Daughter of Merchant James Black and Eliza Taylor, Janet (Jessie) was born at Cross-Arthurlie, Neilston, Renfrewshire on 26th March, 1827.

On 21st April, 1846 Jessie married the Laird of Tullichewan, James Campbell (1823-1901). In 1817 his father William and Uncle James had founded J & W Campbell & Company, a warehousing, wholesale and retail drapery company, based at Ingram Street in Glasgow. His cousins were James Campbell-Bannerman, British Prime Minister, and James Alexander Campbell, Politician and Provost in Glasgow.

Their children were William (25.04.1847-03.06.1929), Eliza (18.11.1850-10.09.1932), Margaret (1852), Jessie Gertrude (12.01.1856 – 24.02.1923) and James Adair (18.11.1860 – 1933).

Jessie promoted higher education for women who were denied a university education at that time. In 1868 she successfully gained the support of some of the professors at Glasgow University and arranged lectures for women, initially in Natural History, Moral Philosophy, English Literature and Astronomy.

In 1877 she became the Vice-President of the newly formed Glasgow Association for the Higher Education of Women, with Janet Galloway as its Honorary Secretary, which enabled women to attain a university education. In 1883 this became Queen Margaret College, housed in North Park House which she had persuaded her friend, wealthy Philanthropist Isabella Elder, to purchase. She was instrumental in raising funds of £20,000 for a college endowment fund.

Jessie achieved her aims when in 1892 the college amalgamated with Glasgow University who recognised her work with an honorary LLD in 1901.

Jessie died on 10th February 1907 at Broomley, Alexandria, from heart failure after suffering a stroke five months earlier. She is commemorated along with Isabella Elder and Janet Galloway in a stained glass window in the Bute Hall at Glasgow University.