page_title: Joseph Campau
hierarchical_section_title: Joseph Campau
caption_attribution_description: English: Portrait of Joseph Campau (1769-1863), Merchant
context_page_description: Joseph Campau was among Detroit, Michigan's leading citizens and wealthiest landowners at the beginning of the 19th century. Campau had three trading posts and a store in Detroit until the early 1800s. He then embarked on a real estate career that made him very wealthy. Campau was also a newspaper man, establishing a newspaper with his nephew, John R. Williams. He held several city public offices for the city. Campau was an officer in the Michigan Territory Militia and during the War of 1812.
  Campau was a Roman Catholic until he was excommunicated for selling whiskey to Native Americans and having joined the Masons.
context_section_description: Joseph Campau (February 2, 1769 – July 23, 1863) was among  Detroit, Michigan's leading citizens and wealthiest landowners at the beginning of the 19th century. Campau had three trading posts and a store in Detroit until the early 1800s. He then embarked on a real estate career that made him very wealthy. Campau was also a newspaper man, establishing a newspaper with his nephew, John R. Williams. He held several city public offices for the city. Campau was an officer in the Michigan Territory Militia and during the War of 1812.
  Campau was a Roman Catholic until he was excommunicated for selling whiskey to Native Americans and having joined the Masons.
caption: Joseph Campau; portrait by Alvah Bradish (1856)
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