Sir Alexander Campbell was born on March 9, 1822 in Yorkshire, England.[1] A year later, his family moved to Canada, moving around until they settled in Kingston, Ontario in 1836. It was there that Campbell was eventually called to the bar. As a young boy, he received a high standard of education, during which he studied French, among other things.[2] Unknown to him at the time, his French education would later help facilitate his political career. Once called to the bar, Campbell articled under John A. Macdonald and practiced with him for some time after, becoming his law partner in 1843.[3] The partnership dissolved, however, in 1849 when both men decided to enter politics. Regardless, their relationship stayed intact and would remain very important throughout Campbell’s political career.
It was not until 1850 that Campbell entered the political area, becoming an alderman in Kingston. He held that position for two years, after which he left for the national scene, though he returned to municipal politics years later. After proving to be a powerful figure in Kingston politics, he was elected to the Legislature of Canada in 1858 for the Cataraqui district. Three years later, Macdonald contacted Campbell to become a member of his cabinet. He refused, as Macdonald would not include other Conservatives in his cabinet. Campbell instead served a short stint as speaker of the house in 1863.
In 1864 he was given an opportunity to form government following Adam Johnston Fergusson Blair’s failure to do the same. Unfortunately, Campbell failed, too. He was not reputed to be a leader, and his failure reflected that characterization.[4] Rather, he was thought of as an manager. Specifically, he was a useful, organized and safe person to have around, and politicians recognized those qualities. Following his failure to form government, Campbell secured a position as the Commissioner of Crown Lands, a major political position in Canada at the time.[5] As Commissioner, he attended the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences. It was there that he gained his status as a ‘Father of Confederation’. Campbell viewed the conferences as an “opportunity to influence thought”[6] and there he advocated for Confederation. He was one of eight delegates sent to the conferences to represent the Province of Canada.[7]
After Confederation in 1867, Campbell was called to the Senate. He served in many other important governmental roles including Postmaster General, Minister of the Interior, and Minister of Justice.[8] However, after 1867, he never again ran for elected office. He also led the opposition in the Senate for many years, which he left in 1887 to become the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario, a position he held until his death.[9]
In 1885, when Louis Riel was captured, Campbell served as Minister of Justice.[10] Campbell insisted that Riel be tried in Regina, rather than Winnipeg. A Winnipeg trial may have resulted in a non-guilty verdict, which Campbell viewed as a “miscarriage of justice”. This decision showed his traditionalist and narrow style.
Outside of his political and legal careers, Campbell was heavily involved in other business and community efforts in Kingston and area.[11] He served as the Dean of the Faculty of Law at Queen’s University in Kingston, and had business interests in railway companies, insurance companies, and banks. His business ventures allowed him to create lucrative relationships that helped him in his political career. For example, Campbell was vice-president of the Isolated Risk Fire Insurance Company. Alexander Mackenzie, the second Prime Minister of Canada, was the president of the company. He also had connections with many prominent Kingston families, including the Cartwright and Campbell families.
Sir Alexander Campbell is remembered for his role as a trusted advisor to important government officials and a political manager.[12] He is best known, however, as an attendant of the Charlottetown and Quebec conferences.
[1] “Sir Alexander Campbell” in The Canadian Encyclopedia, by Mel Hurtig (Canada: The Canadian Encyclopedia, 2001), online: <www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sir-alexander-campbell/> [Hurtig]; Canada, Library of Parliament, “The Hon Sir Alexander Campbell”, Parliamentarian File, online: <www.lop.parl.gc.ca/ParlInfo/Files/Parliamentarian.aspx?Item=0ddd1e27-0568-4aa0-a1dc-2d2ccd31e2a9&Language=E&Section=FederalExperience> [Parliament].
[2] Donald Swainson, Dictionary of Canadian Biography (Toronto: University of Toronto/Université Laval, 1990), sub verbo “Campbell, Sir Alexander”, online: <www.biographi.ca/en/bio/campbell_alexander_12E.html>.
[3] Hurtig, supra note 1.
[4] Library and Archives Canada, "Sir Alexander Campbell", Canadian Confederation, People, online: <www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/confederation/023001-4000.10-e.html> [Canadian Confederation].
[5] Swainson, supra note 2.
[6] Hurtig, supra note 1.
[7] Library and Archives Canada, "The Fathers", Province of Canada Delegates, online: <epe.lac-bac.gc.ca/100/200/301/ic/can_digital_collections/charlottetown/fathers/campbell.html>.
[8] Canadian Confederation, supra note 4.
[9] Hurtig, supra note 1.
[10] Swainson, supra note 2.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Hurtig, supra note 1.
