Alexander William McDonald (September 30, 1818 – ) was a businessman and political figure in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...

, Canada. He represented Guysborough County in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly

Nova Scotia House of Assembly

The Nova Scotia Legislature, consisting of Her Majesty The Queen represented by the Lieutenant Governor and the House of Assembly, is the legislative branch of the provincial government of Nova Scotia, Canada...

 from 1878 to 1882 as a Liberal-Conservative member.

He was born in Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia

Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia

Sherbrooke, Nova Scotia is a Canadian rural community in Guysborough County, Nova Scotia.Sherbrooke is nestled between Sherbrooke Lake and St. Mary's River...

, the son of Hugh McDonald and Elizabeth E. Archibald, and was educated there. In 1845, he married Rebecca Archibald, the sister of Adams George Archibald

Adams George Archibald

Sir Adams George Archibald, KCMG, PC was a Canadian lawyer and politician, and a father of Confederation. He was based in Nova Scotia for most of his career, though he also served as 1st Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba from 1870 to 1872.Archibald was born in Truro to a prominent family in Nova...

. He married Sarah Blanchard after his first wife's death. McDonald was Comptroller of Customs, Collector of Excise and Surveyor of Shipping for several years.