Mr Robert (2) CAMPBELL (1804 - 1859)**

Date of Birth: 05/10/1804 Place of Birth: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia Date of Death: 30/03/1859 Place of Death: 'Duntroon' near Queanbeyan, New South Wales, Australia

Parliamentary Service

Position Start End Period Notes Member of the NSW Legislative Council 1 Nov 1851 29 Feb 1856 4yr(s) 3mth(s) 29day(s) An Elective Member of the first Legislative Council 1843 - 1856 for the City of Sydney Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 13 Mar 1856 30 Mar 1859 3yr(s) 18day(s) Member for Sydney (City) 13 Mar 1856 26 Aug 1856 5mth(s) 14day(s) 1st (1856 - 1857) Member for Sydney (City) 3 Sep 1856 19 Dec 1857 1yr(s) 3mth(s) 17day(s) 1st (1856 - 1857) Member for Sydney 15 Jan 1858 30 Mar 1859 1yr(s) 2mth(s) 16day(s) 2nd (1858 - 1859) Colonial Treasurer 26 Aug 1856 2 Oct 1856 1mth(s) 7day(s) Colonial Treasurer 4 Jan 1858 30 Mar 1859 1yr(s) 2mth(s) 27day(s) Customs Department Committee No.15 31 Oct 1856 18 Mar 1857 4mths 16days 1st (1856 - 1857) Reclaiming Land, Woolloomooloo Bay Committee 25 Aug 1857 18 Dec 1857 3mths 24days 1st (1856 - 1857) Pyrmont Bridge Company’s Bill Committee No.15 13 Nov 1857 18 Dec 1857 1mth 6days 1st (1856 - 1857) Treasury Iron Chest and Accounts Committee No.17 17 Nov 1857 18 Dec 1857 1mth 2days 1st (1856 - 1857) Treasury Iron Chest and Accounts Committee No.4 30 Mar 1858 26 Nov 1858 7mths 28days 2nd (1858 - 1859) Customs Department Committee No.12 20 Apr 1858 26 Nov 1858 7mths 7days 2nd (1858 - 1859)

Political Party Activity

He was a leader of the anti-transportation campaign from the early 1830's.

Community Activity

Member of the Sydney Council of Australasian League. Supervised the building of St Andrew's Cathedral in Sydney in 1837. Formed a committee which built the Garrison Church and was also a donor to the King's School at Parramatta.

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Merchant. Parents sent him to England in 1810. Educated at Pimlico, London. Returned to New South Wales in 1819. He was a merchant when he was elected to the old Legislative Council. In 1822, he and his brother John worked for their father in his mercantile, wharf, storage and shipping business, Campbell and Company. He was made a partner in 1827 and retained that position until his death. Was a freemason from the age of 18; senior warden of his lodge at 19, worshipful master at 20 and first provinicial Scottish grandmaster of the province of Australia in 1856.

Personal

Second son of Robert Campbell (senior), a merchant, and his wife Sophia Palmer. Married Annie Sophia Riley in 1835 and had no issue. Brothers John and Charles and his son William Robert were all Parliamentarians. Brother John was a Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Sydney Hamlets in the first Parliament and for the Glebe in the second and third Parliaments. Appointed to the Legislative Council in 1856 and again from 1861 until his death in 1886. Brother Charles was a member of the Legislative Council from 1870 to 1888. His son, William Robert was a member of the Legislative Assembly for West Sydney in the fifth Parliament; and for The Gwydir in the 10th to 12th Parliaments. Member of the Legislative Council from 1890, until his death in 1906. Church of England.

Additional Information

References: Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 1

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