Lieutenant-General Sir James Campbell KB of Lawars


James Campbell of Lawars was born c1680, the third and youngest son of the 2nd Earl of Loudoun. His mother was Margaret, daughter of Hugh Montgomerie 7th Earl of Eglinton. James was commissioned as a captain in the 21st Regiment of Foot in 1702. He was Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the Scots Greys in 1706 and served under Marlborough at Blenheim, Ramillies, and Oudenarde. At Malplaquet on 11 Sep 1709 he greatly distinguished himself when, on his own initiative he led the Greys in a charge right through the French line and back. This helped the successful outcome of the battle and he was publicly thanked by Prince Eugene despite the fact that Eugene had ordered Campbell not to move during the battle. He was Colonel of the 9th Regiment of Foot from 1715 to 1717 and Colonel of the Scots Greys from 1717 until his death. He reached the rank of Lieutenant-General in 1742. He was MP for Ayrshire from 1727 to 1741. He also held the posts of Groom of the Bedchamber (1727) and Governor of Edinburgh Castle (1738). He fought at Dettingen in 1743 and was knighted (Order of the Bath) on the field by George II. At Fontenoy he lost a leg and died of his wounds on 2 May 1745. He was married to Jean, daughter of the Earl of Glasgow in 1720 and they had a son and a daughter.


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by Stephen Luscombe