Gen. John Campbell (4th Earl of Loudoun)1

M, #14985, b. 5 May 1705, d. 27 April 1782
Father*Hugh Campbell (3rd Earl of Loudoun)1 d. 10 Nov 1731
Mother*Margaret Dalrymple1 b. 1677, d. 3 Apr 1777
Birth*5 May 1705 Gen. John Campbell (4th Earl of Loudoun) was born on 5 May 1705.2 
Event-Misc*between 1734 and 1782 He had the following event: between 1734 and 1782 Gov. Gen. of Virginia and Comander in Chief of the Forces in America, a Representative Peer for Scotland. 
Letter28 September 1757 He and John Campbell (Rev) (Immigrant 1717) were New Tag To The Right Honourable John Earl of Loudon Lt General & Commander in Chief of his Majesties Land forces in North America.
May it please your Lordship
Being much advanced in age and the declining state of my health do at this time prevent my waiting on your Lordship in person: but your celebrated goodness benevolence to mankind ___ me that you will vouchsafe a smiling reception to my address preformed by my 2 sons Duncan Campbell Esqr and Alexr Campbell physician, in which my humble and importunate Request is, that it would please your Lordship, according to your usual compassion and kindness, to recommend my said two sons to the favourable regard of his excellency Govornour Pownal, that it would please his excellency to remember them in the distribution and bestowment of commissions in the county of Worcester in the province of the Massachusetts Bay in N.E. particularly to grant to my son Duncan Campbell to principall sheriff in said county. And to my son Alexr Campbell the first commission in the militia at Oxford; or otherwise to regard them as his excellency thinks fit agreeable to your Lordships recommendation. But if any or all of these should fail, I am sure Your Lordship can not only recommend but commend that one or both my sons be favored with the privilege of buying and driving cattle to one commissary or other of some division of his Majesties Land _ws encamped in or near N.E. which I presume might be some help to them. I humbly hope your Lordship will be pleased to think of this, and order it to be done. The motive which make me believe that your Lordship will be pleased to admit my sons unto your presence and take some notice of them are these following viz.
1 Your uncommon affableness to all ranks of men, which is ___ by goodman a very flourishing branch of your noble virtures.
2 I am your lordship’s countryman & namesake. The motto of many of the name has been courteous & kind & constant of mind.
Again permit me Sr in a most humble manner to absense [?] That your most humble petitioner hath remained in the said county of Worcester, for almost 40 years, but yet none of his family (tho perhaps as deserving as some others) have been favored with any place of profit in said county even unto this day: but all attempts for that and have been industriously defeated by the Sc___ of Restless opposors: altho the elder has been a Representative in the General Assembly of the Province for give years; and the other was in his Majesties Service in the late Expedition to Nova Scotia for the space of eighteen months: and twelve of said ___ (sqire?) was chyrurgion in Col. Seals Battalion for which he never received one farthing: altho his conduct and behavious was very generally approved and well spoken of. Add to that your Lordships petitioner hath to provide forand help his childrens comferteble and decent settlement and subsistence in the world: and particularly one of his daughters a widow with eight children, their father dying in the camp at Lake George, about two years since; and his youngest son Archibald Campbell to maintain at Cambridge College. All which much straitens him: and therefore heartly wishes and prays your Lordship would be pleased to put a favourable meaning upon his incorrect address, and freedom used therein which will lay the highest obligations of gratitude upon Your Lordships Most humber petitioner sincere friend & servant John Campbell. Oxford N:E: September 28th 1757
     The transcription of this letter is used with permission. We'd love to post the digitized image, but it's a major hassle that involves a contract which is only good for two years and some hefty fines if someone were to "take" the images.
     In 2006, Arlene Eakle, assisted by Kathryn Bassett researched in the Loudoun Collection. Though the Loudoun Campbells had more than 10,000 documents in their collection, including draft copies of letters they wrote, there was nothing to indicate that the Earl ever wrote back to Rev. John, and nothing to indicate that he visited though that is purported by others to have happened.
     PS. a chyrurgion is basically a surgeon on 28 September 1757.3 
Death*27 April 1782 Gen. John Campbell (4th Earl of Loudoun) died on 27 April 1782 at age 76; unmarried, so the title reverted to his cousin James, 3rd son of 2nd Earl.1 
Last Edited4 Oct 2012

Citations

  1. [S208] Burke's Peerage an Baronetage, One Hundred and Fifth Edition, 1970 1st impression, 1975 2nd impression, pg 1657.
  2. [S267] http://en.wikipedia.org.
  3. [S211] The Loudoun Collection at the Huntington Library in San Marino CA, folio 4538.