Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Campbell, Colin (d.1493)
CAMPBELL, COLIN, second Lord Campbell and first Earl of Argyll (d. 1493), was the son of Archibald, second, but eldest, surviving son of Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochow, created Lord Campbell in 1445. He succeeded his grandfather in 1453. On the death of his father he was placed under the care of his uncle, Sir Colin Campbell of Glenorchy, who concluded a match between him and Isabel Stewart, the eldest of the three daughters, and coheiresses of John, third lord of Lorne. Having acquired the principal part of the landed property of the two sisters of his wife, he exchanged certain lands in Perthshire for the lordship of Lorne with Walter, their uncle, on whom the lordship of Lorne, which stood limited to heirs male, had devolved. In 1457 he was created, by James II, Earl of Argyll. He was one of the commissioners for negotiating a truce with Edward IV of England, in 1463. In 1465 he was appointed, along with Lord Boyd, lord justiciary of Scotland on the south of the Forth, and after the flight of Lord Boyd to England he acted as sole justiciary. In 1474 he was appointed one of the commissioners to settle the treaty of alliance with Edward IV, by which James, prince of Scotland, was affianced to Cecilia, youngest daughter of Edward. Early in 1483 he received the office of lord high chancellor of Scotland. He was one of the commissioners sent to France in 1484 te renew the ancient league with the crown, which was confirmed at Paris 9 July, and also one of the commissioners who concluded the pacification at Nottingham with Richard III, 21 Sept. of the same year. In 1487 he joined the conspiracy of the nobles against James III, and at the time of the murder of the king, after the battle of Sauchieburn, he was in England on an embassy to Henry VII. After the accession of James IV he was restored to the office of lord high chancellor. He died 10 May 1493. He had two sons and seven daughters. It is from him that the greatness of the house of Argyll properly dates. Besides the lordship of Lorne he also acquired that of Campbell and Castle Campbell in the parish of Dollar, and in 1481 he received a grant of many lands in Knapdale, along with the keeping of Catle Sweyn, which had formerly been held by the lords of the Isles. In the general political transactions of Scotland he acted a leading part, and as regards the south-western highlands he laid the foundation of that unrivalled influence which the house of Argyll has enjoyed for many centuries.
[Register of the Great Seal of Scotland; Rymer’s Fœdera; Crawford’s Officers of State, i. 43-7; Douglas’s Scotch Peerage, i. 88-9.]