James Campbell

James Campbell. . , James Campbell was born in Philadelphia on September 1, 1812. He studied law and was admitted to the Bar on Sept. 14, 1833. He was made a commissioner for the district of Southwark for the city of Philadelphia. He was appointed to the Board of Education and on April 16, 1840 he sought the establishment of Girl's High School of Philadelphia., In 1840 Governor Porter appointed him a judge of the court of common pleas and orphans' court until January, 1851, when all judicial placements in Pennsylvania became elected positions., During this time the political climate in the United States was definitely anti-Catholic, given the activity of the "Know-Nothing" Party. Campbell had been nominated to the Supreme Court but he was defeated because of his Catholicism. Governor William Bigler of Pennsylvania then appointed him Attorney-General of PA, an office he held until March, 1853. Then he was made a part of the Cabinet of President Franklin Pierce, being appointed as Postmaster-General. He served the country in this capacity until March of 1857., In 1861 he was defeated by one vote as a candidate for the United States Senate. In those days the state legislature elected US Senators. For 25 years he was the president of the Board of Trustees of Jefferson Medical College and for 45 years James Campbell was the Vice-President of St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum, the oldest Roman Catholic orphan asylum in the United States, having been sponsored by the members of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church and chartered in 1807., In 1869 he was appointed as a member of the board of trusts of the City of Philadelphia, where he cared for numerous institutions, including Wills Eye Hospital and Girard College. He was known to be meticulous in his visitation, seeking always for improved care and conditions for all under his charge. James Campbell died in Philadelphia on January 27, 1893.