Alexander Hume-Campbell, 2nd Earl of Marchmont
Alexander Hume-Campbell, 2nd Earl of Marchmont | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1675 |
| Died | 1740-02-27 |
| Occupation(s) | Aristocrat, statesman, jurist, diplomat |
| Known for | Scottish representative peer, Lord Clerk Register, ambassador to Denmark, founding governor of the Foundling Hospital |
Alexander Hume-Campbell, 2nd Earl of Marchmont (1675 – 27 February 1740) was a distinguished Scottish aristocrat, statesman, and jurist.
Life
As the third-born but eldest surviving child of Patrick Hume, 1st Earl of Marchmont, he took on the surname Campbell following his 1697 marriage to Margaret, the heiress of Sir George Campbell of Cessnock, Ayrshire.
He pursued legal studies at Utrecht University and was admitted as an advocate in 1696. In 1704, he was appointed to the Court of Session under the judicial title Lord Cessnock, a position he maintained until 1714. In 1706, he served as a Commissioner representing Berwickshire in the Parliament of Scotland, where he endorsed the Union with England. Between 1716 and 1733, he fulfilled the responsibilities of Lord Clerk Register.
His career also encompassed diplomatic assignments, including serving as ambassador to Denmark from 1715 to 1721 and acting as a delegate at the Congress held in Cambray in 1722. Upon inheriting the earldom in 1724, he took his seat as a Scottish representative peer from 1727 until 1734.
Additionally, Alexander played a key role as a founding governor of the Foundling Hospital, established in 1739 as Britain's inaugural charity dedicated to child welfare.