Alexander MacDonald, 1st of Boisdale

Biographical Summary

"Alexander Macdonald, the first of this family, was the son by his second marriage of Donald Macdonald of Benbecula, afterwards XVI. of Clanranald. He was born in 1698, and his father, in 1721, gave him as his portion a liferent tack of the lands of Cuichmeane, liosinish, and Knocknagour, in Benbecula. In 1741, he received from his brother, Clanranald, a tack of the lands of Boisdale, and others, for life, and to his successors for 499 years. He gave up this tack in 1756, and in 1758 received a feu charter of the lands of Boisclale, Smerclet, Kilbride, Eriska, and Lingay. Alexander, known as " Alastair Mor nam Mart," was a shrewd business man who succeeded in accumulating a considerable fortune. He was noted for his physical strength, and had the reputation of being " as able a bowlman as any in Scotland...

...Boisdale married, first, Mary, daughter of Donald Macdonald of Castleton, widow of Sir Donald Macdonald of Sleat, and had by her —

• Colin, his successor.
• John, a shipmaster, and merchant in South Uist.
• Janet, who died unmarried in Edinburgh in 1818.
• Mary, who married William Macdonald of Vallay, with issue.
• Anne, who married Dr Murdoch Maclcod of Eyre, with issue.

Boisdale married, secondly, Margaret, daughter of Hector Maclean, XIII. of Coll, and had by her —

• Donald, an otticer in the Army, killed in America in 1757.
• Hector, an otticer in the Army, killed in America in 1759.

Boisdale married, thirdly, Anne, daughter of MacNeil of Barra, and had by her —

• James of Askernisli, a Major in the Army, who served in the Macdonald and other regiments. He married Christina, daughter of Donald Maclcod of Bernera, and had issue. Major James Macdonald died at Rothesay, 18th June, 1857, and was buried there. His wife died at Rothesay, and was buried there, July 9, 1835.
  • Dr Alexander Macdonald, who was in practice in Inverness, where he died unmarried, June 9th 1837.
  • Donald,
  • Margaret Christian, who died at Inverness in 1836.
  • Jane.
• Margaret, who married Donald MacXeill of Kenachreggan, afterwards of Canna, with issue.

Alexander Macdonald of Boisdale had other 8 sons and 2 daughters, all of whom died young. He died at Kilbride, South Uist, in 1768, and was succeeded by his eldest son."

SOURCE: The clan Donald; by the Rev. A. Macdonald, minister of Killearnan, and the Rev. A. Macdonald, minister of Kiltarlity; Vol. III; 1896; page 291-294