| Administrative History | Colin Campbell was the son of Patrick Campbell, alias Patrick Dubh Beg (1592 – 1678) of Invergeldie, Perthshire, and Bethia Murray (d. in or after 1711) of Ochtertyre, Perthshire. He was educated at St Salvator's College of St Andrews University whence he graduated MA in 1661. He was admitted as minister of Ardchattan and Muckairn on 27 November 1667 and the following year appointed presbytery clerk, a role which he held until his death.
In 1676 he married Mary Campbell (d. in or before 1702), daughter of Sir Hugh Campbell, Laird of Calder, with whom he had four sons, including the antiquary, Dr Alexander Campbell.
His interests were wide-ranging and he wrote extensively on classical, literary, linguistic, medical, occult, and antiquarian subjects. He was a gifted mathematician and corresponded on mathematical matters with David Gregory (1659 - 1708); James Gregory (1638 - 1675); the younger James Gregory (1666 - 1742); as well as George Cheyne, Archibald Pitcairne, John Craig, Colin McLaurin, George Sinclair, and others.
William Wallace (1768 - 1843) was Professor of Mathematics at the University of Edinburgh from 1819 to 1838 and taught Duncan Farquharson Gregory (1813 - 1844). |
| Description | Printed copies of letters from James Gregory (1638 - 1675) to the Reverend Colin Campbell, minister of Ardchattan, Argyllshire, on mathematical subjects, 1673 - 1674. The document includes an appendix containing a copy of the Commission of the University of St Andrews to James Gregory allowing him to buy scientific instruments, 10 June 1673.
These were communicated to the Society of Antiquaries by John Gregorson of Ardtornish, where they were read in 1830 and 1831. They were edited by Professor Wallace. |