Background
Campbell was born in a part of Washington County, Virginia, that later became Smyth County.
Campbell was born in a part of Washington County, Virginia, that later became Smyth County.
He was the 27th Governor of Virginia, serving from 1837 to 1840. He was a successful merchant in Abingdon, Virginia, and served in the United States. Army during the War of 1812. As governor Campbell unsuccessfully advocated creation of a statewide system of compulsory education.
He called a special session of the General Assembly that helped Virginia weather the financial Panic of 1837.
Another brother, Edward Campbell (1781–1833), represented Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Washington Counties in the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829–1830.