John Campbell Arbuthnott, 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott (26 October 1924 – 14 July 2012) was a Scottish peer, Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire (1977–99) and a notable businessman.

Early life

Arbuthnott was the son of Major General Robert Keith Arbuthnott, 15th Viscount of Arbuthnott and Ursula Collingwood.

He was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh and at Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he studied estate management graduating with a BA degree in 1949; and a MA degree in 1967. He was a member (1979–85) of the Scottish North investment Trust, and a director of Britoil plc (1988–90), and joined the British Petroleum (BP) Scottish Advisory Board (1990–96).

Honours and affiliations

Arbuthnott was Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE), Prior of the Scottish Venerable Order of St John (GCStJ) (1983–95), and served as Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland (May 1986–87), on the Royal Commission on Historic Manuscripts (1987–94), and a member of the Aberdeen University Court (1978–84), and Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Farmers. and made a Knight of the Order of the Thistle (KT) in 1996.

Personal life

On 3 September 1949, he married Mary Elizabeth Darley Oxley (d. 2010). Together, they had two children, a son and one daughter:

  • Keith Arbuthnott, 17th Viscount of Arbuthnott (b. 1950)
  • Lady Susanna Mary Arbuthnott (b. 1954)

Lady Arbuthnott died 16 January 2010. Following Arbuthnott's death, a service of thanksgiving for his life was held at St Machar's Cathedral, Aberdeen, on 14 September 2012.

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