David Campbell

Who was David Campbell?

David Campbell was the 27th Governor of Virginia from 1837 to 1840.

Campbell was born in a part of Washington County, Virginia, that later became Smyth County. He was a successful merchant in Abingdon, Virginia, and served in the U.S. Army during the War of 1812. Both of his parents were of Scottish descent.

As governor Campbell unsuccessfully advocated creation of a statewide system of compulsory education. He called a special session of the General Assembly that helped Virginia weather the financial Panic of 1837.

His brother John Campbell served as treasurer of the United States from 1829 to 1839. Another brother, Edward Campbell, represented Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Washington Counties in the Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1829–1830.