[2][3] The family tradition was the following:- About the year 1660, a young Campbell of Melfort, in Argyllshire, who had got into trouble at home, came to the Menteith district under the assumed name of McCoran or McOran.

There he and his descendants lived, bearing in Menteith the name of McOran; but when any of the family migrated to settle elsewhere, they resumed the old Clan name of Campbell.

[1] After some short time at school, James was apprenticed to McLachlan & McKeand, warehousemen, High Street, the former of whom had known the family at the Port of Menteith, and now proved a warm friend to them in Glasgow.

They seem originally to have contemplated chiefly a trade with hawkers, but it soon branched out into a general wholesale and retail drapery or dry goods business.

[1] In 1820 the brother Alexander was assumed as a partner, and for two years, until his death in 1822, the style of the firm was J., A., & W. Campbell & Co.[1] In 1823 the business was removed to new premises at 34 Candleriggs Street, where it continued for a generation.

He was amongst the most active of those who arranged for the banquet to Sir Robert Peel, in January, 1837, on the occasion of that statesman coming to Glasgow to be installed as Lord Rector of the university.

He was one of the deputation (the others being ex-Provost Dalglish, Mr. Thomas Dunlop Douglas, and Mr. Leckie Ewing) who carried the invitation to Sir Robert.

The deputation travelled by postchaise, and one of the incidents they had afterwards to relate was that they did not allow the carriage wheels to be washed, so that they might arrive at Drayton Manor with the mud of their journey bearing witness to their haste and eagerness.

[1] Being in municipal office in 1843, he could not but have some prominent share locally in the ecclesiastical agitations of that year, as the Church of Scotland was split in what is known as the Disruption.

James, contrary to his brother William, adhered to the Church of Scotland, and took much interest in the appointment of ministers to the seven (out of ten) City charges in Glasgow which were left vacant by secessions - the Town Council being then patrons of the City churches.