William Campbell (governor)
Encyclopedia
Lord William Campbell was from a Scottish family loyal to the British Crown. His father was John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll
.
From 1752 to 1760, he served in the Royal Navy
in India
. In 1762, because of the Seven Years' War
, he was scheduled to serve in America. He met and married a lady named Sarah Izard from South Carolina
in 1763. His father-in-law was a future American rebel and member of the Second Continental Congress
, Ralph Izard
. In 1764, they returned to Britain where he became a member of Parliament
, representing the family seat in Argyllshire
. In 1766 he was appointed Governor of Nova Scotia
, a position he held until 1773.
In June 1775, at the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War
, Campbell became the last British Governor of South Carolina — a position for which he had lobbied hard, because his wife was from South Carolina.
Charged with bringing in the reins on the colony's revolutionaries, Campbell first decided to ignore the newly established Provincial Congress
. The Provincial Congress was created in January of 1775 in Charleston by former members of the South Carolina House of Commons as a separate ruling government independent of British authority and influence. Knowing the great rift between the aristocratic
low-country and the backwoodsmen commoners of the backcountry, Campbell distributed pamphlet
s in mass numbers to backcountry citizens. The pamphlets stated that Charleston citizens were full of lies and the Provincial Congress could not be trusted.
Governor Campbell soon realized he could no longer reside and govern in safety in Charleston. Intimidation from Patriots
resulted in public hangings, assaults, and business/home raids of suspected Loyalists
. One home raided included that of Henry Laurens
, who would go on to become the third President
of the Second Continental Congress. Patriots were not afraid to intimidate or attack British officials, and in fact several officials fled the city to escape further persecution. In September 1775, Campbell fled Charleston
on a British warship in September of that same year and returned to England
. His departure marked the beginning of revolution in South Carolina and the end of British imperial rule
over the colony
.
In 1776, during the British
attack
upon Fort Moultrie, he was wounded by a splinter in the side while aboard Sir Peter Parker
's flagship, HMS Bristol
. He never fully recovered, and died of its effects two years later.
John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll
General John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll KT PC was a Scottish Whig politician in the 17th and 18th centuries.He was born to John Campbell, the third son of Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll, and Elizabeth Elphinstone, daughter of John Elphinstone, 8th Lord Elphinstone...
.
From 1752 to 1760, he served in the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. In 1762, because of the Seven Years' War
Seven Years' War
The Seven Years' War was a global military war between 1756 and 1763, involving most of the great powers of the time and affecting Europe, North America, Central America, the West African coast, India, and the Philippines...
, he was scheduled to serve in America. He met and married a lady named Sarah Izard from South Carolina
Province of South Carolina
The South Carolina Colony, or Province of South Carolina, was originally part of the Province of Carolina, which was chartered in 1663. The colony later became the U.S. state of South Carolina....
in 1763. His father-in-law was a future American rebel and member of the Second Continental Congress
Second Continental Congress
The Second Continental Congress was a convention of delegates from the Thirteen Colonies that started meeting on May 10, 1775, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, soon after warfare in the American Revolutionary War had begun. It succeeded the First Continental Congress, which met briefly during 1774,...
, Ralph Izard
Ralph Izard
Ralph Izard was a U.S. politician. He served as President pro tempore of the United States Senate in 1794.-Early life:...
. In 1764, they returned to Britain where he became a member of Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
, representing the family seat in Argyllshire
Argyllshire (UK Parliament constituency)
Argyllshire was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1708 to 1800 and of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 until 1950, when it was renamed Argyll...
. In 1766 he was appointed Governor of Nova Scotia
Lieutenant-Governors of Nova Scotia
The following is a list of the Governors and Lieutenant Governors of Nova Scotia. Though the present day office of the lieutenant governor in Nova Scotia came into being only upon the province's entry into Canadian Confederation in 1867, the post is a continuation from the first governorship of...
, a position he held until 1773.
In June 1775, at the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, Campbell became the last British Governor of South Carolina — a position for which he had lobbied hard, because his wife was from South Carolina.
Charged with bringing in the reins on the colony's revolutionaries, Campbell first decided to ignore the newly established Provincial Congress
Provincial Congress
"Provincial Congress" can refer to one of several extra-legal legislative bodies established in some of the Thirteen Colonies early in the American Revolution...
. The Provincial Congress was created in January of 1775 in Charleston by former members of the South Carolina House of Commons as a separate ruling government independent of British authority and influence. Knowing the great rift between the aristocratic
Aristocracy
Aristocracy , is a form of government in which a few elite citizens rule. The term derives from the Greek aristokratia, meaning "rule of the best". In origin in Ancient Greece, it was conceived of as rule by the best qualified citizens, and contrasted with monarchy...
low-country and the backwoodsmen commoners of the backcountry, Campbell distributed pamphlet
Pamphlet
A pamphlet is an unbound booklet . It may consist of a single sheet of paper that is printed on both sides and folded in half, in thirds, or in fourths , or it may consist of a few pages that are folded in half and saddle stapled at the crease to make a simple book...
s in mass numbers to backcountry citizens. The pamphlets stated that Charleston citizens were full of lies and the Provincial Congress could not be trusted.
Governor Campbell soon realized he could no longer reside and govern in safety in Charleston. Intimidation from Patriots
Patriot (American Revolution)
Patriots is a name often used to describe the colonists of the British Thirteen United Colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution. It was their leading figures who, in July 1776, declared the United States of America an independent nation...
resulted in public hangings, assaults, and business/home raids of suspected Loyalists
Loyalist (American Revolution)
Loyalists were American colonists who remained loyal to the Kingdom of Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. At the time they were often called Tories, Royalists, or King's Men. They were opposed by the Patriots, those who supported the revolution...
. One home raided included that of Henry Laurens
Henry Laurens
Henry Laurens was an American merchant and rice planter from South Carolina who became a political leader during the Revolutionary War. A delegate to the Second Continental Congress, Laurens succeeded John Hancock as President of the Congress...
, who would go on to become the third President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of the Second Continental Congress. Patriots were not afraid to intimidate or attack British officials, and in fact several officials fled the city to escape further persecution. In September 1775, Campbell fled Charleston
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
on a British warship in September of that same year and returned to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. His departure marked the beginning of revolution in South Carolina and the end of British imperial rule
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
over the colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
.
In 1776, during the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
attack
Battle of Sullivan's Island
The Battle of Sullivan's Island or the Battle of Fort Sullivan was fought on June 28, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, also known as the American War of Independence. It took place near Charleston, South Carolina, during the first British attempt to capture the city from American rebels...
upon Fort Moultrie, he was wounded by a splinter in the side while aboard Sir Peter Parker
Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet
Admiral of the Fleet Sir Peter Parker, 1st Baronet was a British naval officer.-Naval career:Peter Parker was born probably in Ireland. He became a lieutenant in the Royal Navy in 1743 and captain in 1747. In 1761, he took command of HMS Buckingham and helped cover operations on Belle Île...
's flagship, HMS Bristol
HMS Bristol (1775)
HMS Bristol was a fourth-rate ship with 50 guns, launched in 1775. During the American War of Independence, she was Sir Peter Parker's flagship during the attack on Sullivan's Island on June 28, 1776 and was heavily damaged during the battle. Later in the war, she was stationed off Jamaica, and...
. He never fully recovered, and died of its effects two years later.