John Campbell (of Strachur)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John Campbell (of Strachur), (1727-1806) often known as General John Campbell (17th of Strachur), was a British military leader and minor nobleman who succeeded Guy Carleton, 1st Baron Dorchester as commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America in 1783.[1]
He inherited the title (17th of Strachur) upon the death of his father and was a direct descendant of the oldest branch of Clan Campbell, (see Campbell of Strachur).
[edit] Early military career
John Campbell (17th of Strachur) was appointed lieutenant in John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun's Highlanders in June 1745.
The young John Campbell showed his military prowess during the Jacobite Rising of 1745 and served in the British Army throughout the rising of 1745-6 including the Battle of Culloden. He made the campaign in Flanders in 1747, in which year he became a Captain and at the peace of 1748 went on half pay.
[edit] North American career
In 1756, he was called into active service and joined the 42nd (Royal Highland) Regiment of Foot (also known as the Black Watch Regiment) and served under James Wolfe.
He was wounded at Fort Ticonderoga, New York, during the Battle of Carillon in the French and Indian War and, on his recovery, was appointed Major of the King's 17th Regiment of Foot, later the Royal Leicestershire Regiment, and now the Royal Anglian Regiment.
In February 1762, he became a Lieutenant Colonel and commanded the King's 17th Regiment of Foot in the expedition against Martinique and Havana.
He became Lieutenant-Colonel of the King's 57th Regiment of Foot on May 1, 1773, and returned to North America on the outbreak of the American Revolution.
On February 19, 1779, he was appointed Major-General and appointed Colonel of the King's 57th Regiment of Foot on November 2, 1780. He commanded the British forces in West Florida, where he surrendered Pensacola to the Spaniards in the Battle of Pensacola, May 10, 1781.
In 1783, he superseded Sir Guy Carleton as Commander-in-Chief, North America.
He returned to Scotland, in 1787, where as Clan Chief of the Campbells of Strachur (see Campbell of Strachur) he established Strachur House.
John Campbell (17th of Strachur) died in at Strachur House, Argyll, Scotland on August 28, 1806.
[edit] References
- Sketches of the Character, Manners and Present State of the Highlanders of Scotland; with details of The Military Service of The Highland Regiments by Major-General David Stewart, Vol I & II, (1825), Edinburgh
- Land Forces of Britain, the Empire and the Commonwealth: http://www.regiments.org/biography/defchiefs/caCinC.htm
| Military Offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Guy Carleton |
Commander-in-Chief, North America 1783–1787 |
Succeeded by The Duke of Kent and Strathearn |
