* Titles as of the date of succession. 

Eoghan MacEwen of Otterinverane [d. c.1275]

Tradition has it that the MacEwen barons of Otter trace their foundation to the early thirteenth century which according to a 1467 genealogy of the clans would have been when Eoghan was active. At this time Arygll was coming under the influence of the Stewarts and the MacEwens who had previously been a significant power lost many of their ancestral holdings, including rich Knapdale and Castle Sween. Their chief Murchadh, Lord of Knapdale and Arran was dispossessed of his lands and it is probably around this time that a branch of the family relocated to Otter which already had a fort. By the middle of the century the MacEwen clan had been reduced in power but some had established themselves at Otter and they later became chieftains of the clan.

Gillespic MacEwen of Otterinverane [d. c.1310]

Heir. In the 1467 genealogy Eoghan had a son called Gillespic. He was within living memory of MacEwen greatness and it is likely Gillespic was chief at the time of the Wars of Independence and sought to reverse the fortunes of his clan. The aligning of the MacEwens with the Balliol family set them against their old enemies the Stewarts but also against the Bruce family who claimed the throne. We also know from the lineage that Gillespic had a son Eoghan and that three MacEwen brothers are named in the service of King Edward of England, all probably his sons.

Eoghan MacEwen, of Otterinverane [d. c.1345]

Heir. A John MacEwen and his two brothers aligned themselves with the English during the wars and were granted the family’s ancestral land of Knapdale by King Edward of England. They had to take back Knapdale by force however which they may have attempted to do in the 1300s but ultimately they were unsuccessful, and were subsequently out of favour with the new King Robert the Bruce. One of these was likely to have been this Eoghan, son of Gillespic. It seems that the MacEwens were forced to accept their losses and perhaps had their lands even further reduced to an area that just consisted of the barony of Otter.

John MacEwen, of Otterinverane [d. c.1380]

Heir. We know that there was a John MacEwen of Otter in the middle of the fourteenth century and in the 1467 genealogy he is named as the son of Eoghan and father of Walter.

Walter MacEwen, of  Otterinverane [d. c.1415]

Heir. He is the last MacEwen of Otter named in the identified 1467 genealogy. MacEwen legend has it that he and his son Sween were supporters of the powerful Albany Stewarts, Robert Duke of Albany and his son Murdoch. Murdoch and his sons were executed for treason in 1425 however and it is said that this turn of fortune may have been the cause for the downfall of the family under Walter’s son Sween.

Sween MacEwen, Baron of Otter [d. c.1450]

Heir. He is the first person named in historical written records that can be located as baron of Otterinverane, but was the last MacEwen baron of Otter and MacEwen clan chief. Sween has left an uncertain picture to history, it seems he inherited Otterinverane from his father but at some point he got into financial trouble and in 1432 agreed with King James I and a powerful local family, the Campbells of Lochow that if his male line were to fail then Otter was to pass to Gillespic, son and heir of Sir Duncan Campbell of Lochow in return for a payment. It seems that Sween did in fact die without heirs and so Otterinverane passed to the Campbells and the MacEwens became a broken clan.

Sir Duncan Campbell, Lord Campbell [d. 1453]

Assignation by deed. He succeeded his father in around 1414 and was one the hostages sent to England for the ransom of King James I in 1424 who afterwards appointed him to his privy council and confirmed him as justiciar and lord lieutenant of the shire of Argyll. Campbell was again confirmed in these by King James II who raised him to be a lord of parliament in 1445 as Lord Campbell. He was a great religious benefactor, including donations to the monks of the abbacy of Sandale, in Kintyre, and founding the collegiate church of Kilmun. He married firstly Lady Marjory Stewart, daughter of Robert, Duke of Albany, granddaughter of the Scottish King Robert II Stewart, and secondly Margaret daughter of Sir John Stewart of Ardgowan.

Colin Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll [d. 1493]

Heir. Succeeded his grandfather and like him was in high favour with King James II who made him Earl of Argyll in 1457. He held various domestic and foreign appointment for King James III including master of his household, lord justiciary south of the Forth, commissioner and ambassador many times to England and eventually lord chancellor in 1484. He was in England on royal business in 1488 when the king was slain at the battle of Sauchieburn and he was again appointed lord chancellor by the new King James IV. He married Isabel Stewart, daughter and co-heiress of John, Lord of Lorn.

Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll [d. 1513]

Heir. Like his father he was in high favour with King James IV who made him lord chancellor of Scotland in 1494 and later chamberlain and master of the household. Argyll commanded the vanguard of the king’s army at Flodden field in September 1513, where he is said to have shown remarkable valour. He was killed during the battle along with the king and the flower of the nobility. He married Elizabeth, daughter of John, Earl of Lennox.

Colin Campbell, 3rd Earl of Argyll [d. 1529]

Heir. Inheriting the family estates after the death of his father he was appointed one of the four counsellors to King James V in 1525. During his life Argyll held many important positions including lord lieutenant of the borders, warden of the marches, heritable sheriff of Argyllshire, justice general of Scotland, and master of the king’s household. He married lady Janet Gordon, daughter of Alexander, Earl of Huntly some time before 1507.

Archibald Campbell, 4th Earl of Argyll [d. 1558]

Heir. In the tradition of his family he was well-valued by the royal house of Stuart and he was made temporary regent in 1536 in the absence of King James V. He was one of the nobles who opposed the match between Queen Mary and King Edward VI of England and when war broke out with England in 1547 Argyll distinguished himself at the battle of Pinkie and the siege of Haddington. He was among the first nobles to embrace the Protestant religion and worked to bring about a Reformation in the Kirk. He married first Lady Helen Hamilton, daughter of James, Earl of Arran in about 1529 and secondly Lady Margaret Graeme daughter of William, Earl of Menteith in 1541 and thirdly Katherine Maclean some time before 1547.

Archibald Campbell, 5th Earl of Argyll [c.1538-75]

Heir. Like his father he was a firm supporter of the new Protestant religion, in 1559 he went to France to seek Queen Mary’s support for it and upon returning entered into an association with the Earls of Glencairn and Morton and together they had Reformation formally established in 1560. Upon the outbreak of civil war Argyll supported the Queen and was general of her forces at the battle of Langside in 1568, his troops were routed but he remained loyal and when the Queen was made prisoner in England she nominated him as one of her regents. Arygll eventually accepted the authority of King James VI, becoming a member of his privy council in 1571 and later justice general, keeper of the great seal, and lord high chancellor of Scotland. He married firstly, Lady Jean Stewart the natural daughter of King James V before 1561 and secondly Lady Jean Cunninghame daughter of Alexander, Earl of Glencairn before 1585.

Colin Campbell, 6th Earl of Argyll [c.1543-1584]

Assignation by deed. The 5th Earl died without heirs and his estate and honours passed to his brother. He was made a privy councillor to King James VI in 1577 and lord high chancellor in 1579. He married firstly Janet Stewart daughter of Henry, Lord Methven sometime after and secondly Lady Agnes Keith daughter of William, Earl Marischal.

Archibald Campbell, 7th Earl of Argyll [1575-1638]

Heir. Known as ‘the Grim’, he was commander of the forces sent against the Earls of Huntly and Errol at the battle of Glenliver in 1594 and though defeated it is said that he showed great courage. Argyll’s later military career was more successful and suppressed an insurrection of the McGregors in 1603 and a more formidable one of the McDonalds in the Western Isles in 1614 for which he was granted Kintyre and made hereditable commissary of the isles. In 1618 he went to Spain and after converting to Catholicism entered the service of the king and distinguished himself against the states of Holland, assisting in taking of several places of strength. He married first Lady Anne Douglas daughter of William, Earl of Morton before 1594 and secondly Anne, daughter of Sir William Cornwallis of Brome in 1610.

Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll [1607-61]

Heir. He was a privy councillor to King Charles I and made Marquis of Argyll in November 1641, however he was a firm supporter of Presbyterian church government and was a leader of the Covenanting movement against the King during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms 1638-51. Active in the fighting against the King Argyll raised a regiment for service in Ulster and in 1644 he led the Scottish army into England before returning to quell a Royalist rising by the Marquess of Montrose in the Highlands, dashing the hopes of the king in Scotland. As the fortunes of the country changed Argyll supported King Charles II, placing the crown on his head in his Scottish coronation in 1650 but he then supported the Commonwealth and Protectorate upon the Restoration he was executed for treason and his estates and titles were forfeit. He married lady Margaret Douglas daughter of William, Earl of Morton in 1626.

Archibald Campbell, 9th Earl of Argyll [1629-85]

Heir. A firm supporter of King Charles II during the wars in 1654 he was imprisoned, though he later agreed to submit to the new regime and was permitted to live privately. With the Restoration in 1660 though his father was executed, Argyll was granted the lands and titles of his family and was later made a member of the privy council, and a commissioner of the treasury. Like his forbears he was a firm Protestant and when the Test Act was passed Argyll refused to swear to it on grounds of conscience and was sentenced to death. However, he escaped to Holland, and upon the accession of the Catholic King James VII he raised men and invaded Scotland where he rallied his clan though his Rising was crushed and Argyll was executed. He married first Lady Mary Stewart daughter of James, Earl of Murray in 1650 and second Anne daughter of Colin, Earl of Seaforth.

Sir Alexander Maclean of Otter

Assignation by deed. In the aftermath of Argyll’s Rising many of his family lands were once again forfeit to the crown. The barony of Otterinverane was given by King James VII to Alexander Maclean a son of the Bishop of Argyll who was knighted shortly afterwards and is known to history as Sir Alexander Maclean of Otter. Sir Alexander was a faithful follower of Sir John MacLean, a leading Jacobite of the ’88 and the ’15 Risings. Sir Alexander himself led a battalion at the battle of Killiecrankie where he was severely wounded and with the failure of the Rising he entered French service becoming a lieutenant-colonel.

Archibald Campbell, 1st Duke of Argyll [1658-1703]

Assignation by deed. Coming over with William of Orange in 1688 during the Glorious Revolution and was one of the commissioners sent to London by the nobility and gentry of Scotland to offer the crown in name of the convention of estates, to the prince and princess of Orange. With the fall of King James VII the Earls of Argyll were restored to favour and in 1690, the Scottish Parliament passed an act rescinding the forfeitures. He was admitted to the privy council in 1689, became a lord of the treasury in 1690, colonel of the Scotch horse guards and raised a regiment of foot for service in the Highlands and in 1692 some of Argyll’s soldiers took part in the infamous Massacre of Glencoe. In 1701 he was made Duke of Argyll. He married Elizabeth daughter of Sir Lionel Talmash of Helmingham in 1678.

John Campbell, 2nd Duke of Argyll [1680-1743]

Heir. Early in his career he distinguished himself on the Continent with the command of a regiment of foot and at many sieges and battles including at Malplaquet. Argyll around this time made one of the extraordinary lords of session, high commissioner to the parliament of Scotland, baron of Chatham, Earl of Greenwich, governor of Minorca and one of the privy council. In great favour with the new Hanoverian monarchy he was made commander-in-chief of all the forces in North Britain and during the ’15 Rising Argyll marched out from Stirling to oppose the forces of the Earl of Mar, meeting at Sheriffmuir where he secured a famous victory. Afterwards he was made lord steward of the household, raised to be Duke of Greenwich, field-marshal of Great Britain and sat in the House of Lords. He married firstly Mary, daughter of John Brown Esquire in 1708 and secondly Jane daughter of Thomas Warburton of Winnington in 1717.

