CAMPBELL, ROBERT (1848-89) was the son of Robert Campbell, of Buscot Park, Berkshire, England, and was educated at Eton College. His father having emigrated to Australia on the opening of the diggings, Campbell followed after leaving school and in the early sixties he landed with his brother at Auckland and made his way southward to Otago, inspecting land on behalf of his father. In 1866 they purchased Benmore, South Canterbury, on behalf of R. Campbell and Sons. Amongst other stations was Otekaike, on the Waitaki river, where Campbell in 1876 made his home. He married (1868) Emma Josephine (d. 17 Apr 1890), a daughter of the Hon T. Hawdon (q.v.).

Campbell represented Oamaru in Parliament (1866-69), being a whip for the Stafford government. Having resigned in 1869, he was called to the Legislative Council, of which he was a member from 1870 till his death (9 Dec 1889). He was not prominent in parliament or public life, but rendered considerable service to North Otago as first chairman of the Waitaki county council (from which he resigned in 1881) and a member of the Oamaru harbour board. He was on the New Zealand University Senate (1871-79). Campbell was for a while a figure on the turf, his most successful horse being Sir Modred.

Parlty Record; Col. Gent; Cycl. N.Z., iv; Otago Daily Times, 8 May 1876, 11 Dec 1889.

Reference: Volume 1, page 85

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