Daniel Campbell

Daniel Campbell, also known as “Great Daniel” because of his size and great wealth, was a leading Glasgow merchant and Member of Parliament.

Daniel was born as the second son of Walter Campbell of Skipness. As early as 1692, he began his career as a merchant and ship-owner in New England. Eventually he extended his business dealings to Sweden by trading iron ore for American tobacco, and also became involved in the slave trade.

Campbell proved to be very successful in his operations, and with part of the realized profits he purchased the estates of Shawfield in Rutherglen, and Woodhall, near Holytown. The island of Islay also became his personal property, and he introduced the flax industry to island and transformed its agricultural system.

Wealth and reputation that Campbell possessed enabled him to participate in the public life of the community. He was appointed Collector of Customs for Port Glasglow, which was a lucrative office, and Member of Parliament for Argyll.

Campbell is remembered as an enlightened landlord and his name is well remembered in Islay to the present day. He died in 1751 at age of 82 and was succeeded in business by his grandson, Daniel Campbell of Shawfield and Islay.