Alexander Campbell

Alexander Campbell (c1806-1876) of E. B. Wilson and Co, Railway Foundry, Leeds, and later of Manning, Wardle and Co

c.1806 Born in Scotland

c1837 Birth of son George Campbell in Greenock

1838 June 30th. Birth at Greenock of son James Campbell

1851 Living at 28 Peel Street, Hunslet, Leeds: Alexander Campbell (age 45 born Scotland), Foreman of Engineers, Locomotives. With his wife Christiana Campbell (age 40 born Scotland) and their children George Campbell (age 14 born Scotland), Engineer Apprentice; James Campbell (age 12 born Scotland); Alexander Campbell (age 10 born Scotland); and Marrian Campbell (age 8 born Scotland). Also lodging is William Potterson (age 23 born Scotland), Engineer, Locomotive; and Robert Burns (age 22 born Scotland), Engineer, Locomotive.

1856 Appointed manager of the Railway Foundry when Wilson left

1859 One of the founders of Manning, Wardle and Co

1876 February 9th. Died at Leeds. 'February 9th. aged 70. Alexander Campbell, late of the firm of Manning, Wardle, and Co, Leeds.'

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1941 Obituary.

Dr. Alexander Campbell, whose father had come from India to undertake in 1862 the management of the young firm of The Hunslet Engine Company, was born in 1869 and was elected a member in 1917. From leaving school at the age of 17 when he entered that firm as an apprentice to the end of his life he has devoted his energies, his abilities, and his remarkable power of foresight, to the services of his company.

During the last war, as a colleague of Sir John McLaren, he developed the production of munitions at the factories which were established at Newlay, Leeds Forge and The Ordnance Factory at Hunslet, and at its close, after Sir John’s death, he was invited to act as Chairman of the Leeds Engineering Employers’ Federation. They were difficult years. So ably, however, did he conduct affairs, that he retained the respect of the Unions, earned the confidence of the employers and kept the peace. He was also elected to the Management Board of the National Engineering Federation and eventually to the chief position in the world of engineering industrial relationship —the Presidency of the National Engineering Employers’ Federation in London.

He was a member of the Council of Leeds University from 1920 to 1940, and as Chairman of the House and Estates Committee was chiefly responsible for the planning and execution of the University’s scheme of building development. At that stage in its history the University was fortunate in having the ideal man for this key position, and both the University and the City owe much to the practical wisdom and the watchful care which he devoted to an undertaking by which the city’s architecture is enriched and the University is enabled to fulfil its purpose more completely. Not only has the University lost a wise counsellor but its members have lost a valued friend, for Dr. Campbell had a great capacity for friendship, and his kindly, generous personality, his unselfishness and his appreciation of the efforts of others endeared him to his colleagues.

Dr. Campbell was Chairman of the Hunslet Engineering Co., Ltd., from 1905 up to the time of his death, which took place on March 14th, 1941, in his 71st year.

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