John Louis MacDonald (February 22, 1838 – July 13, 1903) was a

United States representative The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

from

Minnesota Minnesota ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Upper Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by the Canadian provinces of Manitoba and Ontario to the north and east and by the U.S. states of Wisconsin to the east, Iowa to the so ...

and a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life

MacDonald was born February 22, 1838, in

Glasgow Glasgow is the Cities of Scotland, most populous city in Scotland, located on the banks of the River Clyde in Strathclyde, west central Scotland. It is the List of cities in the United Kingdom, third-most-populous city in the United Kingdom ...

, Scotland. He immigrated to

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia is a Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada, located on its east coast. It is one of the three Maritime Canada, Maritime provinces and Population of Canada by province and territory, most populous province in Atlan ...

, Canada, with his parents. In 1847, the family settled in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania#Municipalities, second-most populous city in Pennsylvania (after Philadelphia) and the List of Un ...

, Pennsylvania. They again moved in 1855, to Minnesota, and settled in

Scott County Scott County is the name of eleven counties in the United States of America: *Scott County, Arkansas *Scott County, Illinois *Scott County, Indiana *Scott County, Iowa, the most populous county on the list *Scott County, Kansas, the least populous ...

, where MacDonald studied law.

Legal career

MacDonald was admitted to the bar in 1859 and commenced practice at

Belle Plaine, Minnesota Belle Plaine ( ) is a city in Scott County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 7,395 at the 2020 census. History Minnesota Territorial Supreme Court Judge Andrew G. Chatfield selected the townsite of Belle Plaine in 1853 while trav ...

. He served as a judge of the probate court of Scott County in 1860 and 1861. During the

Civil War A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...

he was commissioned to enlist and muster volunteers for the Union Army. He also served as prosecuting attorney of Scott County in 1863 and 1864.

Political career

MacDonald served as county superintendent of schools in 1865 and 1866. He was elected to the

Minnesota House of Representatives The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the U.S. state of Minnesota's Minnesota Legislature, legislature. It operates in conjunction with the Minnesota Senate, the state's upper chamber, to write and pass legislation, whic ...

, serving in 1869 and 1870; and then served in the

Minnesota Senate The Minnesota Senate is the upper house of the Minnesota Legislature, Legislature of the U.S. state of Minnesota. At 67 members, half as many as the Minnesota House of Representatives, it is the largest upper house of any State legislature (Unite ...

in 1871 and from 1873 to 1876. He ran unsuccessfully candidate for attorney general in 1872 on the Democratic ticket. He was then elected mayor of

Shakopee Shakopee ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Scott County, Minnesota, United States. It is southwest of Minneapolis. Sited on the south bank bend of the Minnesota River, Shakopee and nearby suburbs comprise the southwest portion of Minneap ...

in 1876. He was elected judge of the eighth judicial district of Minnesota in 1876 for a term of seven years and reelected without opposition in 1883. In 1886, he was elected as a Democrat to the 50th congress; he subsequently resigned as judge. He served in Congress from March 4, 1887, to March 3, 1889. He ran again in 1888, but lost. He subsequently returned to being a lawyer in

Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (often abbreviated St. Paul) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County, Minnesota, Ramsey County. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, ...

. In 1898, he moved to

Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri, abbreviated KC or KCMO, is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri by List of cities in Missouri, population and area. The city lies within Jackson County, Missouri, Jackson, Clay County, Missouri, Clay, and Pl ...

, where he continued to practice law.

Death

MacDonald died from heart disease at his home in Kansas City on July 13, 1903. He was working as a lawyer until his death. He was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Kansas City.

References

Minnesota Legislators Past and Present
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macdonald, John L. 1838 births 1903 deaths 19th-century Minnesota state court judges American prosecutors School superintendents in Minnesota Mayors of places in Minnesota Democratic Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Democratic Party Minnesota state senators Minnesota state court judges Missouri lawyers Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota People from Shakopee, Minnesota People from Belle Plaine, Minnesota People of Minnesota in the American Civil War Politicians from Glasgow Union army soldiers American people of Scottish descent Emigrants from pre-Confederation Nova Scotia to the United States Scottish emigrants to pre-Confederation Nova Scotia Probate court judges in the United States 19th-century American educators 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives 19th-century members of the Minnesota Legislature