Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Campbell, John (1780-1863)
CAMPBELL, Sir JOHN (1780–1863), knight, major-general in the Portuguese service, son of William Campbell, commissioner of the navy board, by his wife, the daughter of Major Pitcairn, of the marines, who fell at Bunker's Hill, was born at his father's official residence in Chatham dockyard in 1780, and was educated at Harrow School. In 1800 he obtained a cornetcy in the 7th light dragoons (hussars), in which he became lieutenant in 1801, and captain in 1806. He served as brigade-major on the staff of General Crauford's force in South America in 1807, and was with his regiment in Spain in 1808, where he was present in the affairs at Sahagun and Benevente, under Lord Paget. Returning to Portugal on the cavalry staff in 1809, he was appointed to a lieutenant-colonelcy in the Portuguese cavalry, under Marshal Beresford, with which he served to the end of the war, frequently distinguishing himself by his talents and intrepidity. At the peace of 1814 he accepted an offer to remain in Portugal, and for the next six years was actively engaged in the organisation of the Portuguese forces. In 1815 he was created a knight-bachelor in the United Kingdom. In 1816 he married Doña Maria Brigida de Faria e Lacerda of Lisbon. In 1820 he obtained the rank of major-general in the Portuguese army, and was colonel of the 4th cavalry, deputy quartermaster-general, and K.C.T.S. When the agitation for a constitutional government commenced, he quitted the Portuguese service and returned to England, and having retained his rank of brevet lieutenant-colonel in the British army, to which he had been advanced in 1812, he was appointed lieutenant-colonel 75th foot, which rank he held from 1820 to 1824, when he retired by the sale of his commission. Though absent from Portugal,Campbell had kept up his relations with the absolute party in that country, and when Dom Miguel seized on the throne, he was summoned to his aid and invested with the rank of major-general. He worked as zealously for his patron as did the late Admiral Sir Charles Napier for the opposing party of Doña Maria de Gloria, but not with like success. His efforts to raise a naval force in the United Kingdom were defeated, although the opposite party had successfully evaded the provisions of the Foreign Enlistment Act, and when he actually took the field against the constitutionalists at Oporto, he accomplished nothing worthy of his old reputation as a dashing cavalry officer. When Dom Miguel withdrew from the contest, Campbell returned to England and retired from public life. He lived quietly and almost forgotten in London, where he married, in 1842, his second wife, Harriet Maria, widow of Major-general Sir Alexander Dickson, adjutant-general royal artillery. He died at his residence in Charles Street, Berkeley Square, on 19 Dec. 1863, in his eighty-fourth year.
[Annual Army Lists; Dod's Knightage; Gent. Mag. 3rd ser. (xvi.), p. 389.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.51
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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| ii | 9 f.e. | Campbell, Sir John (1780-1863): for K.C.T.S. read K.T.S. |