He was born around 1785 the eleventh child of Alexander Campbell of Dallingburn (1739–1811) and his wife, Susanna Nutter Campbell (his father's cousin). His father was collector of customs at
Port Glasgow. He entered
Glasgow University in 1799 but there is no record of his graduation. In 1809 following his first marriage, he joined his father-in-law (and uncle)'s firm of John Campbell & Son, West Indies traders. The company reached its peak in 1821, with sugar plantations in the
West Indies and
Demerara. In 1811 he inherited his father's estate at Dellingburn. In 1813 he purchased
Belvidere as a residence. In 1820 he sold Belvidere and purchased the Ballimore estate on
Loch Fyne. In Glasgow Town Council he served as
Dean of Guild 1823/24 and
Lord Provost 1824 to 1826. In 1834 he received large compensation (over £50,000) for the loss of slaves (following the abolition of slavery in UK colonies) in
British Guyana where he owned the Endeavour, Johanna, Enterprise, Annandale and Perth plantations. In 1850 he was living at 12 Moore Place in Glasgow. He died at Ballimore House on 26 July 1862. ==Family==