ARGYLE', AltmanAm) CAMPBELL, Marquis of, an eminent political character of the 17th c., was b. in 1598, and succeeded to the earldom of A. in 1638. Already he had given proofs of that strength of religious principle which marked his whole life, and of a perilous union of attachment to the king and of faith in the principles against which the king made war. In the general assembly at Glasgow, in Nov., 1638, he openly took the side of the covenanters, and thenceforth became recognized as their political head. In 1610, he commanded a military expedition through Badnoch, Athole, Mar, and Angus, for the purpose of enforcing subjection to the Scottish parliament. On the king's visit to Scotland, in 1641, he found it convenient to show peculiar favor to A., and created him a marquis. On the breaking out of hostilities, A. was still desirous for negotiation, but was finally compelled to take the field. In April, 1644, he dispersed the royalist forces under the marquis of Huntly, in Aberdeenshire. He was less successful in withstanding the genuis of Montrose, who, on the 2d Feb., 1645, almost annihilated his army at Inverlochy. His estates had suffered so much in the preceding year from the ravages of the brilliant cavalier, that a sum of public money was voted for his support. In Aug., 1646, he went to London, with Loudon and Dunfermline, to treat with the parliament for a mitigation of the articles presented to the king. He was at the same time the bearer of a secret commission from the king, to treat with the duke of Richmond and the marquis of Hertford, on the propriety of a Scottish demonstration in favor of Charles. On the defeat of the " engagement " plan, to which he had been decidedly opposed, the government of Scotland devolved on A. and the other Presby terian leaders. In the parliament of Feb. 1649, Charles II. was proclaimed king, and at Scone, on the 1st of Jan., 1651, A. put the crown on his head. At this time, it was even said that the complaisant monarch intended to marry one of his daughters. As head of the committee of estates, A. took vigorous measures to oppose Cromwell's invasion of Scotland, and still adhered to the king, after the subjugation of the country. After the battle of 'Worcester, he retired to Inverary, where he held out for a year against Crom well's troops. Falling sick, he was taken prisoner by gen. Dean. He refused submis sion to the protector, but took an engagement to live peaceably, which he strictly kept.
On the restoration, he repaired to Whitehall, encouraged by a flattering letter from the king to his son. Impeached with the crime of having submitted to the usurper (to whom he had refused allegiance), he was committed to the Tower, and on the 13th Feb., 1661, was brought before the Scottish parliament on the charge of treason. He defended him self with spirit, but in vain. On the 27th May, he was executed at Edinburgh—having displayed throughout his whole trial, and on the scaffold, the dignity of a true nobleman, and the meekness of a Christian.
His son, ARCHIBALD, 9th Earl of A., was early distinguished by personal accom plishments, and exhibited great bravery on the disastrous day of Dunbar, where he commanded a regiment on the royal side. After Worcester, he continued, like his father, in arms, and made himself so obnoxious to the parliamentary leaders, that he was specially excepted by Cromwell from the act of grace in 1654. After much harassing persecution, he submitted to the parliament, but continued to be closely watched. Ou the restoration of Charles II., he was received into high favor (as a balance to the execu tion of his father), and, unfortunately for his own fame, participated in some of the iniquitous acts of the Scottish legislature. He had, however, numerous and active enemies; and, on the ground of an intercepted letter, in which he had complained of neglect, he was tried and condemned to death by the Scottish parliament for the imaginary crime of lam snajestas. The influence of Clarendon restored him to liberty and favor; ei'en the king himself was prejudiced in his favor; but his explanation in subscribing the infamous test framed by the Scottish parliament in 1681 was declared treasonable, and he was again condemned to death. The devotion of his wife enabled him to escape from Edinburgh castle in the disguise of a page; and after remaining con cealed some time, he fled to Holland. Landing in the north of Scotland, in May, 1685, with an armed forced, to co-operate in the revolt of Monmouth, he was, after a series of misfortunes, taken prisoner, hastily condemned, and beheaded, June 30, 1685. IIis son Archibald, one of the deputation sent by the Scottish Convention tOpresent the crown to the prince of Orange, was iu 1701 created duke of Argyle.