James Alexander Campbell PC DL (1825 – 9 May 1908) was a Scottish businessman and Conservative politician.

Biography

Campbell was born in George Square, Glasgow^[1] a son of Sir James Campbell of Stracathro and his wife Janet Bannerman of Manchester. His father established the firm J & W Campbell, wholesale merchants and was Lord Provost of Glasgow between 1840 and 1843. Campbell was educated at Glasgow High School and Glasgow University and became a partner in the family firm of J & W Campbell. He became a member of Glasgow University Council in 1859, and in 1865 was appointed convener of the committee in charge of raising of funds to build and maintain a new university on Gilmorehill. He held the post until 1894. He was assessor to two rectors and two chancellors, being a member of the University Court from 1869 till 1884, when he received the degree of LL.D.^[2] On the death of his father in 1876 he inherited the Stracathro estate near Brechin of some 4,000 acres (16 km²). He was a J.P. and Deputy Lieutenant for the counties of Lanark and Forfar.^[3]

In 1880, Campbell was elected Member of Parliament for Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities, and held the seat until 1906.^[4] As a Conservative he was opposed to the policies of his brother, Henry Campbell-Bannerman, Liberal prime minister from 1905 to 1908. He acted on many Commissions appointed to enquire into Scottish educational endowments and the constitution of the Scottish Universities.^[2]

Campbell married in 1854, Ann Peto, daughter of Sir S. Morton Peto, Bt. a railway contractor, and they had one son and three daughters.^[2] He died at Stracathro at the age of 83 after a lingering illness, a fortnight later than his brother.