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Gordon Campbell, Baron Campbell of Croy

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The Right Honourable
The Lord Campbell of Croy
MC DL
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland
In office
4 March 1974 – 13 June 1974
LeaderEdward Heath
Preceded byWillie Ross
Succeeded byAlick Buchanan-Smith
In office
23 January 1969 – 19 June 1970
LeaderEdward Heath
Preceded byWillie Ross
Secretary of State for Scotland
In office
19 June 1970 – 4 March 1974
Prime MinisterEdward Heath
Preceded byWillie Ross
Succeeded byWillie Ross
Member of Parliament
for Moray and Nairn
In office
8 October 1959 – 8 February 1974
Preceded byJames Stuart
Succeeded byWinnie Ewing
Personal details
Born
Gordon Thomas Calthrop Campbell

(1921-06-08)8 June 1921
Quetta, British India
Died26 April 2005(2005-04-26) (aged 83)
London, England
NationalityBritish
Political partyConservative
SpouseNicola Madan
Children3
Alma materRoyal Military Academy Sandhurst
ProfessionDiplomacy
Military service
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch/service British Army
Years of service1939–1947
RankMajor
UnitRoyal Artillery
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsMilitary Cross

Gordon Thomas Calthrop Campbell, Baron Campbell of Croy, MC, PC, DL (8 June 1921 – 26 April 2005) was a British Conservative politician and diplomat.

Biography

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Early life and career

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Campbell was born in Quetta, British India (now in Pakistan), the son of Major General James Alexander Campbell and was educated at Rockport School in Holywood, County Down, then at Wellington College before joining the Royal Artillery in 1939. He fought in the Second World War with the Royal Artillery from 1940,[1] winning the Military Cross and Bar.[2] Invalided out in 1947 with the honorary rank of major, he served the Foreign Office in New York and Vienna until 1957.

House of Commons

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Elected to Parliament in 1959, he served as Member of Parliament for the constituency of Moray and Nairn until February 1974 when he was defeated by Winnie Ewing of the Scottish National Party. He served as a Government Whip, 1961–62; Lord Commissioner of the Treasury and Scottish Whip, 1962–63; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland, 1963–64. He was Opposition Spokesman on Defence, 1967–68 and a member of the Shadow Cabinet, 1969–70.

Secretary of State for Scotland

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He was Secretary of State for Scotland during the whole of Edward Heath's government. During his term in office the issues of fishing and oil led to him losing his Moray coastal seat to the SNP. Government papers released under the 30 year rule reveal an attitude that may explain that loss. Papers from 1970 revealed how the Scottish Office was prepared to have a "weaker and less efficient national fleet"[3] to enable the UK to sign up to the controversial Common Fisheries Policy. On oil in 1972 Campbell was against any move to pump oil revenues directly into the Scottish economy despite Heath asking government departments to explore such an arrangements to help revive Scotland's economy with "its own resources".[4] Further papers from 1974 revealed how he proposed "exceptional measures" to force Shetland Islands Council to accept an oil terminal without financial benefit to the islands.[5]

House of Lords

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After being defeated by Winnie Ewing of the Scottish National Party at the February 1974 general election, Campbell was made a life peer as Baron Campbell of Croy, of Croy in the County of Nairn on 9 January 1975.[6] He became Chairman of the Scottish Board in 1976, and was Vice President of the Advisory Committee on Pollution at Sea from 1976 to 1984.

Personal life

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He married Nicola Madan, daughter of Geoffrey Spencer Madan and his wife Marjorie Noble, and had three children.

  • Hon. Colin Ian Calthrop Campbell b. 1950
  • Colonel Hon. Alastair James Calthrop Campbell (6 Jan 1952 – 24 Aug 2021)[7]
  • Hon. Christina Marjorie Campbell b. 1953.

The Campbell family lived at Holme Rose at Croy in the Nairn Valley. In 2019, the property was put on the market for £2.3 million.[8]

Arms

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Coat of arms of Gordon Campbell, Baron Campbell of Croy
Crest
Between two sprays of red roses barbed and leaved Proper and tied in base with a riband Or a lyre Sable.
Escutcheon
Gyronny of eight Or and Sable overall on a fess Ermine two pheons points upwards Gules.
Supporters
Dexter an osprey and sinister a curlew both Proper.
Motto
Dulce Patrie Servire [9]

Footnotes

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  1. ^ "No. 34787". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 February 1940. p. 770.
  2. ^ "No. 36753". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 October 1944. p. 4786.
  3. ^ Gethin Chamberlain and Frank Urquhart (1 January 2003). "Heath knew policy would kill fish fleet". The Scotsman. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  4. ^ "Heath sparked Scots oil debate". BBC News. 1 January 2003. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  5. ^ Ian Johnston (1 January 2005). "How Shetland's Gaddafi took on oil giants to win bountiful deal". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 10 July 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
  6. ^ "No. 46465". The London Gazette. 14 January 1975. p. 537.
  7. ^ "CAMPBELL Colonel the Hon Alastair James Calthrop". Telegraph Announcements.
  8. ^ "Inside the Highland home with a £2million price tag". Press and Journal.
  9. ^ Debrett's Peerage. 1985.
  • Torrance, David, The Scottish Secretaries (Birlinn 2006)
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Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Moray and Nairn
1959–1974 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Secretary of State for Scotland
1970–1974 		Succeeded by
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