Campbell family, Dukes of Argyll

The medieval estates of the Campbells were much increased by Colin Campbell of Lochow (Argyllshire) (d. 1493), who was created Earl of Argyll in 1457. Through marriage to a daughter and co-heir of John Stewart, Lord Lorne, he acquired the lordship of Lorne (Argyllshire). In 1489 he was granted the Rosneath (Dunbartonshire) estate by the Crown and in 1493 he acquired the lordship of Castle Campbell (Clackmannanshire). These estates were added to in the 16th century by royal grants of Abernethy and Muckart (Perthshire), both subsequently alienated, and the acquisition through marriage of Barbreck (Argyllshire), sold in the 1750s. They were further expanded by James VI & I's grant to the 7th Earl of the whole lordship of Kintyre in 1617. There were subsequent additions to the Argyll estates, including Lismore in the 19th century, but the Clackmannanshire estate was apparently disposed of in the late 18th or early 19th century.

Duddingston (Midlothian) passed to the Campbells from Elizabeth, Duchess of Lauderdale (d. 1698), whose daughter married the 1st Duke of Argyll (so created in 1701). It was sold in 1745 to the 8th Earl of Abercorn. The mansion known as The Whim (Peeblesshire) was built by the 3rd Duke, but sold at his death in 1761 to James Montgomery, Chief Baron of the Exchequer. The Chirton (Northumberland) estate acquired by the 1st Duke was apparently sold soon after his death. The English acquisitions of the 2nd and 3rd Dukes did not remain in family possession, the former (Sudbrooke (Surrey) and Adderbury (Oxfordshire)) being inherited by the 2nd Duke's daughter, Caroline, Countess of Dalkeith, and the latter, including Whitton (Middlesex) being bequeathed by the 3rd Duke to his mistress, Ann Williams.

Papers of the Callander family presumably entered family possession through the marriage in 1869 of Archibald, second son of the 8th Duke, to his father's ward, Janey Sevilla, daughter of James Henry Callander (d. 1851) of Craigforth (Stirlingshire) and Ardkinglas (Argyllshire).

Estates in 1883: 168,315 acres in Argyllshire and 6,799 acres in Dunbartonshire worth a total of £50,842 a year.