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1260 - Eariest known "Campbel" - Gilleasbaig of Menstrie, father of Cailean Mor

1280 - Cailein Mor (Colin the Great) knighted and established as Loch Awe

1296 - Cailein Mor killed by the MacDougalls at the String of Lorne

1308 - Robert the Bruce defeats MacDougall’s in Pass of Brander. Dunstaffnage Castle taken and placed under a Campbel constable

1314 - Campbels fought with Robert the Bruce and defeated Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn. Cailein Mor's son Sir Neil Cambel one of the Commissioners for peace after the English defeat at the Battle of Bannockburn. Family rewarded with marriage between Mary (Robert the Bruce’s sister) and Sir Niall Campbel. Their son, John Campbel, was created Earl of Atholl and was killed 1333 at the Battle of Halidon Hill.

1315 - Sir Neil's son Sir Colin granted the whole land of Lochawe and the land of Ardskeodnish (Kilmartin) as Lord of Lochawe

1445 - Sir Duncan Cambell, great-grandson of Sir Neil, is made 1st Lord Campbell. This is when the modern version of "Campbell" became the official spelling of the family name.

1450 - First Inveraray Castle was built

1457 - Duncan Lord Campbell's grandson Sir Colin Campbell made 1st Earl of Argyll

1470 - Earl Colin Campbell is granted the Lordship of Lorne and quarters the galley of Lorne on his shield and personal arms

1474 - Earl Colin Campbell has Inveraray erected to a burgh of barony

1494 - 2nd Earl given title of "Master o the Royal Household in Scotland". Title still held by the Duke of Argyll to this day

1513 - Archibald 2nd Earl of Argyll dies beside his king, James IV, on Flodden field

1538 - Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll, is born. He later commanded a larger army than either Mary Queen of Scots or Elizabeth of England

1563 - Mary Queen of Scots visits her brother-in-law Earl Archibald at his castle of Inveraray

1568 - Battle of Langside – Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl commanded forces who fought for Mary Queen of Scots

1592 - John Campbell of Cawdor murdered in Argyll as part of a conspiracy by Campbell of Glenurchy and Campbell of Ardkinglas in a dispute over control of the young chief

1603 - Elizabeth of England dies, leaving James IV of Scots the throne of England besides, and the court moves to London which means that the Earls of Argyll are obliged to spend more time there

1606 - Earl of Argyll has Royal Grant of Kintyre

1617 - The 7th Earl had gone overseas and the court had moved to London. The Western Highlands and Islands became increasingly torn by strife and the leaders of Clan Campbell were summoned to Edinburgh and ordered to restore law and order

1641 - Archibald, 8th Earl of Argyll, was made Marquess of Argyll

1644 - 8th Earl/1st Marquess of Argyll leads the Covenanters opposed to Charles I. Inveraray invaded by Royalists under Montrose and surrounding area is devastated.Young Irish Harpist murdered in State Bed of the MacArthurs of Loch Awe, now in the MacArthur room, Inverary Castle. One of the many ghosts which allegedly haunt Inverary castle today.

1644-5 - Alastair MacColla and his Irish of Clan Donnel invade Inveraray at Christmas and ravage Argyll killing every man, woman and child in Inveraray.

1645 - The government forces under the Marquess of Argyll, including the greater part of Clan Campbell, are defeated at the Battle of Inverlochy

1661 - Earl of Argyll places the crown on Charles II, 23 April 1661

1661 - The Marquess of Argyll (aged 54) is beheaded on `The Maiden' in Edinburgh, 27 May 1661

1678 - Archibald the 9th Earl, son of the Marquess, invades the MacLean lands on the Isle of Mull and garrisons of Duart Castle

1685 - The 9th Earl of Argyll (aged 56) invades Argyll from Holland as part of Monmouth's rebellion. He is captured near Glasgow and beheaded on `The Maiden' in Edinburgh, 30 June 1685

1688 - The 10th Earl of Argyll helps to welcome William and Mary to Britain in place of the Catholic James who has fled

1692 - The Earl of Argyll's regiment of the British army is billeted upon the MacDonalds of Glencoe for failure to pay taxes. The troops are later and quite suddenly ordered to kill the MacDonalds, with the resultant "Massacre of Glencoe" in which 38 men were killed for not pledging allegiance to the new monarchs by 1 January 1692

1701 - The 10th Earl of Argyll is made 1st Duke of Argyll (Scotland)

1703 - 2nd Duke of Argyll inherits Dukedom, John Cambpell

1707 - The Treaty of Union between Scotland and England unites the two parliaments after being promoted in Scotland by John Campbell the 2nd Duke of Argyll

1713 - Finding the English are not fulfilling the spirit of the Union, John, 2nd Duke of Argyll, attempts, but fails, to have the Union dissolved

1714 - John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll, appears uninvited at the Privy Council and tilts the balance in favor of the Hanoverian succession upon the approaching death of Queen Anne

1715 - John, 2nd Duke of Argyll, commands the British forces against the Jacobite army of the Earl of Mar at the Battle of Sheriffmuir, preventing further civil war

1719 - John, 2nd Duke of Argyll granted Dukedom of Greenwich (title lapsed as no male heirs)

1719 - John Vanbrugh asked to design plans for a new residence in Inveraray to befit the Dukedom

1725 - The 2nd Duke of Argyll is made a Field Marshal of the British army

1743 - 3rd Duke of Argyll inherits Dukedom. Archibald Campbell. Another distinguished soldier, he leaves the army for politics and subsequently becomes Lord Justice General of Scotland. Plans to develop the garden and surrounding policies implemented. Over the next 40 years the ‘Watch Tower’ at the top of the hill, the Doocot, Frew’s Bridge amongst others constructed. Sections of the River Aray canalised and cascades set in place to enhance the sound of flowing water.

