Alexander Macdonell (bishop)

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For other persons of the same name, see Alexander Macdonell.

Bishop Alexander Macdonell

Alexander Macdonell, (July 17, 1762 – 14 January 1840) was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Kingston, Upper Canada, Canada.

Macdonell was born Alexander McDonell in Glengarry, Scotland, in 1762. After ordination at Valladolid, his life was devoted to his Gaelic kinsmen in Lochaber and Canada. When they were evicted in 1792 he led them to Glasgow and later formed them into a British regiment, the Glengarry Fencibles, being himself appointed their chaplain, the first Catholic British Army chaplain in centuries.

When the regiment was disbanded Father Macdonell appealed to the government to grant its members a tract of land in Canada, and in 1804 160,000 acres (650 km²) were provided in what is now Glengarry county, Canada. Father Macdonell accompanied his clan, founded churches and schools and organised the settlement. In 1812 he raised another regiment, the Glengarry Light Infantry Fencibles which went to the defence of Upper Canada. In 1819 he was made vicar Apostolic of Upper Canada, which in 1826 was erected into a bishopric. Five years later he was appointed to the legislative council. He founded a seminary at Saint Raphael's and a college at Kingston, and by his zealous labours merited the title of apostle of Ontario.

Macdonell died in Dumfries, Scotland, of pneumonia.

In 1962, a Catholic secondary school in Guelph, Ontario, Canada was renamed to Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School in his honour.