Alexander Macdonell of Collachie (1762 – March 18, 1842) was a soldier and political figure in

Upper Canada The Province of Upper Canada () was a Province, part of The Canadas, British Canada established in 1791 by the Kingdom of Great Britain, to govern the central third of the lands in British North America, formerly part of the Province of Queb ...

. He was born in

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

in 1762 and arrived in the

Mohawk Valley The Mohawk Valley region of the U.S. state of New York is the area surrounding the Mohawk River, sandwiched between the Adirondack Mountains and Catskill Mountains, northwest of the Capital District. As of the 2010 United States Census, ...

of New York with other members of his family, including his brother, Angus Macdonell of Collachie. He served with the Royal Highland Emigrant Regiment during the

American Revolution The American Revolution (1765–1783) was a colonial rebellion and war of independence in which the Thirteen Colonies broke from British America, British rule to form the United States of America. The revolution culminated in the American ...

. In 1781, he came to

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

and joined

Butler's Rangers Butler's Rangers (1777–1784) was a Loyalist provincial military unit of the American Revolutionary War, raised by American loyalist John Butler. Most members of the regiment were Loyalists from upstate New York and northeastern Pennsylvania. T ...

until the regiment was disbanded in 1784. Macdonell moved to York (

Toronto Toronto ( , locally pronounced or ) is the List of the largest municipalities in Canada by population, most populous city in Canada. It is the capital city of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Ontario. With a p ...

), where he served as a Sheriff for the Home District from 1792 to 1805. He was elected to the 3rd Parliament of Upper Canada representing Glengarry & Prescott, serving until 1816. He was speaker of the House from 1804 to 1808. At the start of the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...

, he became a colonel in the militia. In 1813, he was taken prisoner at Niagara by the Americans. In 1815, on his release, he was made superintendent of the Settling Department. From 1831 to 1834 he was Chairman of the Home District Council and the last to serve the post before

Toronto City Council Toronto City Council is the governing body of the municipal government of Toronto, Ontario. Meeting at Toronto City Hall, it comprises 25 city councillors and the mayor of Toronto. The Toronto City Council 2022–2026, current term began on Nove ...

was formed in 1834. In addition he was the Sheriff for the Home District.

Death

He died at Toronto on 18 March 1842.

External links

*
Glengarry's Representatives in the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada, University of Manitoba archives

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macdonell, Alexander (Politician) 1762 births 1842 deaths Immigrants to the Province of Quebec (1763–1791) Members of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada People from Highland (council area) People from the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Politicians from Toronto Scottish emigrants to pre-Confederation Ontario Speakers of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada