He was born the son of John Campbell, 1st Baron Cawdor and Lady Caroline Howard and educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford, graduating BA in 1812.

Campbell was, however, defeated by Sir John Owen of Orielton.

He died on the eve of his 70th birthday from a gangrenous infection from a carbuncle on his right arm at his family estate at Stackpole, Pembrokeshire.

[3] In 1831, at the Coronation of King William and Queen Adelaide, Earl Cawdor carried and presented the queen consort's ivory rod with dove.

She had previously been engaged to George Sackville, 4th Duke of Dorset, who died shortly.