Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Campbell, John (1794-1867)

CAMPBELL, JOHN (1794–1867), minister of the congregational church, was born in Forfar on 5 Oct. 1794. He was educated at the parochial school, after which he for some time followed the occupation of a blacksmith. In 1818 he entered the university of St. Andrews, and after completing his university career at Glasgow, and attending the divinity hall of the congregational church, was ordained to a pastoral charge in Ayrshire. Thence he was shortly removed to the charge of the Tabernacle, Moorfields, London, which, after a ministry of twenty years, he relinquished in order to devote himself wholly to literature. In 1844 he established the 'Christian Witness' and two years later the 'Christian Penny Magazine.' At the close of 1849 he started 'The British Banner,' a weekly newspaper, which he carried on for nine years, after which he originated 'The British Standard.' Two years later he established 'The British Ensign,' a penny paper. He was also the author of a large number of separate publications, the principal of which were: 1. 'Jethro,' 1839. 2. 'Maritime Discovery and Christian Missions,' 1840. 3. 'Pastoral Visitation,' 1841. 4. 'The Martyr of Erromanga, or Philosophy of Missions,' 1842. 5. 'Life of David Nasmyth, founder of City Missions,' 1844. 6. 'Wesleyan Methodism,' 1847. 7. 'A Review of the Life and Character of J. Angell James,' 1860. In 1839 he was engaged in a newspaper controversy with the queen's printers in regard to Bible monopoly, and the letters were published in a separate volume. He was also a keen opponent of Roman Catholicism, ritualism, and rational theology. In 1851 he published a volume on 'Popery and Puseyism,' and in 1865 a volume on 'Popery.' At the close of 1866 he retired from the 'British Standard,' in order to obtain more leisure to prepare his 'Life of George Whitefield.' He died on 26 March 1867.

[Gent. Mag. vol. iii., 4th ser. p. 676; Brit. Mus. Cat.]