Loudoun, John Campbell, Earl of, 1705-1782

Born in 1705. Entered army in 1727. Commissioned major general in 1755, and appointed the following year as commander-in-chief of British forces in America during the French and Indian War, and named titular governor of Virginia. Died at Loudoun Castle, the family seat in Ayrshire, in 1782.

John Campbell, Fourth Earl of Loudoun (5 May 1705 - 27 Apr. 1782) was the only son of Hugh Campbell, Third Earl of Loudoun (b. before 1684 - 20 Nov. 1731) and Lady Margaret Dalrymple (1677 - Apr. 1777). Campbell gained peerage as Earl of Loudoun upon his father's death in 1731. The Scottish family was distinguished for their allegiance to the Crown of England. After entering the army in 1727, Campbell raised a regiment of highlanders to fight for the British Government against the Jacobite Rebellion in 1745, ensuring the favor of King George II. He acted as an adjunct general to Sir John Cope and suffered a series of defeats in the 1745 war. He was granted colonel in 54th Foot in 1745, 30th in 1749, and major general in 1755. On 17 Feb. 1756, Campbell was appointed captain-general and governor-in-chief of the province of Virginia, and on 20 Mar. 1756, he was made commander-in-chief of the British troops in America. Campbell arrived in New York on 3 July 1756 and took command of the forces at Albany. The colonists were unwilling to cooperate with Campbell and he had little real authority over them, making his stay unpleasant for both. In efforts to conceal his plans for a siege of French-held Louisbourg in Jan. 1757, Campbell put an embargo on all outward bound ships, upsetting both the Americans and the English. Once he finally amassed a force sufficient for siege, he was unable to decide on a course for action and lost his opportunity for attack. He was summarily recalled to England. Once Spain was drawn into the Seven Years War, Campbell was appointed second in command under Lord Tyrawley and sent there in 1762, gaining full command in 1763. He was also colonel in the 3rd Foot Guards from 1770 until his death. Campbell died at Loudoun Castle, Ashyire, Scotland, and his title passed to his cousin, James Mure Campbell, as Campbell never married and was without heir. His interest in landscaping and trees, specifically willow, gained Campbell's estate renown for the improvements he made to it. Many of the specimens he owned were collected from around the world. Although Campbell never set foot in Virginia, Loudoun County was named in his honor in 1757. The Loudoun County board of supervisors adopted the county's official coat of arms modeled after Campbell's coat of arms on 16 Jan. 1968.

John Campbell, Earl of Loudoun, was commander-in-chief of the British army in North America and colonial governor of Virginia from 1756-1757. He was recalled in late 1757. Sir William Johnson, Bart., was a major-general in the British army, adopted as a Mohawk and given a Mohawk name during his time in New York, and made a baronet in 1757.

John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun (1705-1782): commander-in-chief of British forces in America during the French and Indian War and titular governor of Virginia. He was recalled to England in 1758, following the downfall of his patron, Duke of Cumberland. He served in Portugal in 1762 and was promoted to general in 1770.

John Campbell Loudoun, British officer, served as commander-in-chief of all military forces during the French and Indian War from Mar. 1756 to Dec. 1757.

British soldier who was for a time commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America and governor of colonial Virginia.

The Earl of Loudoun was a British soldier who was for a time commander-in-chief of the British forces in North America and governor of colonial Virginia.

English general.