John Campbell snr & Co

The history of John Campbell snr & Co is described in depth by Stephen Mullen in 'The Great Glasgow West India House of John Campbell, senior, & Co.' in T M Devine (ed) Recovering Scotland's Slavery Past (EUP, 2015).

The rise of the firm was based initially on wealth generated in Grenada and Carriacou. However, one of the partners Thomas Campbell (a brother of John Campbell snr) was caught up in the Fedon Rebellion in Grenada in 1795, fleeing to Demerara, where in 1792 they had acquired plantation Cellsborough. Thomas died in Demerara in May 1795.

From 1795 they expanded their interests in Demerara, relying from this point on agents in the colony rather than on the relocation of family members. These associates were recruited from the Highlands, in particular the Macraes of Inverinate.