CLSNA' LamontCentral Forum

 In 1844, our 20th Chief Archibald James Lamont married Harriet Campbell of Possil after the death of his first wife. Their son, Celestine Norman Lamont, (14 May 1858-Jan 1893) married Margaret Huison Russell on 19 Apr 1882. He later inherited Possil which was a wealthy Campbell estate built by West Indian sugar trade money. . The Possil estates were located north of Glasgow, separated some distance from the traditional Lamont lands in Cowal.  From then on, he was called Lamont-Campbell of Possil. Although they remained Lamonts subject to the Chief of Clan Lamont, the addition of the Campbell name was a condition of the inheritance. After the death of Celestine, his wife Mrs. Margaret Lamont-Campbell became one of the founders and leading members of the Clan Lamont Society (Scotland) in 1895. Margaret became Clan President upon the death of Sir James Lamont, 1^st Baronet of Knockdow in 1913, an honor she held for many years. Lamont - Campbell of PossilThe Clan Lamont Journal in 1931 showed a photograph of the late Liet.-Colonel Celestine Norman Lamont, who afterward became Lamont-Campbell of Possil. Celestine was the second son of Archibald James Lamont of that ilk (XX. Chief) and only brother of our late Chief John Henry XXI. of Lamont (1854-1929).  After the death of Celestine’s uncle, Colonel John Campbell of Possil in 1885, he succeeded to the Estate of Possil and by the usual rule in entail became Lamont-Campbell of Possil. This is, as far as we know, the only important case of any considerable estate coming from a Campbell to a Lamont by marriage, the many alliances between these two Clans in the past having generally involved a change in the other direction.Like his brother the Chief, Celestine was a keen sportsman and golfer; and while the chief joined the Regular Army, in which he served with distinction, the subject of our portrait remained at home watching the safety of our shores as an enthusiastic Officer of the Militia, becoming Liet.-Colonel Commanding The Argyll and Bute Artillery, a position he held until his death. The Militia was a Territorial Force different from the present Territorial Army, more a second Regular Army Reserve, trained to be ready to be called up by Regiments for service overseas at any time. But his usual occupation was that of a country gentleman: he managed the Ard Lamont estate for his brother, and in every way filled the position of Laird with acceptance and distinction, being honored and respected throughout the West of Scotland, and loved by the people of Cowal. He was specially noted for his sincerity and kindness and earned the reputation of a model Landlord. He died at the Ard Lamont House in January, 1893, at the age of 84, after a short illness, and is interred in the Lamont of Lamont private burial ground at Ard Lamont.