Letters and Papers : 1812 - 1834.

Archibald Campbell was born in Glen Lyon, Scotland, the son of a British army captain, Archibald Campbell, Sr. and his wife Margaret Small. In 1787, Archibald Campbell Jr. enlisted as an ensign in the 77th Regiment of Foot, later transferring to the 38th Foot, and advanced through the ranks of the British army while serving in the East Indies, Scotland, Guernsey, Spain, Portugal, India and Burma. By 1825, he had risen to the rank of major general. After his return to England from Burma in 1829, he was appointed lieutenant governor of New Brunswick, and created a baronet on 30 September 1831. Campbell assumed control of the administration of New Brunswick from William Black on 8 September 1831. During the first years of his tenure, he attempted to improve the discipline and effectiveness of the militia, but without adequate funds from either the British Government or the Assembly, his efforts had little effect. In connection with his concern for the state of the militia as well as for the defence of the colony, he began the construction of a road, known as the "Royal Road", from Fredericton to Grand Falls, in order to facilitate the movement of troops and settlers into the northern part of the colony where the Americans had become a threat to the Madawaska settlements. Other disputes with the Assembly over land granting policy and crown revenues continued thoughtout his administration, and in May of 1837, his resignation was accepted by the British government. Sir John Harvey was transferred from Prince Edward Island to New Brunswick to succeed him as lieutenant-governor. In 1838, Campbell was commissioned a lieutenant-general and appointed commander in-chief in Bombay, only to be forced to resign because of ill health. He died in Edinburgh on 6 October 1843.