Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll

The Marquess of Argyll
The Marquess of Argyll, by David Scougall
Born	March 1607
Died	27 May 1661 Edinburgh, Scotland
Cause of death	Execution
Resting place	Kilmun Parish Church
Nationality	Scottish
Alma mater	University of St Andrews
Occupation	Chief of Clan Campbell, Politician
Title	1st Marquess of Argyll, 8th Earl of Argyll, member of the Privy Council of Scotland, Assembly of Divines, parliament of 1659 for Aberdeenshire
Spouse(s)	Lady Margaret Douglas
Children	Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll Lord Neill Campbell Lady Anne Campbell Lady Jean Campbell two other daughters
Parent(s)	Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll Agnes Douglas, Countess of Argyll

Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll, 8th Earl of Argyll, chief of Clan Campbell, (March 1607 – 27 May 1661) was a Scottish nobleman, politician, and peer. He was the de facto head of government of Scotland during most of the conflict known as the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. He was a major figure in the Covenanter movement that fought for the Presbyterian religion and what they saw as Scottish interests during the English Civil War of the 1640s and 1650s. He is often remembered as the arch-enemy of the royalist general James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose.

He was eldest son of Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll, by his first wife Agnes Douglas daughter of William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton, and was educated at St Andrews University, where he matriculated on 15 January 1622. He had early in life, as Lord Lorne, been entrusted with the possession of the Argyll estates when his father renounced Protestantism and took arms for Philip III of Spain; and he exercised over Clan Campbell an authority almost absolute, disposing of a force of 20,000 retainers, being, according to Baillie, "by far the most powerful subject in the kingdom".

Argyll was said to be of above average height, but slight in build. He had reddish hair, which darkened in later life - among the Highlanders he was often called "red Argyll" - and a pronounced squint. Contemporaries said he had a very charming and persuasive manner, although early in life he developed a habit of abruptly leaving the room if a conversation took a turn he did not like. Clarendon said that "his wit was pregnant, and his humour gay and pleasant, except when he liked not the company or the argument".