Robert Campbell

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Quick Facts

Biography

Robert was the eldest child of James Campbell and Grace Colgon. When he was 14, he arrived in Augusta, Georgia, to clerk for John Campbell (no relation), an Irish merchant from the same area of Ireland. Robert also worked in Savannah for a time but returned to Augusta before 1828. John Campbell died in 1828 and Robert took on much of his business, including investments for associates, friends, and family still in Ireland. One of his main business contacts was William John Campbell (WJC) Allen, nephew of John Campbell. The two shared a long and robust correspondence that included business dealings, politics, family news and more. Copies of the letters can be found at the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland.

Robert married Catharine (Eve) Watkins, a widow, on 15 August 1833 in Washington County, Virginia. Robert engaged in emancipation and abstinence societies. Her sister claimed that after their marriage, Robert sent her enslaved persons to Liberia and poured out all of Dr. Watkins’ “spiritous liquor.” However, in 1850 he is recorded as having eight enslaved persons and in 1860 the number increased to 12.

Robert had at least three sisters and helped support their children. This allowed many of his nephews to immigrate to the United States and several of them studied at the Augusta Medical College, co-founded by his wife’s cousin. Several of his nephews began their practices in Robert’s home.

In addition to his business dealings, Robert contributed to the community. He was elected to the Board of Directors for the Bank of Augusta, served as a post master for a time, supported the Augusta Free School Society, was a delegate to the state convention, and attended Augusta First Presbyterian Church.

In 1868, his wife’s neice wrote to WJC Allen’s wife in Ireland that Robert allowed politics to take a very strong hold of him in his old age and he had no patience with the “persistent rebellion in the hearts of the Southeners.” Robert took tea with Yankees, visited black schools and conventions, and only read newspapers loyal to the United States. She stated that he was true to his principles during the war.

Catharine and Robert spent part of the year in the mountains at their home in Clarksville, Georgia. Catharine died there in 1869 and he died there in 1873.

In his will, Robert left legacies to the American Colonization Society, the Presbyterian Church, the Augusta Free School, and the Young Man’s Library Association. He arranged for two pews at the Presbyterian church to be designated for strangers in the name of John Wilson, Jr. of Ireland. Robert left Mrs. Harriet McMurphy, Richard McKenner, Edny Boyer, Tesiah Davis, and any other persons of color in his employ at his death $100 each. Most of his money and properties were divided among his Campbell and Carroll neice and nephews, with generous provisions for many of Catharine’s relatives, other relatives, and friends.