Ranald George Macdonald
Ranald (right) and his brothers Robert and Donald in childhood, portrait by Henry Raeburn
Chief of Clanranald
In office
1810[1]–1873
Member of the British Parliament
for Plympton Erle
In office
1812–1824
Personal details
Born29 August 1788
Died11 March 1873
Spouses
  • Caroline Anne Edgcumbe
  • Anne Selby Cunninghame
  • Elizabeth Rebecca Newman[1]
Children6, including Reginald Macdonald[2]
Memorial to Ranald George MacDonald in Holyrood Abbey

Ranald George Macdonald (29 August 1788 – 11 March 1873) was a Scottish clan chief and Member of Parliament.

Macdonald was the son of John Macdonald, 18th Chief of Clanranald, by Katherine, the daughter of Robert McQueen, Lord Braxfield.[1]

He became the 19th Chief of Clanranald. He married Caroline Anne, daughter of Richard Edgcumbe, 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe, on 13 February 1812 and had issue.

He was elected to Parliament for Plympton Erle on 10 October 1812 and sat until 1824.[1][3] In 1824 Alexander Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry unsuccessfully attempted to deprive Macdonald of the chiefship of Clan Donald by bringing an action in the Court of Session.[2]

Between 1813 and 1838, Clanranald sold almost the entirety of his estates. He attributed his financial misfortune to peculation on the part of his trustees. However, the historical consensus has been that his ruin resulted primarily from his folly and extravagance.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Macdonald, Ranald George, in The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1790-1820, ed. R. Thorne, 1986
  2. ^ a b "MacDonald of Clanranald". electricscotland.com. Retrieved 14 February 2019.
  3. ^ Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Ranald George Macdonald
Parliament of the United Kingdom Preceded byViscount CastlereaghHenry Drummond Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle 1812–1824 With: George Duckett 1812William Douglas 1812–1816Alexander Boswell 1816–1821William Gill Paxton from 1821 Succeeded byJohn Henry NorthWilliam Gill Paxton
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