Campbell of Loudoun

Clan Campbell is one of the largest and most influential clans in Scotland, with a long and rich history that stretches back over eight centuries. Within the Clan Campbell, the Loudoun branch holds a special place, as it is one of the oldest and most distinguished branches of the house of Argyll. The Campbells of Loudoun are descended from Donald, the second son of Sir Colin Campbell of Lochaw, and have a close association with King Robert the Bruce and Sir William Wallace, the famous Scottish patriot.

The barony of Loudoun, which is located in Ayrshire, was originally the possession of the Loudouns of Loudoun, one of the oldest families in Scotland. Margaret of Loudoun, the heiress of the estate, married Sir Reginald Crawford, High Sheriff of Ayr, and was the grandmother of Sir William Wallace. The barony was later passed to the Campbells in the reign of King Robert the Bruce, through the marriage of Sir Duncan Campbell to Susanne Crawford, the heiress of Loudoun.

Sir Hugh Campbell, Sheriff of Ayr, was created a Lord of Parliament by King James VI in 1601, with the title of Lord Campbell of Loudoun. His granddaughter, Margaret Campbell, who inherited his title and estates, married Sir John Campbell of Lawers, a descendant of the Campbells of Glenorchy, later known as the Campbell of Breadalbane family.

In 1633, John Campbell, 2nd Lord Campbell of Loudoun, was created the Earl of Loudoun, along with the subsidiary title Lord Tarrinzean and Mauchline. His wife Margaret was the granddaughter and heiress of Hugh Campbell, who had been created Lord Campbell of Loudoun. The earldom of Loudoun has been passed down through the generations, with the title passing from the Campbells with the death of Lady Flora Mure-Campbell, the 6th Countess of Loudoun in 1840.

Today, the Earl of Loudoun is one of the most prestigious titles in Scotland, and is held by a member of the Campbell family. The heir apparent to the Earldom uses the courtesy title Lord Mauchline, and the Campbells of Loudoun continue to play a prominent role in Scottish society and culture.