Born in Port of Menteith, Campbell went into partnership (with Matthew Paterson) in the clothing trade in 1810, initially operating from Glasgow's Trongate. In 1817, with his brother William, he established the firm of J & W Campbell & Co. A third brother, Alexander, joined, and the premises on the Saltmarket became home to a retail drapery and dry goods business.
James Campbell stood for parliamentary election (as a Conservative) in 1837 and 1841, unsuccessfully on both occasions. He was Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1840-43, gaining much public support when he ordered, and accompanied, fire engines to a large blaze just outside the municipal boundary.
In 1822 he married Janet Bannerman, and their two sons both later served as Members of Parliament. James Campbell was knighted in 1842 and bought the estate of Stracathro, in Forfarshire, in 1847. He died here on 10 September 1876, aged 86.
THE subject of this notice, like many others whose names have become familiar as household words in Glasgow, was not a native of the city, but came to it from the country in early youth.
He was born at the farm of Unshinoch, or Inchanoch, Port of Menteith, in 1790. His father was known there as James McOran. The family tradition was the following:- About the year 1660, a young Campbell of Melfort, in Argyllshire, who had got into trouble at home, came to the Menteith district under the assumed name of McCoran or McOran.(1) He was received into service by the Earl of Menteith, who knew his history, and was soon appointed to the charge of the Earl's household. He afterwards married a niece of Haldane of Lanrick, and was settled by the Earl on the farm of Inchanoch. There he and his descendants lived, bearing in Menteith the name of McOran; but when any of the family migrated to settle elsewhere, they resumed the old Clan name of Campbell. In consequence of some arrangements between the proprietors of Gartmore and Rednock, leading to an excambion of lands, including Inchanoch, James McOran in 1805 surrendered his lease and migrated with his wife and family - the family consisting of four sons and four daughters - to Glasgow, where, in accordance with the family rule, they arrived, not as McOrans, but as Campbells.
The eldest son, John, went to America, leaving James the eldest of the sons remaining in Glasgow. The third son, Alexander, died unmarried in 1822. The fourth, William, afterwards of Tullichewan, is the subject of a subsequent notice in this volume.
After some short time at school, James was apprenticed to McLachlan & McKeand, warehousemen, High Street, the former of whom had known the family at the Port of Menteith, and now proved a warm friend to them in Glasgow.
In 1810, at twenty years of age, he entered partnership in a clothier business with Matthew Paterson. The firm had been Paterson & Scott, but now became Paterson & Campbell, 163 Trongate. This arrangement came to an end in 1812. He afterwards carried on business alone, as a clothier, at 41 Brunswick Place, under the firm of James Campbell tertius & Co. In 1817 he disposed of that business in order to join his brother William, under the new firm of J. & W. Campbell & Co.
In these different changes James Campbell was guided by the advice and enjoyed the support and substantial assistance of his old masters, Mr. McLachlan and Mr. McKeand. They advanced the capital which enabled the new firm to begin business, and they were partners with them for the first three years.
The firm opened at 5 Saltmarket. They seem originally to have contemplated chiefly a trade with hawkers, but it soon branched out into a general wholesale and retail drapery or dry goods business.
In 1820 the brother Alexander was assumed as a partner, and for two years, until his death in 1822, the style of the firm was J., A., & W. Campbell & Co.
In 1823 the business was removed to new premises at 34 Candleriggs Street, where it continued for a generation. The retail department occupied the first floor; the wholesale the premises behind, which were added to from time to time as the business grew; and the manufacturing departments the upper floors. An additional retail department was opened in the Prince of Wales' Buildings, Buchanan Street, in 1841, but owing to the extension of the wholesale business the retail departments both in Candleriggs Street and Buchanan Street were disposed of, and the firm moved to new premises at 29 (now 137) Ingram Street in 1856, where the business, wholesale exclusively, is still continued.
But to return to the subject of our sketch. James Campbell was of an active and inquiring turn of mind; careful, industrious, and persevering, with a calm judgment and an equable temperament. He was very observant, and had a great faculty for organization. With these qualities he was well fitted to attain success.
