John Campbell was born in 1723, son of General John Campbell, the 4th Duke of Argyll and the Hon Mary Bellenden. He joined the army and fought his first battle at Dettingen in 1743. In 1745 he was Lieutenant-Colonel in the 54th Foot, and then the 43rd with whom he went to Flanders. He returned to Scotland when the Jacobite rebellion broke out and fought at Falkirk in 1746 with Lt-General Hawley and the Argyllshire Highlanders. He also fought at Culloden.
He was promoted to Colonel and appointed ADC to George II in November 1755. His Colonelcies included:
23rd Dec 1755 to 4th April 1757 54th Foot
5th April 1757 to 10th Sep 1765 14th Dragoons
1759 Argyllshire Fencibles
11th Sep 1765 to 8th May 1782 1st Royal Regiment of Foot
9th May 1782 to 24th May 1806 Scots Guards
He was promoted to Major-General in 1759, and to Lieutenant-General in January 1761. He was Commander-in-Chief in Scotland from 1762-65 and again in 1767. He was promoted to General in 1778 and became a Field-Marshal on 30th July 1796. When his father inherited the title of 4th Duke in 1761, John became Marquess of Lorne. He succeeded to the Dukedom on 9 Nov 1770 along with several other titles.
In 1759 Campbell married Elizabeth Gunning, Baroness Hamilton of Hameldon. They had two daughters, Lady Augusta and Lady Charlotte, and two sons, George Campbell who was the 6th Duke, and John Campbell who was the 7th Duke of Argyll. He was MP for Glasgow Burghs from 1744 to 1761, and Dover from 1765 to 1766. Campbell was a great improver of land and was honoured and respected by everyone. He died at the age of 82 on 24th May 1806.
