Charles Henry Campbell
Charles Henry Campbell | |
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| Add a Photo | |
| Born | February 17, 1904 |
| Died | December 18, 1956 (aged 52) |
| Nationality | British American |
| Citizenship | United States of America |
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Charles Henry Campbell (17 February 1904 - 18 December 1956) was a British-American diplomat, newspaper editor, and journalist. He was the director of the British Information Services in Washington, D.C. during World War II, continuing until his death in 1956. As director, Campbell promoted British government interests to the American press. For his contributions to Anglo-American relations, he was awarded an OBE by King George VI in 1949. From 1923 to 1942, he worked for the New Orleans Item-Tribune, eventually becoming managing editor.[1]
Campbell's life
Charles Henry Campbell was born 17 February 1904 in Liverpool, England.[2] His parents were Henry James Campbell and Lydia McFarlane Campbell. The family soon moved to New Orleans. During Campbell's boyhood, the family divided their time between Louisiana and England. Campbell had a British accent he never lost. His father emphasized the family's British heritage to his children.[1]
In 1923, a neighbor convinced Campbell to interrupt his engineering studies at Tulane University and work for the newspaper then known as the New Orleans Item.[1]
Following the outbreak of World War II in 1939, Campbell applied to serve the British government. Finally accepted in 1942, he started in Washington as the First Secretary of the British Embassy in charge of information. He soon became the director of the British Information Services.[1]
Campbell's New York Times obituary described his role as director: "His job was to make known to the American press the British point of view on international matters. To accomplish this he avoided 'high pressure' methods. His method was to make himself available at all times and for any type of question to newsmen who sought information. His chief assets were a phenomenal memory for facts, figures and people, a wide knowledge of both Britain and the United States, a thorough background in journalism and an unusual capacity for true wit."[1]
Campbell accompanied Sir Winston Churchill as his press representative during Churchill's U.S. trip where he delivered his "Sinews of Peace" address in Fulton, Missouri.[1][3]
Campbell died unexpectedly on 18 December 1956 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Sir Harold Caccia, the British Ambassador to the U.S., said, "the press of Great Britain and of the United States and the whole cause of Anglo-American relations have sustained a great loss."[1] White House Press Secretary James C. Hagerty stated, "I think all of us who have worked with Charlie admired and respected him. He was one of the best information officers I ever worked with, and I'm sure the entire Washington press corps would agree with that. He will be greatly missed in the nation's capital."[1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "C. H. Campbell, 52, British Aide, Dies". The New York Times. 19 December 1956. Retrieved 3 June 2023.
- ↑ "Finding Aid for the Charles H. Campbell Papers, 1935 – 1956" (PDF). National Press Club Archives.
- ↑ WikiTree contributors, "Charles Henry Campbell OBE (1904-1956)," WikiTree: The Free Family Tree, (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Campbell-59540 : accessed 03 June 2023).
External links
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