Of Toronto and born on 12th August, 1819, at
Carbrook, Stirlingshire, Scotland, the country seat of his father, John
Campbell, W.S., who was born in 1770, and who was the great grandson and
representative in the male line of John Campbell of Easter Shian and
Garrows, in the County of Perth, grandson of John Campbell of Edramuckie
Castle, on Loch Tay. Mr. Campbell of Carbrook married, in 1794, Francis
Allen Brown, grand-daughter of William Mayne, of Powis and Logie, Counties
of Perth and Clackmanan, the great-grandson of William mayne of Pile, who
lived in the time of Mary and James VI., was succeeded by his son John,
born 1586, and who died in 1696, at the age of 110. (Vide Burke's Extinct
Peerages, art. Mayne.) Our subject was educated at the Edinburgh Academy
and the University of Edinburgh, at both of which the studies were chiefly
classical. He always was fond of out-door sports and athletic exercises,
and in studies of natural philosophy and mechanics. On leaving the
University he adopted banking as a profession, but subsequently took up
the study of Scotch law. In 1845 he came to Canada, and on the copper
mining excitement breaking out, became connected with a mining enterprise
on Lake Huron, which, like other similar ventures, was unsuccessful. Being
offered the post of manager in a bank in Montreal he returned thither in
1851. In 1856 he was married, at Hillingdon church, near Uxbridge,
England, to Louisa, youngest daughter of Henry Fisher, Esq., of Hillhead,
Dunkeld. In the same year he removed to Kingston, the head office of the
bank, and resided there till 1854, when, having become interested in a
large lumbering concern in the County of Peterborough, he retired from the
bank, and has since devoted himself to that business. In 1874 having sold
the mills and timber limits, he removed from Peterborough to Toronto,
where he now resides, and carried on the business of the Muskoka Mill and
Lumber Company. When residing in Montreal, the Oregan dispute appearing
likely to lead to a war with the United States, he obtained a commission
in the Montreal Light Infantry, commanded by Col. Dyde. On leaving the
province he retired with the rank of captain. He is connected with various
public companies as a director or president of the board, is also a member
of the Board of Trustees of the University and U.C. Colleges; but has not
aspired to other public office. In 1840, whilst residing in England, he
was initiated in the mysteries of Freemasonry. He served as W.M. of St.
Paul's Lodge, Montreal, and J. in the R.A. Chapter of the same lodge. He
has since youth attended the services of the Church of England, which he
believes to be the best form of church polity, as a monarchy is the most
perfect form of civil government. He has always held what are called
evangelical views, and is a member of the diocesan and provincial Synods.
He was one of the founders of the Church Association, organized for the
purpose of putting a check on ritualism, and now takes a warm interest in
Wycliffe College. His political views have always been strongly
conservative, but he would at any moment sacrifice party to honest and
pure government. He has three sons, the eldest being a barrister in
Toronto, a silver medalist of the Univerisity, and a gold medalist of the
Law Society; the second a B.A., Toronto, studying medicine at Edinburgh
University; and the third, also a B.A. Toronto, is manager of the Muskoka
Mills, on the Georgian Bay. He has also three daughters. |