Alexander Macdonald of Aberchalder

Biographical Summary

"IV. Alexander. He left the Glengarry Estate, it is said, on account of a quarrel with the Chief over the killing of deer, and emigrated to the American Colonies sometime before the breaking out of the War of Independence, settling in Charlottenburg, on the River St Lawrence. Though an old man, he accepted service as a loyalist at the outset of the American War, and became a Captain in the King's Royal Regiment of New York. He is described as "a worthy, respectable, and much-esteemed man, not only as true a Highlander as ever wore a kilt, but as shrewd a man of business, and one who was supposed to understand the interests of Highlanders after the '45 better than most men."

He married Mary, daughter of Alexander Macdonald of Killichonat, widow of Donald Macdonald of Tirnadrish, executed at Carlisle in 1746. By her he had —

• John, who succeeded him.
• Hugh. He began his career as Ensign in the King's Royal Regiment of New York, and was afterwards Captain in the Royal Canadian Volunteer Regiment. In 1803 he was Lieut.-Colonel of the Glengarry Militia Regiment, and was appointed Adjutant-General of Militia in Upper Canada. He had sat as one of the members for Glengarry in the first Legislature of the Province. In 1805 he was appointed Assistant Commissary-General at Gibraltar, and in 1811 he was sent as Consul-General to Algiers, on the recommendation of the Duke of Kent, whose great friend he was, where he remained till 1820. He shortly after retired on a pension. He married, first, Anne Hughes, by whom he had three daughters. He married, secondly, a daughter of Admiral Ulrich, Danish Consul-General at Algiers, and had issue.
• Chichester, a Lieutenant in Butler's Rangers, and afterwards a Colonel in the British Army. He served in the 82nd and 34th Regiments, and fought at Corunna under Sir John Moore. After his death, a medal having been struck for Corunna, a gold medal was sent to his family by order of the Prince Regent, to be deposited with them as a token of the respect His Royal Highness entertained for his memory. He afterwards received an appointment in India, and died there unmarried in 1813.
• A daughter, who married Major Ross, with issue.
• A daughter, who married General Wilkinson.
• Janet, who married Colonel Alexander Macdonald of Greenfield.

Alexander Macdonald IV. of Aberchalder died in 1787, and was succeeded by his 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 351