He was the son of William Middleton Campbell, Governor of the Bank of England, and his wife Edith Agneta Bevan.
During World War I Campbell was at the National Physical Laboratory, working under Clifford Paterson.
While at Hirst Research he encouraged unqualified staff to further their scientific knowledge by the loan and gift of books used during his own studies.
This book is a short introduction to the philosophy of science aimed at a lay audience.
Campbell believed that what might be considered "truth" in the realm of science might not be applicable at all in other fields.