James E. Campbell (July 7, 1843 - December 18, 1924) was a Democratic politician from Ohio. He served as the 38th Governor of Ohio. Campbell was born in Middletown, Ohio where he attended the public schools and then Miami University. He served in the Union Army as a member of the Mississippi River Squadron during the Civil War.
James Campbell was admitted to the bar in 1865 and began practicing law in Hamilton, Ohio two years later. After serving as a prosecutor in Butler County, Ohio from 1876-1880, Campbell was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives twice from Ohio's 7th congressional district (Forty-eighth and Fiftieth Congresses) and once from the third district (Forty-ninth Congress), serving from 1884-1889. In the 49th Congress, he was chairman of the House Committee on Alcoholic Liquor Traffic.
Campbell then was elected to the Ohio governorship, serving from 1890 to 1892. He was an unsuccessful candidate for re-election in 1891, losing to future president William McKinley. He was unsuccessful in a third run for governor in 1895.
Remaining politically active, Campbell was a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1892, 1920, and 1924. He served on the commission to codify the State of Ohio laws from 1908-1911.
He resumed the practice of law in Columbus, Ohio after 1892 and died there in 1924. James Edwin Campbell is interred in Green Lawn Cemetery.
Preceded by: Henry Lee Morey U.S. Representative from Ohio's District 7 1884 - 1885 Succeeded by: George E. Seney Preceded by: Robert Maynard Murray U.S. Representative from Ohio's District 3 1885 - 1887 Succeeded by: Elihu S. Williams Preceded by: George E. Seney U.S. Representative from Ohio's District 7 1887 - 1889 Succeeded by: Henry Lee Morey Preceded by: Joseph B. Foraker Governors of Ohio Succeeded by: William McKinley Governors of Ohio Tiffin • Kirker • Huntington • Meigs • Looker • Worthington • E. Brown • Trimble • Morrow • Trimble • McArthur • Lucas • Vance • Shannon • Corwin • Shannon • T. Bartley • M. Bartley • Bebb • Ford • Wood • Medill • Chase • Dennison • Tod • Brough • Anderson • J.D. Cox • Hayes • Noyes • Allen • Hayes • Young • Bishop • Foster • Hoadly • Foraker • Campbell • McKinley • Bushnell • Nash • Herrick • Pattison • Harris • Harmon • J.M. Cox • Willis • J.M. Cox • Davis • Donahey • Cooper • White • Davey • Bricker • Lausche •
