Donald Macdonell
Encyclopedia
Donald Macdonell was a political figure in Upper Canada
.
He was born in Greenfield, near Aberchalder
, in Inverness-shire
, Scotland
in 1778, the son of Alexander Macdonell, and came to Charlottenburgh Township in Upper Canada in 1792 as part of a group of Scottish settlers led by his father. He studied with John Strachan
in Cornwall
. He served with the local militia during the War of 1812
, reaching the rank of lieutenant-colonel. During the war, his brother John
was killed at the Battle of Queenston Heights
. After the war, he was appointed registrar for Glengarry County
. In 1819, he became sheriff for the Eastern District. In 1834, he was elected to represent Glengarry in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
and he served until 1841. He served in the militia during the Lower Canada Rebellion
. In 1846, he was appointed assistant adjutant-general of militia for Canada West, serving until his death in Quebec City
in 1861.
In 1853, Macdonell laid the cornerstone for the Brock Memorial at Queenston Heights, where Brock
and his brother had died.
His grandson Donald Greenfield MacDonell
served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons.
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
.
He was born in Greenfield, near Aberchalder
Aberchalder
Aberchalder is a small village on the north shore of Loch Oich in Highland region and is in the Scottish council area of Highland. Scotland. It lies on the A82 road and is situated in two parishes, Boleskine and Kilmonivaig. Fort Augustus is within .-Etymology:The town is named for its location...
, in Inverness-shire
Inverness-shire
The County of Inverness or Inverness-shire was a general purpose county of Scotland, with the burgh of Inverness as the county town, until 1975, when, under the Local Government Act 1973, the county area was divided between the two-tier Highland region and the unitary Western Isles. The Highland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1778, the son of Alexander Macdonell, and came to Charlottenburgh Township in Upper Canada in 1792 as part of a group of Scottish settlers led by his father. He studied with John Strachan
John Strachan
John Strachan was an influential figure in Upper Canada and the first Anglican Bishop of Toronto.-Early life:Strachan was the youngest of six children born to a quarry worker in Aberdeen, Scotland. He graduated from King's College, Aberdeen in 1797...
in Cornwall
Cornwall, Ontario
Cornwall is a city in Eastern Ontario, Canada and the seat of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Ontario. Cornwall is Ontario's easternmost city, located on the St...
. He served with the local militia during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, reaching the rank of lieutenant-colonel. During the war, his brother John
John Macdonell
Lieutenant Colonel John Macdonell of Greenfield was an aide-de-camp to British Major General Sir Isaac Brock during the War of 1812, dying in the Battle of Queenston Heights. He was born on 19 April 1785 in Scotland near Aberchalder and came to Canada when he was seven years old...
was killed at the Battle of Queenston Heights
Battle of Queenston Heights
The Battle of Queenston Heights was the first major battle in the War of 1812 and resulted in a British victory. It took place on 13 October 1812, near Queenston, in the present-day province of Ontario...
. After the war, he was appointed registrar for Glengarry County
Glengarry County, Ontario
thumb|right|Glengarry located within OntarioGlengarry County , an area covering , is a county in the Canadian province of Ontario, and is historically known for its settlement of Scottish Highlanders due to the Highland Clearances.Glengarry was founded in 1792 by Scottish loyalists, mainly from...
. In 1819, he became sheriff for the Eastern District. In 1834, he was elected to represent Glengarry in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada
The Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada was created by the Constitutional Act of 1791. It was the elected legislature for the province of Upper Canada and functioned as the province's lower house in the Parliament of Upper Canada...
and he served until 1841. He served in the militia during the Lower Canada Rebellion
Lower Canada Rebellion
The Lower Canada Rebellion , commonly referred to as the Patriots' War by Quebeckers, is the name given to the armed conflict between the rebels of Lower Canada and the British colonial power of that province...
. In 1846, he was appointed assistant adjutant-general of militia for Canada West, serving until his death in Quebec City
Quebec City
Quebec , also Québec, Quebec City or Québec City is the capital of the Canadian province of Quebec and is located within the Capitale-Nationale region. It is the second most populous city in Quebec after Montreal, which is about to the southwest...
in 1861.
In 1853, Macdonell laid the cornerstone for the Brock Memorial at Queenston Heights, where Brock
Isaac Brock
Major-General Sir Isaac Brock KB was a British Army officer and administrator. Brock was assigned to Canada in 1802. Despite facing desertions and near-mutinies, he commanded his regiment in Upper Canada successfully for many years...
and his brother had died.
His grandson Donald Greenfield MacDonell
Donald Greenfield MacDonell
Donald Greenfield MacDonell was a lawyer and political figure in Ontario, Canada. He represented Lanark North in the Canadian House of Commons from 1880 to 1882 as a Liberal member....
served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons.