James Campbell (Mayor)

Sir James Campbell (1570 - 1642) was a 17th century ironmonger and Lord Mayor of London.

Campbell was a grandson of Robert Campbell of Foulsham, Norfolk, and a son of Sir Thomas Campbell (d. 1613), alderman, successively, of Bridge Without (Nov. 1599), Broad Street (Apr. 1610), & Coleman Street (Oct. 1611), sheriff of London (June 1600), lord mayor (Sep. 1609), and twice master of the Ironmongers' Company (1604 and 1613), knighted at Whitehall (July 1603). Sir Thomas Campbell married Alice, daughter of Edward Bright of London.

Sir James followed his father's trade of ironmonger, was elected sheriff [1619] , alderman of Billingsgate ward [May 1620] , moving to Lion Street [May 1625] , and became lord mayor [1629] . His wife, Rachel, survived until January 1656-57, but he left no children. By his will he left almost £50,000 to a large number of legacies to relatives, friends, London hospitals, a free school at Barking in Essex, the Ironmongers, and for the ransom of poor captives from Turkish slavery. This will thus shows his extended family connections, as well as his deepest concerns.

Sir Robert Campbell, brother of Sir James, was also an alderman and was master of the Ironmongers in 1631.

References

*"Calendar of State Papers 1629-41"
*"Dictionary of National Biography"
*Metcalfe; "Knights"
*Nicholl; "Ironmongers' Company" (1886)
*Overall; "Remembrancer"
*Stowe; "Survey", v. 1, Strype