1745 - Archibald, 3rd Duke of Argyll, who had already started the new castle at Inveraray, opposes the Jacobite rising, and protested Cumberland's cruelty after Culloden

1746 - Foundation stone of the new Inveraray Castle laid

1746 - ‘Colonel Jack’, later 5th Duke of Argyll commands Argyll Militia at Culloden

1752 - Colin Campbell ‘Red Fox’ of Glenure shot in Appin. Story made famous in Robert Louis Stevenson’s book "Kidnapped"

1760 - 4th Duke of Argyll inherits Dukedom, John Campbell, had brillant military career before becoming Duke, served as Lt. General in British Army, Member of Parliament, and Groom of the Bedchamber

1760 - 5th Duke of Argyll inherits Dukedom, John Campbell

1783 - 5th Duke orders the displays of arms in Armoury Hall still seen today.

1789 - Inveraray Castle completed

1794 - Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochnell raises Argyleshire Highlanders for the 5th Duke. They later become the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

1796 - The 5th Duke of Argyll is made a Field Marshal of the British army, 30 July 1796

1806 - 6th Duke of Argyll inherits Dukedom, George William Campbell

1839 - 7th Duke of Argyll inherits Dukedom. John Douglas Edward Henry Campbell. Worked hard to restore the family fortunes and reputation

1845 - Birth of John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell, Marquess of Lorne

1847 - 8th Duke of Argyll inherits Dukedom. George John Douglas Campbell. A successful politician, Cabinet minister, Knight of both the Thistle and the Garter, (a rare honor), Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Royal Society in Edinburgh, as well as a writer on science, religion, and the politics of the 19th century.

1871 - The Marquess of Lorne is married to Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria

1877 - Major fire at Inveraray Castle. Architect Anthony Salvin employed to repair and improve damaged building. Conical towers added to the turrets and third floor.

1878 - The Marquess of Lorne is made Governor General of Canada

1892 - George, 8th Duke of Argyll, created Duke of Argyll in the peerage of the United Kingdom as well as of Scotland.

1899 - George, 8th Duke of Argyll presents the sacred buildings and sites of the Isle of Iona to the Iona Cathedral Trust. The island itself, remains in Argyll hands until the 1970's until it is sold to pay "death taxes" on the Argyll Estate

1900 - 9th and 2nd Duke of Argyll inherits Dukedom, John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell

1914 - 10th and 3rd Duke of Argyll inherits Dukedom, Niall Diarmid Campbell. Referred to as "Scotland's most picturesque Duke". Never married, live in "monastic seclusion"

1949 - 11th and 4th Duke of Argyll inherits Dukedom, Ian Douglas Campbell

1937 - Birth of 12th Duke of Argyll, Ian Campbell

1940 - 11th Duke, a gallant officer taken prisoner with most of the Highland Division in France in 1940, remained in German POW camp until 1944

1968 - Birth of Torquhil Ian Cambpell, 13th and present Duke of Argyll

1973 - 12th and 5th Duke of Argyll inherits Dukedom, Ian Campbell succeeds his father as 12th Duke of Argyll and Mac Cailein Mor, Chief of Clan Campbell

1975 - Second major fire damages the upper floors of Inveraray Castle. The 12th Duke decides to rebuild and restore the castle to it's original state, a daunting task taking several years and in which he succeeds. A Worldwide effort to raise funds for the restoration is spearheaded by the Clan Campell Society (USA)

2001 - 13th and 6th Duke of Argyll inherits Dukedom, Torquhil Ian Campbell. Our present Chief succeeds his father as 13th Duke of Argyll and Mac Cailein Mor, Chief of Clan Campbell

2002 - His Grace the Duke of Argyll, Torquhil Ian Campbell marries Eleanor Cadbury.

2004 - Lord Archie Frederick Campbell, Marquess of Lorne, future Chief of Clan Campbell is born.

2004 - 13th Duke, Captain of the Chivas Regal Scotland team World Elephant Polo Association (WEPA) Championship

2005 - 13th Duke, Captain of the Chivas Regal Scotland team back-to-back World Elephant Polo Association (WEPA) Championships and two times winner of the Kings Cup in Thailand

2006 - Birth of Lord Rory James Campbell

2008 - Birth of Lady Charlotte Campbell

 

 

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Membership is open to all Campbells, Campbell septs, those married to a Campbell or Campbell Sept, those descended from Clan Campbell, and to those interested in learning about the Clan Campbell, Scottish history and culture, and who acknowledge Mac Cailein Mòr as their Clan Chief, as he is the Chief of Clan Campbell, the greatest family in all of Scotland! (We're a "wee bit" biased.)

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