Legacy Week at Campbell - Monday 22nd January - Friday 26th January

To mark the anniversary of the death of the College's benefactor,  Henry James Campbell (d.23rd January 1889), we will be focussing on the unique history of Campbell College Belfast through our 'Legacy Week' which runs from 22nd January - 26th January.  Throughout the week various activities will be taking place to highlight some of the fascinating stories that make Campbell College unique.

The CCB Pipe Band will be piping in memory of Henry James Campbell, the 'Archive Open Afternoon' returns to showcase some interesting items from the College archives and there will be stories from the Archives shared thoughout the week. Keep an eye out on the Hub for more stories and information.

Who was Henry James Campbell? (Dictionary of Irish Biography, Helen Andrews) 

Henry James Campbell was born in 1813 and was the second son among two sons and two daughters of Henry Campbell (d. 1814) and his wife Elizabeth. . He was apprenticed to a Belfast flax-spinning company, J. Boomer & Co. After working in Liverpool, England, he returned to Belfast, becoming a director in Gunning & Campbell, Belfast, a flax- and tow-spinning company. In 1859 he bought Mossley Mills, Co. Antrim, and founded the joint company Henry Campbell & Co. with his first cousin once removed, John Campbell (1819–1901). Under John's management and with capital provided by Henry, the mill flourished. Money was invested in new machinery and buildings, workers' conditions were improved, and the Mossley school was established (1868) for the mill workers' children, where night classes for adults were organised.

On his retirement Henry built a mansion, ‘Lorne’, at Craigavad, Co. Down. A benefactor during his life to the Belfast Royal Hospital and the Presbyterian Orphanage Society, he bequeathed approximately £200,000 for the founding of a hospital bearing his name, or a college (or both) in or near Belfast, which would provide a ‘superior liberal protestant education’. Although a presbyterian, he chose trustees from differing protestant churches to administer his will, which led to the opening (3 September 1894) of Campbell College at Belmont, Belfast. A bachelor, he died 23 January 1889 and was buried in Movilla cemetery, Newtownards, Co. Down.

Sources

Campbell College, Belfast, archives; Boase; Keith Haines, Neither rogues nor fools: a history of Campbell College and Campbellians (1993) (portr.); Newtownabbey borough council, Mossley Mill: a short history (c.2000); private information.