Baron Campbell von Laurentz

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article does not cite any references or sources. (April 2007) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.

Major Baron Campbell von Laurentz (Ronald Macleay Laurentz Campbell), born 24th December 1836 to Pieter Laurentz Campbell, Colonial Treasurer for Australia, and Barbara Isabella Macleay, the daughter of the Governor of New South Wales and world-renowned entomologist Alexander Macleay, was a British military hero who fought in the Franco-Prussian war for Emperor William I.

Born in Australia into a cadet branch of the Scottish Campbells of Craignish, he was widely regarded as the hero of the Battle of Gravelotte in 1870, and was awarded the title 'Baron of Craignish' by the Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in recognition in 1882. He was an Equerry of the Duke. He petitioned Queen Victoria to use the title in Great Britain, and after an objection by Lord Strathearn, was allowed the title 'Baron Campbell von Laurentz'.

He was a fierce defender of German nationalism, and was chairman of numerous nationalist groups in Britain, proclaiming "Wir stehen fest zusammen, zu Kaiser und zu Reich!" - "We stand firm together with the Kaiser and the Empire!" He later attempted to sever his ties with the Prussian Army, however.

He married three times, to Jessie Lucas, Charlotte Meeking and Emily Mitchell, and had two sons by his second wife.His daughter, Baroness Campbell von Laurentz, wrote "My Motor Milestones: How to Tour in a Car" in 1913 and was a keen member of the Italian Greyhound Club. As the holder of a German title, after the First World War she was not accepted at Court at Buckingham Palace.