Durant's Right-Hand Man

The Life and Times of Dr. Edwin Campbell, Founder of the Chevrolet Motor Company and Durant's Assistant in the Creation of General Motors and General Motors of Canada. by Paul Arculus

Edwin Campbell was born in rural Ontario, graduated from medical school and settled in Flint where he met Billy Durant and married
Durant’s daughter Margery. Campbell gave up his medical practice in order to work with Durant in the creation of General Motors. When Durant and Campbell lost control of GM in 1910, Campbell became a founder of the Chevrolet Motor Company which he and Durant built up so that they could use Chevrolet shares to regain control of GM. Campbell’s early friendship with Sam McLaughlin as a contributing factor to the creation of General Motors of Canada. Durant became a Wall Street guru and helped Campbell to become immensely wealthy. The Campbells moved to New York and became immersed in the social life of the city. After their divorce in 1919 Margery wound her way through a number of well publicized affairs and marriages. Following Campbell’s death in 1929, Durant’s life began slow spiral into ill health and eventual poverty. Margery was introduced to her fourth husband by her friend Amelia Earhart. This biography takes the reader through the intrigue of the automotive history of the early twentieth century, as well as the social history of the period.

Paul Arculus

Paul Arculus was born in England but received his University education in Canada and the United States. He spent the last 20 years of his teaching career at Port Perry High School from where Campbell had graduated over a hundred years earlier. Since retiring from teaching history he has devoted his time to researching and writing about Canadian history.