The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Campbell, Hon. Robert
Campbell, Hon. Robert, M.L.A., sometime Colonial Treasurer, New South Wales, was the son of Hon. Robert Campbell, M.L.C., the first merchant who established a firm in Sydney. Mr. Robert Campbell, sen., came of the family of Campbell, of Ashfield, Argyleshire, and was engaged as a merchant in Calcutta until 1796, when he visited Sydney and decided to open business there. He married in 1801 Sophia, sister of John Palmer, Assistant Commissary-General, and had three sons, viz., Hon. John, M.L.C., who gave £10,000 towards establishing the bishopric of Riverina, and died in Jan. 1886; Robert, the subject of this notice; and Hon. Charles, M.L.C., who died in August 1888. Mr. Robert Campbell was born on Oct. 5th, 1804, and was returned to the first Legislative Assembly of New South Wales as member for the city of Sydney in 1856. He was Colonial Treasurer in the first Cowper Government from August to Oct. 1856, and again took that position in the second Cowper Ministry, in succession to Mr. Richard Jones, in Jan. 1858. He broke down under the cares of office, and died on March 30th, 1859, whilst still Colonial Treasurer. Mr. Campbell was the first Provincial Grand Master for the province of Australia of the Scotch Constitution of Freemasons.