmarried
- Evelyn (1855-1940) ∞ 1886 James Baillie - Hamilton ( 1850-1921 )
- Frances (1858-1931) ∞ 1879 Colonel Eustace James Anthony Balfour ( 1854-1911 )
- Mary Emma (1859-1947) ∞ 1882 Rt Rev Hon Edward Carr Glyn ( 1843-1928 )
- Constance Harriett (1864-1922) ∞ 1891 Charles Emmott ( 1861-1910 )
After the death of his first wife George Campbell married twice; 1881 Amelia Maria Claughton ( 1843-1894 ) and 1895 Ina Erskine McNeill († 1925). Both marriages were childless.
During the year 1900, Campbell's health deteriorated rapidly. His chronic kidney disease and the death of several friends and companions robbed him of the life force and will to live. In the spring of 1900, the situation came to a head, and he died on April 24 of the year.
Works (selection)
His great interest in science and education for Scotland led in 1872 to the " Education Act " and he wrote several scientific books and religious background.