Argyll, Archibald Campbell, 5th earl of

Argyll, Archibald Campbell, 5th earl of, 1530–73, Scottish statesman. He and Lord James Stuart (later earl of Murray) became followers of John Knox in 1556 and led the troops of the Scottish Protestants, the lords of the congregation, against those of the Roman Catholic regent, Mary of Guise. Won over by Mary Queen of Scots when she arrived in Scotland (1561), he supported her until she proposed marrying Lord Darnley. He then tried to enlist the aid of Elizabeth I of England against Mary. Failing in this, he returned to Mary's party and is thought to have had some part in the murder of Darnley (1567). Argyll was in command of Mary's soldiers when they were defeated at Langside in 1568 by the soldiers under Murray, now regent, but he was reconciled with Murray the next year. Becoming a supporter of James VI, he was made lord high chancellor in 1572.