Edward Campbell was born in South Bend, Indiana on 1872. He would marry Lilian Strong. He died in 1946 and is buried at Arlington National Cemetery with Lilian and their daughter, Georgiana.
He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1893 and would later be assigned to the USS Baltimore. During the Spanish-American War, he would serve off the coast of Central America. Following the war, he would serve aboard the USS Iowa and the USS Indiana before being assigned to assist in the fitting-out of the USS Milwaukee.
In 1907, he was named Judge Advocate General of the Navy. He served in this position until 1909, when he left to assist in the fitting-out of the USS North Dakota. During World War l, he commanded the USS Charleston. Following this assignment, he would take command of the Naval Training Station, Newport. Later, he would return to his former position of Judge Advocate General.
In 1929, he would take command of the Special Service Squadron. From 1934 to 1935, he served as commander of the Scouting Force. Later, he took command of the 12th Naval District.
