1763-1854. One of the founders of the [[Disciples of Christ]]. A Scots-Irishman, he was a minister in the Secession church that had broken away from the [[Church of Scotland]]. The lack of unity in the seceding body led Campbell to become an enemy of Sectarianism. In 1807 he emigrated to Pennsylvania, where he established a Christian association for people from various professions. Since it seemed a new denomination would grow from this experiment, he tried unsuccessfully to merge with the Baptists. Later these Campbellites did join with a similar group organized by B.W. Stone.* Campbell was a popular preacher who moved constantly and usually made his livelihood by teaching school. Becoming blind in later life, he resided with his son Alexander* at Bethany, West Virginia. Alexander wrote The Memoir of Elder [[Thomas Campbell]] (1861).