The Whig politician George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll, was born on 30 April 1823. He was educated privately. He succeeded his brother as Marquis of Lorne in 1837 and succeeded the 7th Duke of Argyll, his father John Douglas Edward Henry (1777-1847), in 1847. He was Lord Privy Seal, 1853-1855, 1859-1866, 1880-1881, Postmaster-General 1855-1858, and 1860, and Secretary of State for India, 1868-1874. As Secretary of State he adopted a foreign policy of friendship to neighbouring states, and a financial policy of decentralisation. Between 1877-1880, he opposed Tory government policy in the Eastern Question and in Afghanistan. He also opposed Home Rule. The 8th Duke published works on science, religion, and politics, and he was in disagreement with evolutional school in geology. His published work included Presbytery examined (1848), Primeval man (1869), The eastern question (1879), Scotland as it was and as it is (1887), Irish nationalism (1893), What is science? (1898). The 8th Duke of Argyll was made a Knight of the Thistle in 1856, and a Knight of the Garter in 1883. He was Chancellor of the University of St. Andrews, and a Trustee of the British Museum. The hereditary home of the Dukes of Argyll is Inveraray Castle, Argyllshire, and the Duke also resided at Argyll Lodge, Kensington, London. George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll, died on 24 April 1900. He was succeeded by his son John Douglas Sutherland (1845-1914), 9th Duke of Argyll.
From the guide to the Letters of George Douglas Campbell (1823-1900), 8th Duke of Argyll, 1851-1888, (Edinburgh University Library)
