- Also called:
- (1677–81) Earl Of Caithness
- Born:
- c. 1635
- Died:
- March 19, 1717
John Campbell, 1st earl of Breadalbane and Holland
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Who was John Campbell, 1st earl of Breadalbane and Holland?
John Campbell, 1st earl of Breadalbane and Holland (c. 1635–1717), was a Scottish politician known for his alleged involvement in the Massacre of Glencoe.
Campbell, son of Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy, supported the restoration of Charles II in 1660. In 1677, Charles II made him earl of Caithness, then earl of Breadalbane and Holland in 1681. Following the Revolution of 1689, Campbell was tasked with securing the submission of rebellious Highlanders, allegedly keeping government funds and using threats and manipulation. Though suspected of welcoming the destruction of the MacDonald clan, who had a history of plundering his lands, he was likely not directly involved in organizing the massacre. Despite suspicions of Jacobite dealings, he avoided punishment, and later did not vote for the union of England and Scotland in 1707, but was a representative peer in the Parliament of Great Britain from 1713–1715.
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What role did John Campbell play in Scotland?
John Campbell, the 1st earl of Breadalbane and Holland, played a notable, if controversial, role in Scotland. Entrusted by London to secure the submission of rebellious Highlanders after the Revolution of 1689, he allegedly used bribery, threats, and wile, possibly keeping government money for himself.
His legacy is further tainted by the Massacre of Glencoe (1692), where the MacDonald clan, who had a history of plundering Campbell's lands, were murdered. Though suspected of complicity, no real evidence was found against him.
Despite not supporting the union of England and Scotland in 1707, he served as a representative peer in the Parliament of Great Britain (1713–15). Campbell maintained Jacobite contacts, and though he excused himself from a summons to Edinburgh during the Jacobite rising in 1715, he visited the Earl of Mar’s camp, seemingly to manipulate the situation for his own gain.
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What does it mean to be an earl in Scottish society?
An earl is a member of the British peerage, ranking below a marquess and above a viscount. The title originated in Scandinavia and appeared in England under Canute (1016–35) as jarl, evolving to eorl in Anglo-Saxon. Earls held official duties, presiding over courts with the bishop of the diocese, and were entitled to a third of the shire court's profits.
John Campbell (c. 1635–1717), the 1st earl of Breadalbane and Holland, was a Scottish politician known for his involvement in the Massacre of Glencoe. The Campbell family was a Scottish noble family, gaining prominence in the Middle Ages. In 1677, Charles II created John Campbell the earl of Caithness and viscount of Breadalbane but gave him a new patent as earl of Breadalbane and Holland in 1681.
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Which important political events did John Campbell influence?
John Campbell, 1st earl of Breadalbane and Holland, influenced Scottish politics through several key events. In 1660, he encouraged the restoration of Charles II. Entrusted with securing the submission of rebellious Highlanders after the Revolution of 1689, he used bribery and threats, and may have kept government money. He was suspected of involvement in the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692, but was never charged.
Although he did not vote for the union of England and Scotland in 1707, he was a representative peer in the Parliament of Great Britain from 1713–1715. Campbell also maintained contact with the Jacobites, encouraging them in 1708 and 1715, though he avoided committing himself in writing.
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How was John Campbell involved in the Glencoe Massacre?
John Campbell, 1st earl of Breadalbane and Holland, is remembered for his alleged complicity in the Massacre of Glencoe. Some suspected that he welcomed the opportunity to destroy the MacDonald clan, who had a history of plundering his lands. Although he was aware that violent action was planned, it is less likely that he was personally involved in organizing the massacre. No real evidence against him was disclosed, and his imprisonment in September 1695 was due to earlier dealings with the Jacobite chiefs. He was released when William III announced that Breadalbane had acted with royal approval.
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How is John Campbell remembered in Scottish history today?
John Campbell, the 1st Earl of Breadalbane and Holland, is mainly remembered for his suspected involvement in the Massacre of Glencoe. Although it's unlikely he organized the massacre, many believed that he welcomed the opportunity to destroy the MacDonald clan, who had a history of plundering his lands. Despite strong opinions against him, no real evidence was found, and his imprisonment in 1695 was due to earlier dealings with Jacobite chiefs. He also maintained connections with the Jacobites, and though he didn't support the union of England and Scotland in 1707, he served as a representative peer in the Parliament of Great Britain from 1713 to 1715.
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John Campbell, 1st earl of Breadalbane and Holland (born c. 1635—died March 19, 1717) was a Scottish politician, chiefly remembered for his alleged complicity in the Massacre of Glencoe.
The son of Sir John Campbell of Glenorchy, 4th Baronet (d. 1686), he took part in the Royalist uprising under the Earl of Glencairn in 1654 and later encouraged the restoration of Charles II in 1660. Charles created him earl of Caithness and viscount of Breadalbane in 1677; but, when this stirred up animosities in Caithness, Charles corrected himself and gave Campbell a new patent as earl of Breadalbane and Holland (1681).
To gain the support of the rebellious Highlanders after the Revolution of 1689, London entrusted him with the mission of securing the submission of the clans, partly through bribery. He apparently kept the government’s money for his own uses and sought to win over the rebels with threats and wile; he may even have consorted with them. Subsequently, in the Massacre of Glencoe (Feb. 13, 1692), several of the MacDonald clan were butchered in cold blood by troops to whom they had given hospitality. Opinion was strong against Breadalbane, who may well have welcomed the opportunity of destroying a clan that for generations had lived by plundering his lands and those of his neighbours; but, although he was aware that violent action was planned, it is less likely that he was personally involved in organizing the massacre. No real evidence against him was disclosed, and his imprisonment (September 1695) was on the ground of earlier dealings with the Jacobite chiefs. He was released when William III announced that Breadalbane had acted with royal approval.
Breadalbane did not vote for the union of England and Scotland in 1707, but he was a representative peer in the Parliament of Great Britain (1713–15). He maintained his contacts with the Jacobites, whom he encouraged in 1708, without, however, committing himself on paper. At the time of the Jacobite rising in 1715 he excused himself (September 19) from obeying a summons to Edinburgh on the ground of his age and infirmities; but the next day he visited the Earl of Mar’s camp at Logierait and afterward the camp at Perth, his real business being, according to the master of Sinclair, “to trick others, not to be trickt,” and to obtain a share of French subsidies. He is said to have promised and taken money for 1,200 men in the Jacobite cause, but he sent only 300 or 400, who acquitted themselves well at Sheriffmuir (1715) but were withdrawn after that battle. Breadalbane’s younger son was imprisoned, but he himself escaped any punishment for his part in the rising because of his age.
Breadalbane’s elder surviving son, Duncan, was passed over in the succession, allegedly because of a retarded mind. The younger son, John Campbell (1662–1752), became 2nd earl of Breadalbane and Holland.