Sir (Walter) Menzies Campbell


(Lord Campbell of Pittenweem)

1941 -

Menzies Campbell MP
©2022 Gazetteer for Scotland

Menzies Campbell MP

Politician. Educated at Hillhead High School and the University in Glasgow, followed by Stanford University (USA). Campbell became a successful athlete, competing in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo and the 1966 Commonwealth Games in Jamaica. He held the British 100 metres record between 1967 and 1974.

Called to the Bar in 1968, he was appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1982. Having maintained an active interest in politics from his University days, he became chairman of the Scottish Liberal Party in 1975. After standing in various general elections from 1974, he was elected as Member of Parliament for North East Fife in 1987 and was awarded a CBE in the same year. As a politician Campbell spoke on defence and foreign affairs (1992-97), was appointed Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats in 2003 and replaced Charles Kennedy as Leader in 2006.

He was appointed a Privy Councillor in 1999, knighted in 2004 and raised to the peerage as Lord Campbell of Pittenweem in 2015. He holds honorary degrees from the Universities of Glasgow, Strathclyde and St. Andrews, and was installed as Chancellor of the latter institution in 2006.


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