campbell was appointed to the committee of management of the society of canterbury colonists when it was formed in london on 25 april 1850. the society was formed ""for the purpose of making suggestions and expressing the opinions of the colonists upon matters relating to the welfare of the proposed colony"" being established by the canterbury association in canterbury new zealand. the other members of the society's first committee of management were guise brittan (chairman), james fitzgerald, rev dr thomas rowley, henry phillips, henry sewell, conway lucas rose and edward ward (brother of crosbie ward), who was appointed secretary of the society. after elections on 18 july 1850 c l rose and rev dr thomas rowley were replaced on the committee by george leslie lee, charles maunsell, john watts russell, henry john tancred, james townsend (father of mary townsend) and felix wakefield; however, lee and sewell immediately vacated their appointments.