John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun

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For other persons named John Campbell, see John Campbell (disambiguation).

John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun (5 May 1705–27 April 1782) was a Scottish nobleman and military leader.

Campbell inherited the peerage on the death of his father in 1731, becoming Lord Loudon. The earl commanded troops during the Jacobite Rising of 1745. After losing almost all the men of his regiment at Prestonpans, he received another regiment and lost it again at Inverness. At a third battle he was "thrown into a panic by the bluffing of a blacksmith and another four," and sat out the rest of the war.

In 1756 Loudoun was sent to North America as Commander-in-Chief, where he is said to have ignored the advice of the local colonials like George Washington, who anticipated the onslaught of French and Indians, and did nothing to strengthen the remaining western forts. His attempt to seize Louisbourg from the French in 1757 failed when British forces were unable to achieve naval superiority. During the retreat French forces captured Fort William Henry from the British, and Loudoun was replaced by James Abercrombie and returned to London.

In 1762 he was sent to Spain as second-in-command, and became overall commander in 1763.

A bachelor, Loudoun was succeeded as earl by his cousin, James Mure-Campbell.

[edit] See also

Military Offices
Preceded by: William Shirley	Commander-in-Chief, North America 1756	Succeeded by: James Abercrombie
Titles of Nobility
Preceded by: Hugh Campbell	Earl of Loudoun 1731–1782	Succeeded by: James Mure-Campbell