At a time when the practical details of the business were largely undertaken by the brothers themselves, the part of James was rather to look after the buying of goods, the part of William to look after the selling. For several years James went regularly as a buyer to the English markets, especially to Lancashire, Yorkshire, Nottingham, and London, and many were the quaint anecdotes he had afterwards to tell of his experiences on the way. These journeys led to the formation of friendships which lasted through life. They also gave him that wider knowledge of the world which travel, with intelligence on the part of the traveller, is fitted to impart.(2) Once established as a prosperous man of business, James Campbell began to show an interest in public affairs as well. He entered the Town Council in 1831, and continued a member of it until the expiry of his Provostship, 1840-43.
The following reference to his career is in his own words, from his characteristic speech at a banquet given in his honour in 1868, in reply to the toast of his health proposed by the Chairman, Lord Provost Lumsden:- "True it is that I made my appearance amongst you, with the rest of my father's family, in 1805. I served an apprenticeship onward till 1810, when I began business with other parties on my own account, and carried on with varied but not very great success until 1817, when, through the assistance and aid, and for a short time the co-partnery, of the very gentleman with whom I had served my apprenticeship, we began the business that you have alluded to. I have no delicacy in receiving any compliment with regard to the conducting of that business, because I have ever held myself to be only a sharer in it. There was one, now no more, on behalf of whose memory I rejoice in receiving any compliment. Gentlemen, as in the case of Waterloo it was not the commanding officers alone who were found to have deserved the medal of merit and of honour, so was it with us that many of those who were counted servants in the house, were masters, in the able, faithful, and zealous discharge of their duty.
There are those in this company, and others scattered over the nations of the earth, I may say, who are rejoicing in the fete of this evening; and I am sure that so far as they have succeeded, and many of them have succeeded well in the world, I rejoice and glory in their success. With regard to any interest that I have taken in the municipal affairs of Glasgow, or in the interests and prosperity of Glasgow, I have no hesitation in saying that Glasgow owes me nothing. I owe to it a very great deal. I think that the business with which I am connected has been carried on the very shoulders of the friendship and confidence of the citizens of Glasgow."
One passage in his early career is deserving of a more detailed notice. It has already been mentioned that from 1810 to 1812 he was in business as one of the firm of Paterson & Campbell. The business was not successful. The firm had been so weakened by the withdrawal of the capital of the previous partner, Scott, that, after struggling on for about two years, they found themselves unable to meet their engagements. The younger partner, through the assistance of friends, was enabled to make an offer of composition of ten shillings in the pound. Mr. Paterson did not join in the offer, as he had no wish to resume the business. The creditors declined the offer, preferring to realize the estate themselves. The firm, having made a complete surrender, were in due time legally discharged of their liabilities. But James Campbell was not content to leave matters in that position. As soon as he was able he paid the creditors the ten shillings in the pound by which his offer to them had fallen short of the full amount of their claims. He did this in 1828, adding ten years' interest to each payment. In the letter in which he then enclosed the remittance to each of his old creditors he explained that Mr. Paterson and he, although freed from all legal obligations, had always determined to make up the deficiency as soon as they were able; that it was only the difference between his offer and full payment which they felt they had to do with - not conceiving themselves in any way responsible for any further deficiency that arose on the residue of the estate which the creditors had taken into their own hands, and over the management of which neither of the partners had any control; that Mr. Paterson had died some years before without having had it in his power to fulfil that intention in any part, and that it had consequently devolved on him individually to discharge the duty.
It was characteristic of the subject of our sketch that he said little of this episode in his history, even to his family and intimate friends, and nothing at all of the gratitude and warm commendation which his conduct in the matter called forth from his old creditors. Only after his death did his family become aware of the whole circumstances by finding among his papers the copy of his letter to the creditors and the letters of acknowledgment from the creditors - these latter full of expressions of the highest appreciation.
Mr. Campbell also took his part in political life.
