Archibald McConnell's career as Chief was brief and uneventful, probably due to the terrible slaughter of his clansmen at Glentaisie. On May 5, 1564 he received a charter from Queen Mary Scotland for lands forming a part of the barony of Bar. He made an unsuccessful attempt to effect the release of his uncle, Sorley Boy. He is mentioned in a precept of Clare Constant by Archibald, fifth Earl of Argyle in 1565 and that is about all we know of him. He must have died not later than 1569 for in that year his younger brother Angus was acting as Lord of Kintyre and Chief of Clan Iain Mhoir.