Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood FRS (22 February 1835 – 8 July 1908) was a Scottish
Conservative
politician.
Born Archibald Campbell Douglas (he dropped the Douglas from his name in 1838) in Florence
, Italy
, he was the son of Archibald Campbell, 17th Laird of Mains
.
Campbell joined the 79th Highlanders at the age of 16 and fought in the Crimean War
in 1855, where he was severely wounded. He transferred to the Scots Fusilier Guards and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. On 7 July 1864, he married Hon. Augusta Clementina Carrington, a daughter of the 2nd Baron Carrington
, at Whitehall Chapel
, London
. He retired from the army in 1868 on the death of his father.
He was Member of Parliament
(MP) for Renfrewshire
from 1873 to 1874, and for West Renfrewshire from 1885 to 1892. He was also Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire
from 1904 to 1908. On 4 May 1880, he was created Baronet Campbell of Blythswood
and was an Aide-de-camp
to Queen Victoria
. In 1888 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of Law
from the University of Glasgow
and made a Freeman
of the City of Glasgow. On 24 August 1892, he was created Baron Blythswood
, with a special remainder to his five younger brothers.
He was a notable amateur scientist and took his wife to Thebes to observe the Transit of Venus
in 1874, taking with him a small transit instrument, a 6-inch telescope and a 12-inch telescope, recording the time of first contact, and also observed a white halo, proving an atmosphere around Venus. From 1892 to 1905 the Blythswood Laboratory at his family seat was used to experiment into many areas at the borders of physics, including the use of cathode rays, X-rays, spectroscopy and radioactivity. He designed a speed indicator, which was fitted to ships of the Royal Navy, and carried out studies into the efficiency of aerial propellers some years before the Wright Brothers' first powered flight in 1903. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in May, 1907.
He died on at age 73 at his home Blythswood House
, Renfrewshire
, without issue and was buried on 11 July 1908 at Inchinnan
. His baronetcy became extinct but his barony passed to his brother, Sholto.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician.
Born Archibald Campbell Douglas (he dropped the Douglas from his name in 1838) in Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, he was the son of Archibald Campbell, 17th Laird of Mains
Douglas of Mains
The Douglases of Mains are a branch of the Clan Douglas, related to the Lords of Douglas through Archibald I, Lord of Douglas. The first Laird obtained land through marriage into the Galbraith family, which had been granted land in New Kilpatrick by Maldowen, Earl of Lennox...
.
Campbell joined the 79th Highlanders at the age of 16 and fought in the Crimean War
Crimean War
The Crimean War was a conflict fought between the Russian Empire and an alliance of the French Empire, the British Empire, the Ottoman Empire, and the Kingdom of Sardinia. The war was part of a long-running contest between the major European powers for influence over territories of the declining...
in 1855, where he was severely wounded. He transferred to the Scots Fusilier Guards and rose to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. On 7 July 1864, he married Hon. Augusta Clementina Carrington, a daughter of the 2nd Baron Carrington
Robert John Carrington, 2nd Baron Carrington
Robert John Carrington, 2nd Baron Carrington was a baron in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. He was the son of Robert Smith, 1st Baron Carrington....
, at Whitehall Chapel
Whitehall
Whitehall is a road in Westminster, in London, England. It is the main artery running north from Parliament Square, towards Charing Cross at the southern end of Trafalgar Square...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He retired from the army in 1868 on the death of his father.
He was Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Renfrewshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 until 1801 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885....
from 1873 to 1874, and for West Renfrewshire from 1885 to 1892. He was also Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire
Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire
The Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire is the representative of the British Crown covering a lieutenancy area of the county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland...
from 1904 to 1908. On 4 May 1880, he was created Baronet Campbell of Blythswood
Campbell Baronets
There have been 19 Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Campbell, seven in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and twelve in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom.-Campbell Baronets, of Glenorchy :...
and was an Aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Queen Victoria
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
. In 1888 he was awarded an honorary doctorate of Law
Doctor of law
Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
from the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and made a Freeman
Freedom of the City
Freedom of the City is an honour bestowed by some municipalities in Australia, Canada, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Rhodesia to esteemed members of its community and to organisations to be honoured, often for service to the community;...
of the City of Glasgow. On 24 August 1892, he was created Baron Blythswood
Baron Blythswood
Baron Blythswood, in the County of Renfrew, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 24 August 1892 for Sir Archibald Campbell, 1st Baronet, the former Member of Parliament for Renfrew, with remainder failing heirs male of his own to five of his younger brothers and the...
, with a special remainder to his five younger brothers.
He was a notable amateur scientist and took his wife to Thebes to observe the Transit of Venus
Transit of Venus
A transit of Venus across the Sun takes place when the planet Venus passes directly between the Sun and Earth, becoming visible against the solar disk. During a transit, Venus can be seen from Earth as a small black disk moving across the face of the Sun...
in 1874, taking with him a small transit instrument, a 6-inch telescope and a 12-inch telescope, recording the time of first contact, and also observed a white halo, proving an atmosphere around Venus. From 1892 to 1905 the Blythswood Laboratory at his family seat was used to experiment into many areas at the borders of physics, including the use of cathode rays, X-rays, spectroscopy and radioactivity. He designed a speed indicator, which was fitted to ships of the Royal Navy, and carried out studies into the efficiency of aerial propellers some years before the Wright Brothers' first powered flight in 1903. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in May, 1907.
He died on at age 73 at his home Blythswood House
Blythswood House
Blythswood House was a neoclassical mansion at Renfrew, Scotland. It was designed in 1821, by the eminent architect James Gillespie Graham for Archibald Campbell, the Member of Parliament for the Glasgow District of Burghs....
, Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas used for local government in Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Renfrewshire, the others being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east...
, without issue and was buried on 11 July 1908 at Inchinnan
Inchinnan
Inchinnan is a small village in Renfrewshire, Scotland. The village is located on the main A8 road between Renfrew and Greenock, just southeast of the town of Erskine.-History:...
. His baronetcy became extinct but his barony passed to his brother, Sholto.