Archibald Campbell, 3rd Duke of Argyll [1682-1761]

Assignation by deed. He began his studies to be a lawyer but upon his father becoming Duke he entered the military before a career as a statesman including sitting in Parliament and in 1706 he was nominated one of the commissioners for the treaty of union and was made Earl of Islay for his service. In 1708 Islay was made an extraordinary lord of session and was one of the sixteen peers for the first British parliament, before becoming justice-general of Scotland and being called to the privy council. With the Rising of 1715 he re-joined the army and served in the West Highlands, before joining his brother at Stirling. From 1725 to 1734 as privy seal he ran Scottish affairs. He succeeded his brother to the estate and honours of Argyll and in turn passed them to his cousin, John Campbell of Mamore. He married Anne Whitfield.

John Campbell, 4th Duke of Argyll [c.1693-1770]

Assignation by deed. Like his cousins Campbell joined the army and in the ’15 Rising served as aid-de-camp to the 2nd Duke and in the ’45 he commanded the army in the west of Scotland. He was a brigadier-general at the battle of Dettingen in 1743 against the French; and after fighting in Flanders and Germany was raised to be lieutenant-general. He was groom of the bedchamber to the Prince of Wales and continued to be so during the whole of his reign. He and his father represented Dumbarton in every parliament since the Union but in succeeding to the estate and honours of Argyll, the Duke was instead elected one of the sixteen peers for Scotland. He married Mary daughter of John, Lord Bellenden in 1720.

John Campbell, 5th Duke of Argyll [1723-1806]

Heir. He joined the army and served on the Continent before a long career at home, including during the ’45 Rising. For many years he was commander-in-chief of the forces in Scotland and later was made field marshal. He sat in Parliament for Glasgow 1744-61 and later for Dover. Upon succeeding to the family estates, he took great interest in agriculture and was elected first President of the Highland Society. He married Elizabeth daughter of John Gunning of Castle Coote and duchess dowager of Hamilton and Brandon in 1759.

George William Campbell, 6th Duke of Argyll [1768-1839]

Heir. He was a Whig politician and sat in parliament for St. Germains in Cornwall from 1790-6 and in 1807 as Duke of Argyll was appointed vice-admiral of western Scotland. He became lord steward of the household and member of the privy council in 1833 though he died without issue and was succeeded by his brother. He married Lady Caroline daughter of George, Earl of Jersey in 1810.

John Douglas Edward Henry Campbell, 7th Duke of Argyll [1777-1847]

Assignation by deed. After joining the army he served in the Low Countries during the Revolutionary War with France and was later made colonel of the Argyll and Bute Militia. He represented Argyllshire in Parliament from 1799-1822 and was a Fellow of the Royal Societies of London and Edinburgh. He married first Elizabeth daughter of William Campbell in 1802, second Joan daughter of John Glassel of Longniddry in 1820 and third Anne daughter of John Cunningham of Craigends in 1831.

George Douglas Campbell, 8th Duke of Argyll [1823-1900]

Heir. A Whig politician in the tradition of his family, from 1852 to 1881 whenever the Liberal party were in power he was a member of the Cabinet including as Lord Privy Seal, Postmaster-General and Secretary of State for India and as a privy councillor. Argyll later opposed Home Rule and broke with the Liberal Party. He was very concerned with the Kirk and later in life ensured the ancient cathedral on Iona was secured by the Church of Scotland. He published many books, mainly on philosophy and political economy. In 1892 he was made Duke of Argyll in the peerage of the United Kingdom. He married first Lady Elizabeth daughter of George, Duke of Sutherland in 1844 second Maria daughter of the Reverend Thomas Claughton, Bishop of St Albans in 1881, and third to Ina, daughter of Archibald McNeill of Colonsay in 1895.

John George Edward Henry Douglas Sutherland Campbell, 9th Duke of Argyll [1845-1914]

Heir. Was a Liberal and then Liberal Unionist politician and Member of Parliament for Argyllshire from 1868-78 and Manchester from 1895-1900. He was made privy councillor and from 1878-83 was Governor-General of Canada. He succeeded his father as Duke of Argyll in both the peerages of Scotland and the United Kingdom, as his successors continue to do. In 1871 he married Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria.

