Lieutenant-General Sir James Campbell KB, of Lawers was a Scottish officer of the British Army and onetime a Whig Member of the Parliament of Great Britain.
Background
He was the third and youngest son of James Campbell, 2nd Earl of Loudoun by his wife Margaret, daughter of Hugh Montgomerie, 7th Earl of Eglinton. Hugh Campbell, 3rd Earl of Loudoun was his elder brother. Campbell was married by contract dated 29 March 1720 to Jean, eldest daughter of David Boyle, 1st Earl of Glasgow by his second wife Jean, daughter and heiress of William Mure of Rowallan.
Career
They had two children:
James, born 11 February 1726, and
Margaret, born 17 May 1727. He was commissioned a Captain in the 21st Regiment of Foot in 1702, then was Lieutenant-Colonel in the 2nd Dragoons (later Royal Scots Greys) in 1706. He served under Marlborough in the War of the Spanish Succession and fought in the Battle of Blenheim.
After the war, he was Colonel of the 9th Regiment of Foot 1715-1717, and of the 2nd Dragoons (later Royal Scots Greys) from 1717 until his death.
In the meantime he was promoted Brigadier-General in 1735, Major-General in 1739, and Lieutenant-General in 1742. From 1738 until his death he was Governor of Edinburgh Castle.
At the outbreak of the War of the Austrian Succession he accompanied the King to Germany in command of the British cavalry and fought at the battles of Dettingen, where he was knighted on the field in the Order of the Bath, and of Fontenoy where he lost a legal He subsequently died of his wounds on 2 May 1745.
Membership
7th Parliament of Great Britain. 8th Parliament of Great Britain]
Campbell was Member of Parliament for Ayrshire from 1727 until defeated at the General Election of 1741, and Groom of the Bedchamber to King George II from 1727 until his death.