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Alexander Campbell MLA (1734-1800) was a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Upper Canada, a business man and an army officer. Prior to leaving his home at Killin Scotland Alexander was commissioned as an officer in the 42nd Regiment of Foot (the Black Watch). He and his brothers, Moses (b.1733) a sergeant, and James (b.1741) who were both with him in the Black Watch regiment when it landed at New York City in June 1756 were immediately dispatched to Albany New York to be trained in the art of bush fighting. Their first action in North America was in the summer of 1758, a tragic assault on the French fort at Ticonderoga. The Highlanders failed to overcome the defenders and suffered 314 fatalities during the eight hour battle. Listed among the wounded was Lieutenant Alexander Campbell. After resigning his commission Alexander took up residence in Schenectady, NY. During the years prior to the American Revolution Alexander married twice and purchased large land holdings in the Mohawk Valley and owned and operated a store and tavern in Schenectady. Later he established another store in Schoharie, NY and in 1775 moved his family to Schoharie. However because he did not support the American rebels his store in Schoharie was looted and vandalized and so Alexander moved back to Schenectady. After Alexander moved back to Schenectady, his father-in-law Alexander Van Sice, a revolutionary, had Alexander and other Loyalists thrown in jail again for warning Sir John Johnston of his impending arrest thus giving Sir John enough lead time to round up his family and tenants and escape north to Canada. In 1778 Alexander, after refusing to take an oath of allegiance to the rebels was expelled from the USA. Alexander was allowed to leave for Canada with only those possessions that could be carried in two wagons. After arriving in Montreal he moved his family to near New Johnstown (now called Cornwall) Ontario. Alexander was an MLA in Toronto, representing Dundas county west of Cornwall.
Alexander was born in 1734 at Killin, Perthshire, Scotland the son of James Campbell and wife Elizabeth Buchanan. His first marriage was to Catherine Vetter in October 1765 at Christ Lutheran Church in New York City. Catherine died in 1767 and there is no record of any children from the marriage with her. Alexanders second wife was Magdalena Van Sice whom he married in May 1768 at the Dutch Reformed Church in Schenectady, NY. Alexander and Magdalena had 14 children: Catherine (1769-1772), Margaret (1771-1772), James (1774-1776), Margaret , James E ., John D., Alexander, Mary, Peter, Nancy, Elizabeth, Colin (1787-1853), Richard Duncan (1773-1835), and Catherine . Alexander died on October 24, 1800 at New Johnstown (Cornwall) Ontario. John Duncan Campbell one of Alexanders 14 children later became a partner in the North West Company. When the North West Company joined with the Hudson Bay Company in 1821 he retired to Montreal and shortly after he married Eliza McDonald daughter of (Hon.)John Mcdonald of Garth, another legendary partner of the North West Company. In 1824 Elizas father John sold the McDonald estate to John Duncan Campbell and Eliza. This home was named Inverarden and it remained in Campbell hands until 1965 when ownership was transferred to The Historic Sites and Monuments Board who operated Inverarden House as a museum. John Duncan Campbells great Grandson, James Alastair Grant Campbell BA LLB QC (b.1922 ) is a veteran of WWII, a former Crown Attorney for Carleton county Ontario and was Progressive Conservative Member of Parliament (MP) for Stormont county from 1958 to 1962 and was also a Member of the Municipal Board of Ontario.
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- 35 Generations of Campbells' (1868 KB)
Lord Colin Campbell 1526 -m- Katheryn Ruthven,
7th Earl 1st Baron Duncan Campbell 1550 -m- Janet Stewart,
3rd Baron Robert Campbell 1575 -m- Isabel McIntosh,
4th Baron John Campbell 1607 -m- Mary Graham,
Alexander Campbell 1640 -m- Margaret Stewart,
James Campbell 1706 -m- Elizabeth Buchanan,
Alexander Campbell 1734 -m- Magdelina Vancise,
Colin Campbell 1787 -m- Elizabeth McGilviary,
Archibald Campbell 1850 -m- Mary Dreaver,
John Campbell 1917 -m- Irene Dubuque,
Ray Campbell 1943 -m- Janet Erikson
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