John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun
Encyclopedia
Major-General John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun (5 May 1705 – 27 April 1782) was a British
nobleman and army officer.
on the side of the Hanoverian government. The regiment consisted of twelve companies, with Loudoun as colonel and John Campbell
(later 5th Duke of Argyll) as lieutenant colonel. The regiment was raised and served in several different parts of Scotland; three of the twelve companies, raised in the south, were captured at Prestonpans
. Eight companies, under the personal command of Lord Loudoun, were stationed in Inverness
. Loudoun set out in February 1746 with this portion of his regiment and several of the Independent Companies in an attempt to capture the Jacobite pretender, Prince Charles Edward Stuart
. The expedition was ignominiously defeated by a small number of Jacobites in what became known as the Rout of Moy. After this debacle, Loudoun fell back to join the Duke of Cumberland's army, giving up the town of Inverness to the rebels.
and Governor General of Virginia, where he was unpopular with many of the colonial leaders. When he learned that some merchants were still trading with the French, while he was trying to fight a war against them, he temporarilly closed all American ports. Despite his unpopularity, the county of Loudoun
, which was formed from Fairfax
in 1757 was named in his honour. As Commander-in-Chief, he planned an expedition
to seize Louisbourg from the French in 1757 but called it off when intelligence (possibly including a French military deception
) indicated that the French forces there were too strong for him to defeat. While Loudoun was thus engaged in Canada, French forces captured Fort William Henry
from the British, and Loudoun was replaced by James Abercrombie
and returned to London.
On January 23, 1773, the town of Loudon, New Hampshire
was incorporated and named in Campbell's honor.
as second-in-command, and he became overall commander in 1763. Despite being unable to prevent the loss of Almeida
, the British forces soon launched a counter-attack that drove the invaders back across the border.
A bachelor, Loudoun was succeeded as earl by his cousin, James Mure-Campbell
.
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
nobleman and army officer.
Early career
Campbell inherited the peerage on the death of his father in 1731, becoming Lord Loudoun. The earl raised a regiment of infantry that took part in the Jacobite Rising of 1745Jacobite Rising of 1745
The Jacobite rising of 1745, often referred to as "The 'Forty-Five," was the attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the British throne for the exiled House of Stuart. The rising occurred during the War of the Austrian Succession when most of the British Army was on the European continent...
on the side of the Hanoverian government. The regiment consisted of twelve companies, with Loudoun as colonel and John Campbell
John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll
Field Marshal John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll , styled Marquess of Lorne from 1761 to 1770, was a Scottish soldier and nobleman.-Military career:...
(later 5th Duke of Argyll) as lieutenant colonel. The regiment was raised and served in several different parts of Scotland; three of the twelve companies, raised in the south, were captured at Prestonpans
Battle of Prestonpans
The Battle of Prestonpans was the first significant conflict in the Jacobite Rising of 1745. The battle took place at 4 am on 21 September 1745. The Jacobite army loyal to James Francis Edward Stuart and led by his son Charles Edward Stuart defeated the government army loyal to the Hanoverian...
. Eight companies, under the personal command of Lord Loudoun, were stationed in Inverness
Inverness
Inverness is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for the Highland council area, and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands of Scotland...
. Loudoun set out in February 1746 with this portion of his regiment and several of the Independent Companies in an attempt to capture the Jacobite pretender, Prince Charles Edward Stuart
Charles Edward Stuart
Prince Charles Edward Louis John Casimir Sylvester Severino Maria Stuart commonly known as Bonnie Prince Charlie or The Young Pretender was the second Jacobite pretender to the thrones of Great Britain , and Ireland...
. The expedition was ignominiously defeated by a small number of Jacobites in what became known as the Rout of Moy. After this debacle, Loudoun fell back to join the Duke of Cumberland's army, giving up the town of Inverness to the rebels.