He was amongst the most active of those who arranged for the banquet to Sir Robert Peel, in January, 1837, on the occasion of that statesman coming to Glasgow to be installed as Lord Rector of the University. He was one of the deputation (the others being ex-Provost Dalglish, Mr. Thomas Dunlop Douglas, and Mr. Leckie Ewing) who carried the invitation to Sir Robert. The deputation travelled by postchaise, and one of the incidents they had afterwards to relate was that they did not allow the carriage wheels to be washed, so that they might arrive at Drayton Manor with the mud of their journey bearing witness to their haste and eagerness.
He stood as a candidate for the Parliamentary representation of Glasgow, in the Conservative interest, in 1837, and again in 1841.(3) He was unsuccessful, but he bore the disappointment with perfect equanimity. He continued to take a warm interest in politics, but this did not interfere with his being on the best of terms with men of all classes of his fellow-citizens. He referred to this subject in the following words, in the speech from which a quotation has already been made:- "I cannot help noticing what has been said of political opinions, in connection with the cordiality with which I have been received tonight by men of all political opinions. I certainly have had a political feeling myself in a particular direction. I may have been at antipodes, for instance, with my friend Dalglish (4) at the other end of the table, but while we were at antipodes at certain times, we were always friends - although at loggerheads in politics, we were always as dogs'-heads in social friendship."
He received the honour of knighthood in 1842, as Lord Provost, on the occasion of the birth of the Prince of Wales.
Being in municipal office in 1843, he could not but have some prominent share locally in the ecclesiastical agitations of that year. He adhered to the Church of Scotland, and took much interest in the appointment of ministers to the seven (out of ten) City charges in Glasgow which were left vacant by secessions - the Town Council being then patrons of the City churches. He also took an active part in the organization and progress of the Lay Association in aid of the Schemes of the Church, and of the Endowment Scheme under Professor James Robertson.
In May, 1845, Sir James was presented by upwards of 200 subscribers with a handsome and costly piece of gold plate, bearing the inscription that it was "the expression of a grateful sense entertained in the community of his liberal spirit and charitable disposition displayed alike in public and in private, and of his faithful, unremitting, and firm discharge of the duties of Chief Magistrate."
The presentation was made by Sheriff Alison in an eloquent speech, in the course of which he referred to the "active patriotic spirit which," he said, addressing Sir James, "has prompted you on all occasions to forward every undertaking, public or private, which promised to be of general advantage, and that uniform courtesy and urbanity of demeanour which has added grace to, while it preserved the dignity of, the highest situation which the citizens could bestow."
The use of the expression "firm" in the inscription on the testimonial, in characterizing his discharge of the duties of Chief Magistrate, had an obvious reference to a local controversy during Sir James' provostship There had been much discussion as to extending the municipal boundaries. In the midst of it an exciting event occurred. A large mill at Barrowfield - a little way beyond the then existing boundary of the municipality - took fire. Application was made for the use of the city fire engines, but the police were without power to grant it. On the Provost being appealed to, he ordered out the engines on his own responsibility, and to make the matter sure he himself went on one of the engines to the scene of the fire. For this action he was censured by the Police Commissioners, but commended by the public. Sheriff Alison in his speech thus referred to the subject - "The citizens have not forgot - they will not easily forget - the vigorous efforts which you made, under no common circumstances, to procure for the suburbs of this great city that protection from fire of which they so lamentably stood in need. It must be to you a source of the greatest satisfaction to see that, whatever division of opinion formerly existed, the measures of public improvement for which you so strenuously contended during your public administration at the head of the magistracy of this city have all since received, or are about to receive, the sanction of the Legislature, with the general concurrence of all parties in the community."
Sir James' residence in Glasgow was at 129 Bath Street, now the offices of the School Board. The house was built by him in 1829. It was at that time in the farthest west division of the street: any houses farther west, in that part of the town, excepting those about Blythswood Square, were suburban villas. In after years his house in Bath Street became well known as the scene of much genial hospitality - extended not to friends and neighbours only, but to distinguished strangers visiting Glasgow.
His practice for many years was to rent a country house for the summer months. It may surprise some of the present generation to learn that his country quarters at so recent a date as 1836 were Kelvinside House, opposite the present Botanic Gardens. The house in Bath Street was shut up for the summer, and the family and whole belongings removed to what was then the country, but is now only the west end of the town.
The portrait which illustrates this sketch represents Sir James at a favourite occupation - using his compasses. He had a remarkable turn for construction, and was a good authority on all practical questions connected with the planning and erection of buildings, and especially in the alteration of old buildings to meet new requirements. It may be said that his favourite employment within doors was with his drawing-board and square. And it was characteristic of him that in his later years, when his eyesight (he suffered from cataract) no longer allowed him to use pencil or pen in the ordinary way, he found a substitute in the use of white chalk upon dark blue paper.
The condition on which he insisted most strongly in all building plans was that there should be provision for plenty of light to all parts, especially to passages and staircases - a condition of which he thought architects were generally too neglectful. On this account he condemned the great height of many modern buildings. He thought even a third storey above the ground a very questionable advantage, because of its darkening effect on the street, and the increased difficulty it caused to the proper lighting of the storeys below, thereby reducing the value of these storeys.
Another of his characteristics was his interest in farming. The tastes of his early years clung to him all his life through. He was able to gratify to the full his love of country occupations on his purchase of the estate of Stracathro, Forfarshire, in 1847. Here, also, his constructive talent found scope for its exercise, in the erection of farm-steadings and other buildings, in which respect he contributed not a little to the general improvement which has taken place in the farm buildings of that part of Forfarshire.
He continued to retain his interest in Glasgow, although having ample work to occupy him in the country. His friend, Mr. Alexander Baird of Gartsherrie, remarked to him on his purchase of the estate, that in future his general whereabouts would be neither at Stracathro nor at Glasgow, but on the road between - and for a time the remark seemed almost to receive fulfilment. It was surprising with how much vigour and freshness he took up the different interests of town and country, and how little he seemed to feel the fatigue of frequent journeys. In his later years, however, as the infirmities of age increased, he resided almost wholly at Stracathro, where he died on 10th September, 1876, in his eighty-seventh year.
He was always a genial and interesting companion, with a keen sense of humour. In addition, too, to having the qualities of sagacity and a high sense of truthfulness and honour, which were patent to those who came in contact with him in public life, Sir James Campbell was known to his more intimate friends as being singularly affectionate, generous, and considerate. His thoughtfulness of others was remarkable.
In 1822 he married Janet, daughter of Henry Bannerman, Esq., Manchester, who predeceased him in 1873.
He is survived by two sons - James Alexander, elected 1880 as M.P. for the Universities of Glasgow and Aberdeen; and Henry (who assumed the additional name of Bannerman in 1872, in accordance with the will of an uncle), who has been M.P. for the Stirling Burghs since 1868, and is now Chief Secretary to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland.
(1) This name was believed to mean "Son of an honest man" - his father having borne, in Melfort, the soubriquet of "Duinecoir", i.e., "honest man".
(2) Travelling in those days was very different from what it is now. In a letter before us, dated September, 1820, he informs his brothers that he has just arrived in London after a mail-coach journey from Holyhead of thirty seven hours. He had been in Ireland buying linens. The goods he had bought in Dublin "will not be home perhaps for three weeks, as there were no vessels in the river." He had crossed to Holyhead "in seven hours from Dublin, with the King's smack. It was considered a very quick passage." As illustrating the prices of the time, here are a few items from one of his hotel bills of that year - "breakfast, 1s. 8d.; dinner, 2s. 3d.; negus, 1s. 6d.; bed, six nights, 6s.," and at the close, in his own handwriting, "Martha, 3s. 6d.; Mary, 3s. 6d.; Boots, 1s. 8d."
(3) In 1837 the poll was - Lord William Bentinck (L.), 2767; John Dennistoun (L.), 2743; James Campbell (C.), 2121; Robert Monteith (C.), 2090. In 1841, James Oswald (L.), 2776; John Dennistoun (L.), 2728; James Campbell (C.), 2416; George Mills (L.), 353.
(4) Late M.P. for Glasgow, one of the croupiers of the dinner.
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