Niall Caimbeul (Bishop of Argyll)

infobox bishopbiog
name = Niall Caimbeul


religion= Roman Catholic Church
See = Diocese of Argyll
Title = Bishop of Argyll
Period = 1580–1608
consecration = 1580
Predecessor = James Hamilton
Successor = Iain Caimbeul (son)
post = | ordination =
bishops =
date of birth = unknown
place of birth = unknown
date of death = January 1613
place of death =

Niall Caimbeul (Anglicized: "Neil Campbell"; died c. 1613), was the son of Alasdair mac a' Phearsain ("Alexander, son of the parson [MacPherson] "), a member of the Campbells of Carnassarie.MacDonald, "Campbell, Neil (d. 1613?)".]

Niall is probably the "Nigellus Campbell" who graduated from the University of St Andrews in 1575 as Master of Arts. The Niall Caimbeul who was recorded as the parson of Kilmartin and precentor of Lismore Cathedral in 1574 is probably Niall too. [MacDonald, "Campbell, Neil (d. 1613?)"; Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 32.]

Following the death of James Hamilton in 1580, Niall became Bishop of Argyll. In March 1588, he examined witnesses in a civil dispute on behalf of the Privy Council, and in the following year the Privy Council placed him in charge of the commission against catholics in Argyll; in August of that year (i.e. 1589), the Moderator of the General Assembly, Patrick Galloway, appointed Niall as one of the Assembly's assessors.

Niall married the daughter of John Carswell, Bishop of the Isles and Niall's predecessor as parson of Kilmartin. With this daughter, he had several children. His eldest was Iain Caimbeul, who went on to become his father's successor as Bishop of Argyll; another son, Niall, became Bishop of the Isles. He had at least four other childrean: Cailean (Colin), Alasdair (Alexander), Domhnall (Donald) and a daughter whose name has not survived.

Niall resigned his see to his son sometime between January and June 1608; he died in January 1613. [MacDonald, "Campbell, Neil (d. 1613?)"; Watt, "Fasti Ecclesiae", p. 28.]

Notes

References

* MacDonald, Alan R., "Campbell, Neil (d. 1613?)", "Oxford Dictionary of National Biography", Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/4528 , accessed 24 Jan 2008]
* Watt, D.E.R., "Fasti Ecclesiae Scotinanae Medii Aevi ad annum 1638", 2nd Draft, (St Andrews, 1969)