[1] He was born in Dunstaffnage, Scotland, the son of Angus Campbell and Lillias Buchanan.
He became lieutenant governor for Prince Edward Island in 1847 following the dismissal of Sir Henry Vere Huntley.
After his arrival, Campbell was closely associated with the more conservative faction on the island, taking Thomas Heath Haviland as his adviser.
Campbell quickly came into conflict with the forces calling for responsible government for Prince Edward Island.
He dissolved the assembly in 1850, hoping that more cooperative members would be returned, but the majority of those elected were reformers.