Ilay Campbell, Lord Succoth

Sir Ilay Campbell, Lord Succoth FRSE LLD (1734–1823) was a Scottish advocate, judge and politician.

The Much Honoured Lord Succoth
Portrait by David Martin
Lord President of the Court of Session Lord Justice General
In office 1789–1808
Appointed by	George III
Preceded by	Lord Glenlee
Succeeded by	Robert Blair
Member of Parliament for Glasgow Burghs
In office 1784–1790
Preceded by	John Craufurd
Succeeded by	John Craufurd
Lord Advocate
In office 1784–1790
Preceded by	The Hon Henry Erskine
Succeeded by	Robert Dundas
Solicitor General for Scotland
In office 1783–1784
Preceded by	Alexander Murray
Succeeded by	Robert Blair
Personal details
Born	1734
Died	1823 (aged 89)
Political party	Pittite
Profession	Advocate, Judge, Politician

Life

Campbell's birthplace is given as either Argyll or Edinburgh. His mother was Helen Wallace, and his father, Archibald Campbell of Succoth, Principal Clerk of Session to the Scottish Courts.[1]

He attended Mundell's School in Edinburgh[2] and then the University of Glasgow to study law, graduating in 1751.

An advocate from 1757, he was engaged in the Douglas peerage case from 1764 to 1769. He was appointed Solicitor General for Scotland in 1783 and Lord Advocate in 1784. He became Member of Parliament for Glasgow Burghs in the same year. He was Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General from 1789 to 1808, where he sat as Lord Succoth.

On his resignation in 1808, he was created a baronet,[3] and resided at Garscube House,[4] about four miles from Glasgow on the banks of the river Kelvin. There he engaged in the management of his estate, and the performance of his duties as a country gentleman. Lord Cockburn says of him that "he lived like a patriarch in a house overflowing with company, beloved by troops of relations, and courted for his character and hospitality by many friends."

Campbell was awarded an honorary doctorate (LLD) from the University of Glasgow in 1784, and elected Lord Rector of the University in 1799. He died in 1823 aged 89.

Campbell was succeeded by his son Archibald, also a Senator of the College of Justice under the same title of Lord Succoth.

It is worth observing that the title "Lord Succoth" derived from the 1st and 2nd baronets' status as law lords rather than as Lords of Parliament. As such, the title "Lord Succoth" was not hereditable. The honorific "The Much Honoured" references a feudal barony ("of Succoth"). Sir Ilay's descendants remained baronets until the extinction of the baronetcy in 2017.[5]

Family

Campbell married Susan Mary Murray of Murrayfield, sister of Alexander Murray, Lord Henderland[6] in 1766. She lived until 1815.

Their daughter, Margaret Campbell, married Sir John Connell, Judge of the Admiralty Court, and their son, Arthur Connell FRSE (Campbell's grandson) was a chemist who discovered connellite.[1]

Their daughter Elizabeth Campbell (d.1853) married William Dalziell Colquhoun. Their daughter Mary Frances Campbell died in 1870 without marrying. These two sisters are buried in Dean Cemetery.

Positions of note

• Founder member of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (1783)
• Director of the Highland Society (1784)

References

1. http://www.royalsoced.org.uk/cms/files/fellows/biographical_index/fells_indexp1.pdf
2. "CAMPBELL, Ilay (1734–1823), of Succoth, Argyll. – History of Parliament Online".
3. "No. 16179". The London Gazette. 3 September 1808. p. 1214.
4. XLVI. Garscube Glasgow Digital Library: The old country houses of the old Glasgow gentry
5. Obituary of Sir Ilay Campbell of Succoth Bt. https://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary-sir-ilay-campbell-of-succoth-gardening-and-heraldry-expert-1-4375168
6. "MURRAY, Alexander (1736–95), of Murrayfield, Edinburgh, and Henderland, Peebles. – History of Parliament Online".

• "Campbell, Ilay" . Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by John Craufurd	Member of Parliament for Glasgow Burghs 1784–1790	Succeeded by John Craufurd
Legal offices
Preceded by Alexander Murray	Solicitor General for Scotland 1783–1784	Succeeded by Robert Blair
Preceded by The Hon Henry Erskine	Lord Advocate 1784–1789	Succeeded by Robert Dundas
Preceded by Lord Glenlee	Lord Justice General 1789–1808	Succeeded by Robert Blair
Academic offices
Preceded by George Oswald of Auchencruive	Rector of the University of Glasgow 1779–1801	Succeeded by Lord Craig
Baronetage of the United Kingdom
New creation	Campbell baronets (of Succoth) 1808–1823	Succeeded by Archibald Campbell