This Scottish cleric holds the distinction of being the first professor ever appointed by ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥. He was born and educated in Scotland, but immigrated to Canada as a young man. He was serving as a Presbyterian minister in Brockville when, in 1840, he accepted a post as Professor of Classics at ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥.
Although this made him the university's first academic appointment, it was not until two years later on March 7, 1842 that he and the newly-appointed Principal Thomas Liddell taught ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ first classes in a house on Colborne Street.
Campbell taught at ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ until 1844, when a schism in the Presbyterian Church divided the university and led to his departure (see Presbyterian Church Schism).
Campbell returned to Scotland to serve as minister in a small parish, but soon took up an appointment at Aberdeen University, where he ended his career as the university's Principal. He is one of two ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ faculty to serve in that post: Principal William Hamilton Fyfe left ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ for the principalship of Aberdeen in 1936.