Robert Campbell (Australian politician, born 1804)

Robert Campbell (5 October 1804 – 30 March 1859) was an early opponent of penal transportation and an Australian politician, Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales.

In the early 1830s, he refused to sit on a jury that included emancipists in order to draw attention to this cause and as a result became the leader of the campaign.

In 1835, he had married Annie Sophia, daughter of Edward Riley (1784-1825), a merchant and pastoralist in the Sydney area.

[3] In response to an 1846 parliamentary committee recommendation that transportation (which had ceased in 1840) be recommenced, Campbell organized a protest meeting.

A petition in opposition to transportation was signed by some 6800 persons was presented to the Legislative Council and the British Government.