North America
In 1756 Loudoun was sent to North America as Commander-in-ChiefCommander-in-Chief, North America
The office of Commander-in-Chief, North America was a military position of the British Army. Established in 1755 in the early years of the Seven Years' War, holders of the post were generally responsible for land-based military personnel and activities in and around those parts of North America...
and Governor General of Virginia, where he was unpopular with many of the colonial leaders. When he learned that some merchants were still trading with the French, while he was trying to fight a war against them, he temporarilly closed all American ports. Despite his unpopularity, the county of Loudoun
Loudoun County, Virginia
Loudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...
, which was formed from Fairfax
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
in 1757 was named in his honour. As Commander-in-Chief, he planned an expedition
Louisbourg Expedition (1757)
The Louisbourg Expedition was a failed British attempt to capture the French fortress of Louisbourg on Île Royale during the Seven Years' War ....
to seize Louisbourg from the French in 1757 but called it off when intelligence (possibly including a French military deception
Deception
Deception, beguilement, deceit, bluff, mystification, bad faith, and subterfuge are acts to propagate beliefs that are not true, or not the whole truth . Deception can involve dissimulation, propaganda, and sleight of hand. It can employ distraction, camouflage or concealment...
) indicated that the French forces there were too strong for him to defeat. While Loudoun was thus engaged in Canada, French forces captured Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry
Fort William Henry was a British fort at the southern end of Lake George in the province of New York. It is best known as the site of notorious atrocities committed by Indians against the surrendered British and provincial troops following a successful French siege in 1757, an event which is the...
from the British, and Loudoun was replaced by James Abercrombie
James Abercrombie (general)
General James Abercrombie or Abercromby was a British Army general and commander-in-chief of forces in North America during the French and Indian War, best known for the disastrous British losses in the 1758 Battle of Carillon.-Early life:Abercrombie was born in Glassaugh, Banffshire, Scotland to...
and returned to London.
On January 23, 1773, the town of Loudon, New Hampshire
Loudon, New Hampshire
Loudon is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,317 at the 2010 census. Loudon is the home of New Hampshire Motor Speedway....
was incorporated and named in Campbell's honor.
Portugal
In 1762 he was sent to Portugal to counter the Spanish invasion of PortugalSpanish invasion of Portugal (1762)
The Spanish invasion of Portugal, between 9 May and 24 November 1762, was the principal military campaign of the Spanish–Portuguese War, 1761–1763, which in turn was part of the larger Seven Years' War...
as second-in-command, and he became overall commander in 1763. Despite being unable to prevent the loss of Almeida
Siege of Almeida (1762)
The Siege of Almeida took place in August 1762 when a Spanish force besieged and captured the city of Almeida from its Portuguese defenders during the Seven Years' War. The city was taken on 25 August as part of the invasion of Portugal by a Spanish army commanded by the Conte De Aranda.The force...
, the British forces soon launched a counter-attack that drove the invaders back across the border.
A bachelor, Loudoun was succeeded as earl by his cousin, James Mure-Campbell
James Mure-Campbell, 5th Earl of Loudoun
James Mure-Campbell, 5th Earl of Loudoun was a Scottish aristocrat and soldier. He assumed the name of Mure on succeeding to the estate of his grandmother, the Countess of Glasgow, heiress of the family of Mure of Rowallan...
.
See also
- LoudounLoudounLoudoun is an area of East Ayrshire, Scotland, east of Kilmarnock. The word Loudoun is a derivative of the Celtic Pagan God name Lugus.Loudoun is a parish and is named after the former village which stood north of Galston. The area is commonly referred to as the "Irvine Valley", for the River...
- Fort Loudoun (Tennessee)Fort Loudoun (Tennessee)Fort Loudoun was a British colonial fort in present-day Monroe County, Tennessee, near the towns of the Overhill Cherokee. The fort was reconstructed during the Great Depression and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965.-History:...
- Loudonville, New YorkLoudonville, New YorkLoudonville is a hamlet in the town of Colonie, in Albany County, New York, United States. Loudonville was a census-designated place in the 1970, 1980, and 1990 US Census, but ceased to be in the 2000 Census.The area is not precisely defined...
- Loudon, New HampshireLoudon, New HampshireLoudon is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 5,317 at the 2010 census. Loudon is the home of New Hampshire Motor Speedway....
- John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun