John Campbell (author) facts for kids

John Campbell (born March 8, 1708 – died December 28, 1775) was a Scottish writer. He wrote many books and articles during his lifetime. He helped create a huge book series called Universal History. He also wrote A Political Survey of Britain in 1774. John Campbell was known for writing a lot and earning good money from his work. A famous writer named Samuel Johnson once said that Campbell was "the richest author" he knew.

Candid and impartial considerations on the nature of the sugar trade, a book by John Campbell.

Life of John Campbell

John Campbell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on March 8, 1708. His father was a captain in the army. When John was five, his mother took him to Windsor, England. There, his uncle helped him get an education. He started working as a clerk in a lawyer's office.

However, John Campbell soon decided that law was not for him. In the 1730s, he left his law career to become a writer. In 1754, the University of Glasgow gave him an honorary degree. This degree, called an LL.D., recognized his achievements.

In March 1765, he became the King's agent for the Province of Georgia. This meant he represented the British colony of Georgia. He held this important job until he passed away. John Campbell died on December 28, 1775. The year before his death, the Empress Catherine of Russia even sent him her portrait as a gift.

Early Books by Campbell

When he was 28, Campbell wrote a book called Military History of the late Prince Eugene of Savoy and the late John, Duke of Marlborough. This book, published in 1736, was about famous military leaders. It included many pictures of battles and sieges.

In 1734, Campbell also published A View of the Changes to which the Trade of Great Britain to Turkey and Italy will be exposed. In this book, he discussed how trade might change if certain areas fell under Spanish control. He even suggested that the Two Sicilies should go to the Elector of Bavaria.

His first big original book was The Travels and Adventures of Edward Bevan, Esq. (1739). This was a made-up autobiography, much like the famous stories by Daniel Defoe. Some people think a part of this book inspired Voltaire's story Zadig. Also in 1739, Campbell's Memoirs of the Bashaw Duke de Ripperda was published.

Working on the "Universal History"

John Campbell started writing for the Universal History series, which came out between 1740 and 1744. This was a huge project to document history. He contributed to sections about the history of the Persians and the Constantinopolitan Empire.

He also wrote for the Modern Universal History. For this series, he covered the history of various European settlements in the East Indies. These included Portuguese, Dutch, French, Swedish, Danish, and Ostend settlements. He also wrote about the history of Spain, Portugal, and France up to 1656.

More of Campbell's Writings

In 1741, Campbell's Concise History of Spanish America was published. A few years later, in 1742, he wrote A Letter to a Friend in the Country. This letter reviewed some newly released historical papers.

Also in 1742, the first two volumes of his book Lives of the Admirals, and other Eminent British Seamen came out. The last two volumes were published in 1744. This popular work was even translated into German. Many new editions were printed after his death.

In 1743, Campbell published an English version of a Latin book called Hermippus Redivivus. This book was about how to overcome old age. It was very popular and had several editions. In the same year, he translated a Dutch book, The True Interest and Political Maxims of the Republic of Holland.

In 1744, Campbell updated and expanded John Harris's Collection of Voyages and Travels. This new version was called Navigantium atque Itinerantium Bibliotheca. It was a massive work about journeys and explorations.

Campbell is also thought to have rewritten The Shepherd of Banbury's Rules. This book, first published in 1670, gave rules for predicting the weather. Campbell's updated version, from 1744, tried to explain these weather forecasts using scientific ideas. It remained very popular for a long time.

In 1747, Campbell's book The Spanish Empire in America was published.

Campbell's Periodical Contributions

John Campbell wrote many articles for the first Biographia Britannica. This was a collection of biographies that started in 1745. He wrote about members of important British families.

In 1750, his work The Political State of Europe was published. This book summarized the history of major European countries. It also discussed their relationships with each other. This book was very successful and made him widely known.

Later Works and Ideas

In 1752, Campbell wrote A Full and Particular Description of the Highlands of Scotland. This book described the Scottish Highlands, its people, and its resources. It gave a very colorful picture of the region.

After the Peace of Paris in 1763, he wrote a book about the new sugar islands in the West Indies. This was to show how valuable these islands were. They had been given to Britain by the French after the Seven Years' War.

His last major work, A Political Survey of Great Britain, came out in 1774. This two-volume book looked at Britain's situation, land, people, and trade. Campbell suggested many ideas in this book. He proposed building new harbors and improving roads and canals. He also thought the government should buy unused land and develop it. He spent many years working on this important book.