Born near McLeansboro, Hamilton County, Illinois, to John L. and Mary Ainsworth (Coker) Campbell, he attended the public schools and the University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana. He studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1877 and commenced practice in McLeansboro, Illinois. He owned and edited the McLeansboro Times 1870-1898. He served as member of the State house of representatives 1884-1888. He served in the State senate 1888-1896.

Campbell was elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899). He was not a candidate for reelection to the Fifty-sixth Congress in 1898. He served in the war with Spain in the Ninth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. Commissioned colonel June 28, 1898. After the muster out of that regiment was appointed lieutenant colonel of the Thirtieth Regiment, United States Volunteers, on July 5, 1899, and assigned to service in the Philippine Islands. Commissioned brigadier general of Volunteers January 3, 1901, and was honorably discharged March 25, 1901. He engaged in milling and banking in McLeansboro, Illinois, and died there August 12, 1924. He was interred in Odd Fellows Cemetery.

• United States Congress. "James R. Campbell (id: C000089)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress