Campbell, Thomas

(1774-1844)

   Scottish poet whose family suffered financially in the American War of Independence (1775-1781). While at Glasgow grammar school and Glasgow University, Campbell proved himself an able classical scholar and won numerous prizes. Needing to earn a living, he worked as a tutor, after which he settled in Edinburgh and engaged himself in literary work. Interested in education, he had a hand in the founding of University College, London. He edited The New Monthly Review (1820-1831) and served as Rector of Glasgow University (1827-29). He had long interest in justice for Poland and when he was buried in Poets' Corner of Westminster Abbey, a Polish noble scattered upon his coffin a handful of earth from the grave of Kosciusko. His main works are: Pleasures of Hope, 1799. Gertrude of Wyoming, 1809. Specimens of the British Poets, 1819 (seven volumes). Theodoric, 1824. Pilgrim of Glencoe, 1842. And his war poems: "Ye Mariners of England," "The Battle of the Baltic," "Hohenlinden." Some of his other poems: "Ben Lomond," "Dirge of Wallace," "Gertrude of Wyoming," "Lines on Poland," "On Slavery," "The Soldier's Dream."

   Sources: Dictionary of National Biography. Electronic Edition, 1.1. Oxford University Press, 1997. Encyclopædia Britannica Ultimate Reference Suite DVD, 2006. English Poetry: Author Search. Chadwyck-Healey Ltd., 1995 (http://www.lib.utexas.edu:8080/search/epoetry/author. html). The Columbia Granger's Index to Poetry. 11th ed. The Columbia Granger's World of Poetry, Columbia University Press, 2005 (http://www.columbiagrangers.org). The Complete Poetical Works of Thomas Campbell. J. Logie Robertson, ed. Oxford University Press, 1907. The Cyber Hymnal (http://www.cyberhymnal.org/index.htm). The National Portrait Gallery (www.npg.org.uk). The Oxford Book of English Verse. Christopher Ricks, ed. Oxford University Press, 1999. The Oxford Companion to English Literature. 6th edition. Margaret Drabble, ed. Oxford University Press, 2000. Westminster Abbey Official Guide (no date).