William J. Campbell (Illinois politician)

William James Campbell
23rd Lieutenant Governor of Illinois
In office February 6, 1883 – January 30, 1885
Governor	John Marshall Hamilton
Preceded by	John Marshall Hamilton
Succeeded by	John C. Smith
Member of the Illinois Senate from the 7th district
In office 1878 (1878) – 1886 (1886)
Preceded by	Michael Waller Robinson
Succeeded by	John Humphrey
Personal details
Born	December 12, 1850 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Died	March 4, 1896(1896-03-04) (aged 45) Riverside, Illinois
Political party	Republican
Profession	Attorney

William James Campbell (December 12, 1850 – March 4, 1896) was an American attorney and politician from Pennsylvania. Coming with his parents to southern Cook County, Illinois at a young age, Campbell attended public schools, then the University of Pennsylvania and the Union Law School. He co-founded Campbell & Custer, a prominent law firm that represented industries. He served in the Illinois Senate from 1878 to 1886, quickly rising to become its president. From 1883 to 1885, this made him acting Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. After his Senate experience, he returned to his law firm and was a member of the Republican National Committee.

Biography

William James Campbell was born on December 12, 1850, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents, John and Mary, immigrated from northern Ireland. When Campbell was a child, they moved to Cook County, Illinois. He attended public school in Bloom Township then matriculated at Lake Forest University. later transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, then was accepted at the Union Law School in Chicago, Illinois.^[1] Campbell studied law under William C. Goudy for two years, then was admitted to the bar. He practiced alone for two years, then formed the partnership of Campbell & Custer.^[2]

Campbell was elected to the Illinois Senate and served four two-year terms from 1878 to 1886. He was named president pro tempore in 1880, the first to hold the office, serving under John Marshall Hamilton. When Hamilton became Governor of Illinois in 1883, Campbell position made him the Lieutenant Governor of Illinois. He returned to the Senate when Hamilton's term expired, continuing to serve as president pro tempore.^[1] He became a close friend of John Riley Tanner in the Senate and the two often collaborated on political projects.^[2]

After his years in the senate, Campbell returned to Campbell & Custer in the Rookery Building in Chicago. He represented several large industries there, including Armour and Company. He joined the Republican National Committee in 1891, succeeding George R. Davis. He elected its Chairman in 1892, but declined the office. Campbell was a trustee of the Armour Institute of Technology and was a member of the Chicago and Union League Clubs.^[1] He died in Riverside, Illinois on March 4, 1896 after an illness.^[2]

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