George Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll

The Duke of Argyll
Portrait by Herbert Rose Barraud, c. 1870-75
Lord Privy Seal
In office
4 January 1853 – 7 December 1855
MonarchVictoria
Prime MinisterThe Earl of Aberdeen
The Viscount Palmerston
Preceded byThe Marquess of Salisbury
Succeeded byThe Earl of Harrowby
In office
18 June 1859 – 26 June 1866
MonarchVictoria
Prime MinisterThe Viscount Palmerston
The Earl Russell
Preceded byThe Earl of Hardwicke
Succeeded byThe Earl of Malmesbury
In office
28 April 1880 – 2 May 1881
MonarchVictoria
Prime MinisterWilliam Ewart Gladstone
Preceded byThe Duke of Northumberland
Succeeded byThe Lord Carlingford
Postmaster General
In office
30 November 1855 – 21 February 1858
MonarchVictoria
Prime MinisterThe Viscount Palmerston
Preceded byThe Viscount Canning
Succeeded byThe Lord Colchester
Secretary of State for India
In office
9 December 1868 – 17 February 1874
MonarchVictoria
Prime MinisterWilliam Ewart Gladstone
Preceded bySir Stafford Northcote, Bt
Succeeded byThe Marquess of Salisbury
Personal details
Born30 April 1823 (1823-04-30)
Ardencaple Castle, Dunbartonshire, Scotland
Died24 April 1900(1900-04-24) (aged 76)
Inveraray Castle, Argyll, Scotland
NationalityBritish
Political partyLiberal
Spouses
(m. 1844; died 1878)
Amelia Claughton
(m. 1881; died 1894)
Ina McNeill
(m. 1895)
Children12, including John, Colin, Victoria and Frances
Parents
Signature

George John Douglas Campbell, 8th and 1st Duke of Argyll KG, KT, PC, FRS, FRSE (30 April 1823 – 24 April 1900; styled Marquess of Lorne until 1847), was a Scottish polymath and Liberal statesman. He made a significant geological discovery in the 1850s when his tenant found fossilized leaves embedded among basalt lava on the Island of Mull. He also helped to popularize ornithology and was one of the first to give a detailed account of the principles of bird flight in the hopes of advancing artificial aerial navigation (i.e. flying machines). His literary output was extensive writing on topics varying from science and theology to economy and politics. In addition to this, he served prominently in the administrations of Lord Aberdeen, Lord Palmerston, John Russell and William Gladstone.