University of Virginia Library

David Campbell, Governor,

March 31, 1837-March 31, 1840.

Mr. Campbell was born at "Royal Oaks," Botetourt
County, August 2, 1779, son of John and Elizabeth (McDonald)
Campbell. He had only such education as the frontier afforded
in private schools. In his fifteenth year he was made ensign
of militia, and he was afterwards engaged in the clerk's office
at Abingdon. In 1799 he organized a light infantry company,
of which he was captain. He then studied law, but never practiced.
He was deputy clerk of Washington Country from 1802
to 1812. July 6, 1812, he was made major of the Twelfth
United States Infantry, promoted to lieutenant colonel,
Twentieth Regiment; participated in the St. Lawrence River
campaign, and incurred such rheumatic ailments that he
resigned June 28, 1814. Returning home he was aide de camp
to Governor James Barbour, soon afterwards commissioned
brigadier-general, and appointed colonel of the Third Virginia
Cavalry January 25, 1815. He served as County Clerk till
1820, when he was elected a State senator and served in that
capacity till 1824. In that year he was made Clerk of Washington
County, holding until March 31, 1837, when he became
Governor. He had supported Jackson for the Presidency,
but after the Democratic party brought forward the sub-treasury
and standing army measures, he became an active
member of the new Whig party, formed of many elements.

In his message to the Legislature January 1, 1838, Governor
Campbell reviewed the history of the banks and public
improvements, and one of his suggestions was a better engineering
corps. He noted that the interest on the Literary Fund
available for tutoring the poor was $84,177.85, and he recommended
that the increasing surplus be applied to the endowment
of common schools throughout the State. The expenses
of the Commonwealth was announced by him as $437,181.92.

In his message of January 7, 1839, he expressed his dissatisfaction
with the eleemosynary nature of the existing system
of education, and recommended a system of popular
instruction to be paid for by the interest derived from the
Literary Fund and an appropriation of $200,000 by the State
Legislature.

Governor Campbell's administration covered a period of
hard times in the United States. A great deal of money
had been spent in internal improvements and the speculation
spirit had been rampant. The banks in New York, Philadelphia
and other places suspended specie payments, and
the banks in Richmond had to follow suit. Governor Campbell
called an extra session of the Legislature, which met June 12,
1837, and passed acts for the relief of the banks and to stay
executions.

Notwithstanding the hard times the work on railroads and
canals was carried forward. The Richmond and Petersburg
Railroad was completed May 11, 1838, as far as Manchester.
The passengers had to walk over Mayo's bridge.[108] The Richmond
and Louisa Road was opened December 21, 1837, to
Frederick Hall.