Sophia Campbell
Encyclopedia
Sophia Campbell née Palmer (1777–1833) was an early Australia
n settler.
One of eight children, Sophia Palmer was born in Portsmouth
and educated in London
. She came to Sydney
with her naval officer brother John Palmer
(1760-1833) and his family, a second unmarried naval officer brother Christopher Palmer (1767-1821), and her unmarried sister Sarah Sophia Palmer (1774-?) on board the Porpoise in November 1800. Her brother John Palmer was bringing his family to settle permanently in New South Wales
, and had previously come to Sydney in 1788 as Purser
on the Sirius, the flagship of the First Fleet
. He had also been Commissary
General of New South Wales
from 1791 to 1811, remaining employed in the Commissariat until he retired in 1819; and he was a magistrate from 1793.
Sophia first settled on John Palmer's 100 acres (40 ha) 1793 grant which he named Woolloomooloo
Farm. Within a year, on 17 September 1801, Sophia married the merchant Robert Campbell
, a Scottish Presbyterian eight years her senior, in St Philip's Church, Sydney
.
Sophia moved to Wharf House, her husband Robert Campbell’s home behind his wharves on the west side of Circular Quay. Apart from two trips to England (in 1805-06 and 1810-15) and shorter journeys to various parts of New South Wales
, she lived in Sydney until her death.
Sophia was until 2009 identified by Professor Joan Kerr, Clifford Burmester and others as an artist who produced two sketchbooks, one held at the National Library of Australia and one held at the State Library of New South Wales. These sketchbooks were re-attributed in May 2009 to Edward Charles Close. This re-attribution removed any evidence that Sophia was an artist.
Sophia died in 1833 and was buried in St John’s Cemetery, Parramatta
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n settler.
One of eight children, Sophia Palmer was born in Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
and educated in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. She came to Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
with her naval officer brother John Palmer
John Palmer (Commissary of New South Wales)
John Palmer was a Commissary of New South Wales, responsible for the colony's supplies. He arrived with the First Fleet in 1788, and was opposed to those who plotted against Governor William Bligh....
(1760-1833) and his family, a second unmarried naval officer brother Christopher Palmer (1767-1821), and her unmarried sister Sarah Sophia Palmer (1774-?) on board the Porpoise in November 1800. Her brother John Palmer was bringing his family to settle permanently in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, and had previously come to Sydney in 1788 as Purser
Purser
The purser joined the warrant officer ranks of the Royal Navy in the early fourteenth century and existed as a Naval rank until 1852. The development of the warrant officer system began in 1040 when five English ports began furnishing warships to King Edward the Confessor in exchange for certain...
on the Sirius, the flagship of the First Fleet
First Fleet
The First Fleet is the name given to the eleven ships which sailed from Great Britain on 13 May 1787 with about 1,487 people, including 778 convicts , to establish the first European colony in Australia, in the region which Captain Cook had named New South Wales. The fleet was led by Captain ...
. He had also been Commissary
Commissary
A commissary is someone delegated by a superior to execute a duty or an office; in a formal, legal context, one who has received power from a legitimate superior authority to pass judgment in a certain cause or to take information concerning it.-Word history:...
General of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
from 1791 to 1811, remaining employed in the Commissariat until he retired in 1819; and he was a magistrate from 1793.
Sophia first settled on John Palmer's 100 acres (40 ha) 1793 grant which he named Woolloomooloo
Woolloomooloo, New South Wales
Woolloomooloo is a harbourside, inner-city eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Woolloomooloo is located 1.5 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Sydney. The suburb is located in a low-lying, former...
Farm. Within a year, on 17 September 1801, Sophia married the merchant Robert Campbell
Robert Campbell (1769–1846)
Robert Campbell was a pioneering and leading merchant in Sydney, a land-owner, a pastoralist, a philanthropist, and a politician being a member of the first New South Wales Legislative Council...
, a Scottish Presbyterian eight years her senior, in St Philip's Church, Sydney
St Philip's Church, Sydney
St Philip's Church, Sydney is the oldest Anglican church parish in Australia. The church is located in the Sydney CBD, between York Street, Clarence and Jamison Streets on a location known as Church Hill. St Philip's is part of the Diocese of Sydney, Australia...
.
Sophia moved to Wharf House, her husband Robert Campbell’s home behind his wharves on the west side of Circular Quay. Apart from two trips to England (in 1805-06 and 1810-15) and shorter journeys to various parts of New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, she lived in Sydney until her death.
Sophia was until 2009 identified by Professor Joan Kerr, Clifford Burmester and others as an artist who produced two sketchbooks, one held at the National Library of Australia and one held at the State Library of New South Wales. These sketchbooks were re-attributed in May 2009 to Edward Charles Close. This re-attribution removed any evidence that Sophia was an artist.
Sophia died in 1833 and was buried in St John’s Cemetery, Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
.