Niall Diarmid Campbell, 10th Duke of Argyll [1872-1949]

Assignation by deed. The nephew of the 9th Duke. He studied at Oxford and was admitted to Middle Temple but after succeeding his uncle to the family estates he withdrew from his career as a lawyer. From 1923 to his death he was Lord Lieutenant of Argyllshire. He never married and was in turn succeeded by his cousin.

Ian Douglas Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll [1903-73]

Assignation by deed. A great-grandson of the 8th Duke, he inherited the family estates and titles on the death of his cousin. His mother was American, and he was educated in Massachusetts and then Oxford. As a captain in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders he served during the Second World War where he was taken prisoner. He was married four times, first in 1927 to the Honourable Janet Gladys Aitken daughter of Lord Beaverbrook, second in 1935 to Louise Hollingsworth Morris Vanneck, daughter of Henry Clews, third in 1951 to Margaret Sweeny, daughter of George Hay Whigham and fourthly in 1963 to Mathilda Coster Heller daughter of Stanley Mortimer.

Ian Campbell, 12th Duke of Argyll [1937-2001]

Heir. Educated in Switzerland, Scotland and McGill University he served as a captain in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of which he later became Honorary Colonel. Argyll was a sales executive and the Director of several distillery companies including Campbell, Aberlour Glenlivet and White Heather. He married Iona Mary Colquhoun daughter of Sir Ivar Colquhoun, 8th Baronet in 1964.

Torquhil Ian Campbell, 13th Duke of Argyll [1968-]

Heir. He attended the Royal Agricultural College, was awarded a diploma in Rural Estate Management, and trained as a chartered surveyor. He was a Page of Honour to Queen Elizabeth II. He is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers and a Freeman of the City of London. His titles include, without limitation, Master of the Royal Household of Scotland, Admiral of the Western Coasts and Isles, and he is the present Chief of Clan Campbell. The Duke represents Pernod Ricard, promoting the Scotch whiskey industry internationally. He is an international athlete and manages the extensive estates and interests of the hereditary Dukes of Argyll. He married Eleanor Cadbury, daughter of Peter Hugh George Cadbury, in 2002.

Assoc. Professor Sean Lambert Collin, Esq. Barrister, Solicitor & Attorney, 31st Baron of Otterinverane [1965-]

Assignation by deed. He succeeded to the Barony of Otterinverane from His Grace, the 13th Duke of Argyll on 8th July 2019. He descends directly in multiple paternal and maternal family lines from 175 individuals that were prior Baronial Titleholders of the Barony of Otterinverane, and shares common family ancestry with all other prior Barons of the Barony. He was born in Silicon Valley, California and raised internationally. He was educated at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand (BCom. LLB (Hons) and at Georgetown University in Washington, DC, United States (LLM (Dist.) He has been called to the Bar in New Zealand, New South Wales, Australia, and in both New York and California in the United States. He has lectured at Universities, Institutes and Global Conferences in 20 countries on international law and business. He has lived and worked around the world and has completed legal matters in over 70 countries. He has been an accredited representative at the United Nations in both Geneva and New York. He is the founder of a software company utilizing Big Data and artificial intelligence in cybersecurity and IP.  He has been a Senior Partner in international “Big Law” firms headquartered in the United States, and a Managing Partner of a boutique international M&A law firm in California.  He has been a tenured MBA/DBA Business School academic in the United States and Asia.  He has held, and holds, Senior Executive positions with publicly traded technology corporations based in Silicon Valley and Europe.  In 2001 he was selected as one of the top 20 under 40 lawyers in the state of California by his peers. He is an Honorary Naval Aviator with the United States Department of the Navy, and is an Honorary Colonel with the state militia of the state of Kentucky. The Baron has also succeeded to familial ancestrally held noble and/or feudal titles in Ireland, Northern Ireland, England and the Continent. He is married to Ambassador Yvette Running Horse Collin PhD (nee Ward). She is a Feudal Baroness in her own right through a familial succession in County Down, Northern Ireland. The Baroness paternally descends from Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll, and 9th Baron of Otterinverane.