Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Campbell, James (1745-1832)

1339972Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 08 — Campbell, James (1745-1832)1886Thomas Finlayson Henderson

CAMPBELL, Sir JAMES (1745–1832), author of ‘Memoirs written by Himself,’ was the eldest son of John Callander of Craigforth [q. v.], by his wife Mary, daughter of Sir James Livingstone of Quarter, and was born on 21 Oct. (O.S.) 1745. He was educated at the high school of Edinburgh, and afterwards under a private tutor. In 1759 he joined the 51st regiment as ensign, and served in the seven years' war. Under Sir John Acton he was inspector-general of troops at Naples, and at the request of Lord Nelson he went to the Ionian islands to confirm the inhabitants in their attachment to the English cause, remaining there till the peace of Amiens in 1802. On succeeding to the estate of his cousin-german, Sir Alexander Campbell of Ardkinglass, he adopted the name of Campbell. About this time he was resident in Paris, where he made the acquaintance of a French lady, Madame Lina Talina Sassen. Being detained by the order of Napoleon, he sent her as his commissioner to Scotland, designating her in the power of attorney with which he furnished her as his ‘beloved wife.’ On his return to Scotland he declined to recognise the relationship, and in consequence she raised an action against him in the court of session, when, although the marriage was found not proven, she was awarded a sum of 300l. per annum. On appeal to the House of Lords the award was withheld, and the lady occupied the remainder of her life in conducting various actions against him, being allowed to sue in formâ pauperis. Campbell died in 1832. He was three times married after a legal form and left a large family.

[Memoirs of Sir James Campbell of Ardkinglass, written by himself, 1832; Anderson's Scottish Nation; Burke's Landed Gentry, i. 250.]

T. F. H.