William Stewart Campbell was born on 17 November 1907, the son of Sir John Campbell, a leader in gynaecology in Ulster. His mother was one of the earliest women graduates in medicine in Belfast. After a distinguished school career at the Royal Belfast Academical Institution, in which he also found time to play excellent rugby, Campbell graduated MB, BCh, BAO at Queen's University, Belfast, with first-class honours in 1932. With the exception of his first year he obtained every single prize, medal, and scholarship throughout his course, and, in addition, first-class honours in the BSc. In 1937 he took the FRCS after a time spent as demonstrator in anatomy at his old university. Resident posts in obstetrics and gynaecology followed, but 1941 found him in the RAMC, where he served as a surgical specialist in Malta, Lebanon, and North Africa. After demobilization with the rank of major, he took the MRCOG in 1947; he became FRCOG in 1960. In 1948 he was appointed to the obstetric staff of the Jubilee Maternity (Belfast City) Hospital, and he was elected in 1950 to the staff of the Samaritan Hospital for Women, Belfast, where his father had served for many years. He was a Fellow of the Ulster Medical Society, and had been President of the Ulster Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society. Bill Campbell was a shy man, too modest to advertise his great abilities in any way, but when he took part in clinical meetings he always had something useful to contribute. In 1963 the Gynaecological Travellers, of which he was a popular member, met in Belfast under his chairmanship - a meeting remembered as outstanding. He was probably at his best in his frequent informal classes with the obstetric house-surgeons and registrars, whose training was one of his great interests. He liked to tease, a trait that sometimes nonplussed his juniors until they learnt to look for the secret twinkle in his eyes. He read widely, and took particular pleasure in collecting the local history of Templepatrick, near Belfast, where his ancestors lived, and where he regularly attended the old church in which his grandfather had been minister. He published an interesting account of the origin and early years of the Samaritan Hospital, Belfast. He felt honoured to be invited to give the Robert Campbell Memorial Oration later in 1966, and at the time of his death was engaged in its preparation. His illness came as a surprise to all who knew him. Though well aware of its serious nature, he faced it with exemplary courage. Campbell died on 7 July 1966 after a short illness aged 58, at his home 1 Upper Crescent, Belfast. He was survived by his wife, his son Robert, who was a medical student, and his daughter Patricia. He was a man of strong principles, brilliant but self-effacing.