Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Campbell, Donald (1751-1804)
CAMPBELL, DONALD (1751–1804), of Barbreck, Indian traveller, published at London in 1795 ‘A Journey over land to India ... by Donald Campbell of Barbreck, who formerly commanded a regiment of cavalry in the service of the Nabob of the Carnatic: in a series of letters to his son.’ The journey was made by way of Belgium, the Tyrol, Venice, Alexandria, Aleppo, Diyarbekr, Mosul, Baghdad, Bushire, Bombay, and Goa, about all which places and others on the route the traveller has something to say. He suffered shipwreck in the Indian Ocean, and was made prisoner by Hyder Ali, but subsequently released. The book enjoyed much popularity. A new edition appeared in 1796, in 4to, like the first, and in the same year an abridged version was published, in 8vo, with the title ‘Narrative of Adventures,’ &c. (London, 1796), and a preface signed’ ‘S. J.,’ of which a new edition, in 8vo, appeared in 1797, a third, in 12mo, in 1798, and a sixth was reached in 1808. The third part of the travels, relating to the shipwreck and imprisonment of the writer, was published as a chap-book, ‘Shipwreck and Captivity of D. C.,’ London, 1800 (?), 8vo. He also published a ‘Letter to the Marquis of Lorn on the Present Times,’ London, 1798,8vo, which is a sensible protest against party factions in connection with the war with France. Campbell died at Hutton in Essex on 5 June 1804. He left a son, Frederick William Campbell [q. v.]
[Gent. Mag. 1804; Brit. Mus. Cat. of Printed Books.]