Archibald Campbell

Who is Archibald Campbell?

Archibald Campbell, was a satirist.

Campbell was a son of the philosopher Archibald Campbell. His works prove that he was a classical scholar, and he states that he had 'all his lifetime dabbled in books'; but he became purser of a man-of-war, and remained at sea, leading 'a wandering and unsettled life'’ In 1745 William Falconer, author of the Shipwreck, who was serving on board the same ship with him, became his servant, and received some educational help from him. About 1760, being on a long voyage, Campbell read the Ramblers, and staying shortly after at Pensacola wrote there his Lexiphanes and Sale of Authors. The works remained in manuscript for some two years, till he reached England. Lexiphanes, a Dialogue in imitation of Lucian, with a subtitle, saying it was 'to correct as well as expose the affected style ... of our English Lexiphanes, the Rambler', was issued anonymously in March 1767, and was attributed by Hawkins to Kenrick. The Sale of Authors followed it in June of the same year. Campbell called Johnson 'the great corrupter of our taste and language', and says, 'I have endeavour'd to ... hunt down this great unlick'd cub'. In the Sale of Authors the 'sweetly plaintive Gray' was put up to auction, with Whitefield, Hervey, Sterne, Hoyle, etc. to determine their relative worth as writers.