John McLeod Campbell

John McLeod Campbell was born in Argyllshire, Scotland, the son of a Reverend. His mother died when he was 6. He was educated at home by his father, until 1811 when he went to the University of Glasgow. After graduating in 1817, he studied at the Divinity Hall, then studied at the University of Edinburgh to become a licensed preacher in 1821. In 1825 he was appointed to the parish of Row on the Clyde coast.

In 1830, Campbell was investigated and removed from the ministry for preaching universal atonement. He became an evangelist in the Scottish Highlands. In 1833, he relocated to a chapel in Glasgow. He preached there until 1859 when he fell ill and stopped preaching. In 1868 he received a Doctor of Divinity from Glasgow University for his theological work and writing. In 1870 he moved to Roseneath to write his Reminiscences and Reflections, which was still unfinished when he died in 1872.