George Campbell
George Campbell [1]
was born at Aberdeen, Dec. 25, 1719, and was educated at the Marischal College at Aberdeen. After leaving college he studied law, and was apprenticed to a writer to the Signet at Edinburgh; but, having a strong bent to theology, he obtained a release from his master, and studied theology at Edinburgh. In 1748 he was appointed to the pastoral charge of the parish of Banchory Ternan, near Aberdeen, and in 1755 he obtained a parish in Aberdeen. In 1759 he was made principal of the MIarischal College. In 1763 he published his Dissertation on Miracles, in opposition to Hume, which was translated into several Continental languages (new ed. Edinb. 1823, 8vo). The book had an immense success, and procured for its author the degree of D.D. • After his death appeared his Lectures on Ecclesiastical History (new ed. Lond. 1840, 8vo), which was answered by Skinner, bishop of Aberdeen. His most important work was his Translation of the Four Gospels, with a Commentary, which appeared not long before his death, and has been repeatedly republished. The best edition is that of Aberdeen (1814, 4 vols. 8vo); but there is a very good and cheap American edition (1837, 2 vols.). He wrote also Lectures on the Pastoral Character (Lond. 1811, 8vo); Phiosophy of Rhetoric (1776, 8vo, numerous editions); Lectures on Systematic Theology and Pulpit Eloquence (Lond. 1807, 8vo, numerous editions). He retired from his college duties ‘ some years before his death, and received a pension of £300 a year from George III. He died April 6, 1796. The life of Dr. Campbell has been written by the Rev. G. S. Keith. — Darling, Cyclopedia Bibliographica, 1:567; Jamieson, Cyclop. of Modern Religious Biography, 1:99; Jones, Christian Biography, s.v.
