Campbell of Loudoun

Campbell of Loudoun

Campbells of Loudoun are the oldest branch of the house of Argyll, and are descended from Donald, second son of Sir Colin Campbell of Lochaw, and brother of Sir Neil Campbell, the friend of King Robert Bruce. The title is derived from the barony in Ayrshire, was originally the possession of the Loudouns of Loudoun, one of the oldest families in Scotland. Margaret of Loudoun, the heiress of the estate, married Sir Reginald Crawford, High Sheriff of Ayr, and was the grandmother of Sir William Wallace, the famous Scottish patriot. The barony passed to the Campbells in the reign of King Robert (the Bruce) by the marriage of Sir Duncan, son of Donald Campbell, to Susanne Crawford, heiress of Loudoun, and fifth in descent from Sir Reginald Crawford. Sir Hugh Campbell, Sheriff of Ayr, was created a Lord of Parliament by the title of Lord Campbell of Loudoun, by James VI., in 1601. His granddaughter, Margaret Campbell, who inherited his title and estates, married Sir John Campbell of Lawers, a descendant of the Campbells of Glenorchy, later known as the Campbell of Breadalbane family.

Earl of Loudoun, named after Loudoun in Ayrshire, is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1633 for John Campbell, 2nd Lord Campbell of Loudoun, along with the subsidiary title Lord Tarrinzean and Mauchline. The 1st Earl's wife Margaret was the granddaughter and heiress of Hugh Campbell, who had been created Lord Campbell of Loudoun; he resigned the peerage in favour of his grandson-in-law, who was later created an earl.

The 6th Countess married the 2nd Earl of Moira, who was later created Marquess of Hastings. The next three Earls also held that Marquessate. However, with the death of the 4th Marquess, the Marquessate became extinct, but the Earldom passed to the elder daughter of the 2nd Marquess. The title passed from Clan Campbell with the death of Lady Flora Mure-Campbell, suo jure (6th) Countess of Loudoun on 8 January 1840.

The heir apparent to the Earldom uses the courtesy title Lord Mauchline.

Campbell of Loudoun throughout history:

• Duncan Campbell of Reid Castle, (before 1300)
• Sir Andrew Campbell, (b. circa 1319, d. after 1367)
• George Campbell of Loudoun, (b. circa 1345)
• Sir Hugh Campbell of Loudoun, (b. circa 1370, d. 1483)
• George Campbell of Loudoun, (d. 1485)
• George Campbell of Loudoun, (b. circa 1436, d. 1491)
• Sir George Campbell of Loudoun, (b. circa 1449, d. circa 1492)
• Hugh Campbell of Loudoun, (b. circa 1476, d. before 1508)
• Sir Matthew Campbell of Loudoun, (before 1600)

Lords Campbell of Loudoun (1601)

• Hugh Campbell, 1st Lord Campbell of Loudoun (d. 15 Dec 1622)
  • George Campbell, Master of Loudoun (d. Mar 1611/12)
    • Margaret Campbell, 2nd Baroness Campbell of Loudoun, (b. c 1605, d. a 15 Mar 1661/62)

• John Campbell, 2nd Lord Campbell of Loudoun later 1st Earl of Loudoun, PC (b. 1598) (1st son and heir of Sir James Campbell of Lawers)

Earls of Loudoun (1633)

• John Campbell, 1st Earl of Loudoun, (b. 1598, d. 15 March 1661/62)
• James Campbell, 2nd Earl of Loudoun, (d. 1684)
• Hugh Campbell, 3rd Earl of Loudoun, KT PC, (d. 20 November 1731)
• General John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun (b. 5 May 1705, d. 27 Apr 1782)
• James Campbell [later Mure-Campbell], 5th Earl of Loudoun (b. 11 Feb 1726)
• Lady Flora Mure-Campbell, suo jure (6th) Countess of Loudoun, (b. Aug 1780)
• George Augustus Francis Rawdon-Hastings, 2nd Marquess of Hastings and 7th Earl of Loudoun (b.?)
• Lady Edith Maud Rawdon-Hastings, suo jure (8th) Countess of Loudoun, (b. 10 Dec 1833)
• Henry Weysford Charles Plantagenet [later Rawdon-Hastings], 4th Marquess of Hastings, 9th Earl of Loudoun, (b. 22 Jul 1842)
• Lady Edith Maud Rawdon-Hastings, suo jure (10th) Countess of Loudoun, (b. 10 Dec 1833)
• Charles Edward Hastings [later Rawdon-Hastings, later Abney-Hastings], 11th Earl of Loudoun, (b. 5 Jan 1855)
• Lady Edith Maud Abney-Hastings, suo jure (12th) Countess of Loudoun, (b. 13 May 1883)
• Lady Barbara Abney-Hastings [née Huddleston], suo jure (13th) Countess of Loudoun, (b. 3 Jul 1919)
• Michael Edward Abney-Hastings [née Lord], 14th Earl of Loudoun, (b. 22 Jul 1942)
• Simon Michael Abney-Hastings, 15th Earl of Loudoun, (b. 1974)

The heir presumptive to the Earldom of Loudoun is The Hon. Marcus William Abney-Hastings, Lord Mauchline, (b. 1981) second son of the 14th Earl of Loudoun and brother of the present Earl.