John Thomas Campbell

John Thomas Campbell (1770–1830) was a public servant and politician in the New South Wales Legislative Council during the early Australian colonial period. Early life Campbell was born in Ulster, Kingdom of Ireland in 1770. He was eldest son of Reverend William Campbell, vicar of Newry, County Armagh, Ireland, and his wife Mary Campbell (née McCammon). He and his brothers were educated at home by his father. From 1793 to 1795, he worked at the newly formed Bank of Ireland. Vice-regal secretary After arriving in Sydney, Campbell, on 1 January 1810 was appointed to the role of vice-regal secretary to Governor Lachlan Macquarie. For eleven years he was Macquarie's chief assistant in the administration of the colony, his intimate friend and loyal supporter. He was paid £282 10s by the British government, to which Macquarie added £82 10s from the colonial revenue. He then served as Provost Marshal from 1820 until the office was abolished and a sheriff appointed in 1825. Campbell took a leading part in the founding of the Bank of New South Wales from 1816 until 1817 and was appointed as the first president of the Board of Directors, serving until 1821. He was re-elected to the board in 1827 but resigned before taking his seat.