Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood

Who was Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood?

Lieutenant-Colonel Archibald Campbell, 1st Baron Blythswood FRS was a Scottish soldier, Tory politician, amateur scientist and Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

Born Archibald Campbell Douglas in Florence, Tuscany, he was the son of Archibald Campbell, 17th Laird of Mains, until 1838 known as Archibald Douglas.

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 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 a baronet, 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. He was conferred with Honorary Membership of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland in 1891. On 24 August 1892, he was created Baron Blythswood, with a special remainder to his five younger brothers.