Neil Campbell (minister) facts for kids

Neil Campbell (born 1678, died 1761) was an important Scottish church leader. He was the head of the Church of Scotland's main meeting, called the General Assembly, when a big split in the church, known as the Original Secession, began. He also served as the Principal of Glasgow University, leading the university during a time when new ideas and learning were growing in Scotland, a period known as the Scottish Enlightenment.

Life Story

We don't know much about Neil Campbell's early life. However, it's clear he had strong connections to powerful families, especially the Argyle family. These connections helped him a lot in his career.

Some records suggest he was the son of Major John Campbell. He was raised and educated for the church by his uncle, Reverend Patrick Campbell, and his wife.

Neil started studying to become a minister at Glasgow University in 1697. He didn't officially graduate, which wasn't unusual back then. He was allowed to preach as a minister in 1701.

Becoming a Minister

Neil Campbell became a minister in Kilmallie, a large area in the Scottish Highlands, in 1702. Many people in this area supported the Jacobite cause, which was linked to the Catholic faith.

Seven years later, in 1709, he moved to Rosneath, a town near the Firth of Clyde. He served there for another seven years.

Around this time, a new law called the Church Patronage (Scotland) Act 1711 came into effect. This law meant that the King or other powerful people, called Patrons, could choose ministers for churches. In 1715, King George I (who was really influenced by the Argyle family) chose Neil Campbell to be the minister at Renfrew. He worked there until 1728. Then, thanks to his powerful friends, the King appointed him to a very important job: Principal of Glasgow University.

Leading Glasgow University

Being the Principal of Glasgow University was a very important job, especially because it was chosen by the King. The Principal had a lot of influence in Glasgow, affecting both the local government and elections. Neil Campbell was chosen in 1727 by powerful figures like Lord Islay and the Duke of Argyle. They wanted someone reliable to lead the university during a time of religious and political disagreements.

During Campbell's time as Principal, the university became even better. Important thinkers like Adam Smith (a famous economist) and William Cullen (who made Glasgow's medical school famous) were hired. The university also received more money, which helped it grow. Another important person hired was John H. D. Anderson, whose school later became Strathclyde University.

Even though some people thought Campbell wasn't the strongest leader, Glasgow University really thrived under his leadership. Adam Smith later said his time there was "by far the most useful and therefore as by far the happiest and most honourable period of my life."

Campbell also helped bring back important historical documents from the Glasgow church that had been kept in Paris.

A lot of Campbell's time was spent dealing with arguments among the university staff and in the local church group (the Presbytery). He tried to defend a colleague, Professor John Simson, who was accused of having wrong religious ideas. Campbell even had to teach all of Simson's classes without extra pay for a while. Campbell himself had very strong religious beliefs, which led to disagreements with other thinkers like Francis Hutcheson. He also didn't want David Hume, another famous philosopher, to get a job at Glasgow.

He was Principal during challenging times, including when the Young Pretender (a claimant to the throne) occupied Glasgow. Campbell stayed loyal to the government. He had a stroke in 1753 but continued to hold his position until he died on June 22, 1761.

Leading the Church Assembly

1732 General Assembly: A Big Disagreement

Principal Campbell was chosen to be the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1732. This meant he was the leader of the Church of Scotland's most important meeting. The King's representative brought a message from King George II, asking for wise and calm discussions. The Assembly replied with a loyal message, thanking the King for his support and a gift of £1000. This money was used to help fight against Roman Catholicism in the Highlands and Islands and to spread the English language there.

A more important decision that year was about how to choose ministers when the usual Patron didn't pick someone. The 1711 law about Patrons choosing ministers was a long-standing problem for the Church of Scotland. The Assembly decided that if a Patron didn't choose a minister within six months, the local church group (the Presbytery) would choose. They also decided that only a small group of local landowners and church elders should be involved in this choice, not the whole church congregation.

Some ministers disagreed strongly with this decision. They felt that most local church groups wanted the whole congregation to be involved. They were even angrier when their objections weren't written down in the official meeting notes. This decision was later changed, but a leading protester named Ebenezer Erskine eventually led his supporters to leave the Church of Scotland three years later. They formed the Original Secession Church, which was the first of many splits in Scottish Presbyterianism.

1737 General Assembly

Despite the disagreements, Principal Campbell was clearly well-respected because he was chosen as Moderator again in 1737. The same polite messages were exchanged with the King. This time, the King asked them to work together to increase goodness, prevent the growth of "Popery" (Catholicism), and stop bad behavior. He also urged them to avoid arguments and work together peacefully. The "Secession" movement, where people were leaving the church, was still growing at this time.

The Assembly responded loyally to the King. They also expressed hope that the King would help them with the Patronage issue, which they protested about every year. They promised to use the King's money to help people in "remote and less civilised parts" of Britain and to work against Catholic missionaries there.

Some local church groups had complained that a decision from the previous year seemed to approve wrong religious ideas. The Assembly passed a special rule saying this was not true. There were also complaints that some elders attending the Assembly weren't properly qualified. So, a rule was passed asking local church groups to send only qualified representatives in the future. Finally, because there were too many students wanting to become ministers, the Assembly decided that local church groups no longer needed to provide money for new students.

Family Life

Neil Campbell married Henrietta Campbell in 1705. They had four daughters and seven sons. One of his sons, Reverend Colin Campbell, followed in his father's footsteps and became a minister in Renfrew. Another son, Duncan Campbell, managed prison ships that took the first prisoners to Botany Bay in Australia. One of these ships was later sold and became the famous HMS Bounty, known for its mutiny. Neil Campbell also inherited an estate near Inverary. In 1744, he was appointed a Chaplain to the King.

Campbell had a stroke in 1753. He was unable to work properly, but he remained in his position as Principal until he died on June 22, 1761. He was buried in Blackfriar's Kirkyard in Glasgow, but his bones were later moved to the Glasgow Necropolis.

See also

• List of Moderators of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland