CAMPBELL, Thomas, British poet: b. Glasgow, 27 July 1777; d. Boulogne, France, 15 June 1844. He was educated at the University of Glasgow, where he distinguished himself by the excellence of his poetical translations from the Greek. After leaving the university he re sided for a short time in Edinburgh; and sprang suddenly into fame by publishing, in 1799, 'The Pleasures of Hope.' It produced an extraordinary sensation, and soon became a familiar book throughout the kingdom. This was due not more to the graces of its style than to the noble purity of its thoughts. After the publication of 'The Pleasures of Hope' he went to Germany, where he met Klopstock at Hamburg, and visited the scene of the battle celebrated in
one of the most famous of his poems. The appearance of the English fleet caused him to leave Altona, where he had resided for some time. During this tour several of his best lyrics were written or suggested, among them The Exile of Erin,' 'Ye Mariners of England) and 'The Battle of the Baltic.' In 1803 a new edition of 'The Pleasures of Hope,) with other poems, ap peared, and in that year he married. Settling in London, he devoted himself to literary work, and in 1805 obtained a pension of 1200, through the influence of Fox, of whose politics he was an admirer. After this he appears for a time to have given his attention less to poetry than prose, but in 1809 he again made his appearance as a poet, and published
1819, by his 'Specimens of the British Poets,' accompanied with critical essays, he proved him self the possessor of great critical acumen and an admirable prose style. In 1820 he became editor of the New Monthly Magazine, a posi tion which he held till 1830. As an editor he was a signal failure. In 1824 be published 'Theodoric,> which, though not devoid of fine passages, scarcely sustained his reputation. For many years he took an active interest in the emancipation of Greece and Poland, and in the foundation of the London University, of which he considered himself the originator. He was lord rector of the University of Glasgow from 1826 to 1829. In 1828 his wife died, and thence forth his vigor, both bodily and mental, began to decline; and though he afterward published 'Letters from the South) (1837), describing a visit which he had paid to Algiers, a
of Mrs. Siddons> (1834-42), and a 'Life of Petrarch,' and either wrote or edited the 'Life and Times of Frederick the Great,' he failed to equal his more youthful efforts. In 1831-32 he was editor of the Metropolitan Magazine, and in 1832 he founded the Polish Association. Among his works not mentioned above are (The Advent) a hymn;
and Madness' ; (Lord Ullin's
(The Wounded Hus
i
; 'The Soldier's Dream); (Judith' ; 'The Name
(The Turk ish Lady); 'Lochiel's
The Rain
'The Last Man' ;
'Pilgrim of Glencoe' ; (Moonlight,' etc. See Beattie, 'Life and Letters of Thomas
; and Redding, 'Literary Reminiscences of Camp bell.)