This is a WORK IN PROGRESS. EVERYTHING is subject to CHANGE. Currently there are 16 pages of material and photographs. These are meant to be a guide only. The MacDonald pages were updated October 15, 2003. Due to a flood of response (thanks) and an ONGOING e-mail glitch, we were backlogged with e-mail's. There was only one person working on this project in 2003. Please be patient. These pages were in the midst of revision by a fellow researcher. Unfortunately, she chose not to continue. The original html's are back on-line. The zipped files are not ready at this time. Initial deadlines, set the fall of 2002, cannot be met. There are many interesting Islanders and people of Prince Edward Island descent who are a MacDonald, or have at least one MacDonald ancestor. This is a work in progress. This photographs on this page are under the © of the History Room ~ all rights reserved. Please ask for permission before copying. Photographs by: Morely S. Acorn, Raymond A. Leard, Waldron H. Leard, Charles A. MacPhee, Peter Soloman and others. Historic Photos courtesy of Pictures of the Past by Leard's and Lloyd Soloman

MacDonald Connections ~ Past & Present

The one thing that everyone seems to agree one is that Somerled, King of Argyll and the South Isles, is the common ancestor of most of not all people with the surname MacDonald. He was slain in battle against the King of Scots in 1164 in Renfrewshire, Scotland. He is believed to have been buried in the Saddel Monastery in Scotland. Not all of his descendants are MacDonald's. In P.E.I. today, there are surnames such as DeBlois, Drummond, Hyndman and Stewart as well as many others, that have King Somerled as an ancestor. Below are a few people of note who are descended from King Somerled.

Probably the best known famous MacDonald in Canadian history, was the Rt. Hon., Sir John Alexander Macdonald (1815-1891) was born at Glasgow, Scotland. He was a Lawyer. He was a Member of the Legislative Assembly, a Cabinet Minister and Premier of Canada West. He was a Father of Confederation, attending the conferences in Charlottetown, Quebec City and London, England. photo from the Charlottetown Conference in 1864. Sir John A. is sitting on the steps in the middle. The Hon. Andrew A. MacDonald from P.E.I., is standing at the back, doffing his hat. He was a Member of Parliament from Ontario, Manitoba and B.C. He served in the Cabinet and was Prime Minister of Canada from 1867-73 and 1878-91. He died at Kingston, Ontario and was buried there in the Cataraqui Cemetery. There have been 42 people with the surname MacDonald/McDonald elected to the Canadian House of Commons and 15 appointed to the Senate of Canada.

The following MacDonald's have no connection to P.E.I., but are interesting people and were or currently well known throughout most of the world.

Flora MacDonald 1722-1790 Aided in the flight of Prince Charles Edward	Etienne MacDonald 1765-1840 Marshall of France	Wilfred K. "Bucko" McDonald 1911-1991 N.H.L. Hockey Player & Coach Canadian Member of Parliament	The Rt. Hon. James Ramsay MacDonald 1866-1937 British Prime Minister
J. E. H. MacDonald 1873-1932 Canadian Artist Member of the Group of Seven	Jeanette MacDonald 1903-1965 American Actor & Singer	George MacDonald 1824-1905 Scottish novelist	Richard McDonald ____-1998 Co-founder of McDonald's Restaurants
Dave MacDonald 1936-1964 Champion Road Racer	Michael MacDonald American Musician, Singer & Songwriter ADoobie Brother

Prince Charles Edward Stuart 1720-1788 aka "Bonnie Prince Charlie" & "the Young Pretender"

The Rt. Hon. Louis Henry Davies, P.C. 1845-1924 Chief Justice of Canada

Robert "Rob Roy" MacGregor 1671-1734 Scottish Outlaw

Elizabeth II Queen of Great Britain & Canada

Prince Edward Island MacDonald Connections ~ Past & Present

St. Dunstans College Charlottetown Established by Bishop Bernard D. MacDonald in 1855 now site of the University of Prince Edward Island	St. Mary's Convent & School Souris Built in 1881 under the direction of Rev. Donald F. MacDonald The annex on the right was built before 1919 under the direction of Rev. Ronald B. MacDonald
The Hon. Florence Elsie (nee MacDonald) Inman (1890-1985) was born at West River, P.E.I. She was an Innkeeper and a Political Organizer. She helped organize woman in a political sense in P.E.I. in 1916 and appeared before the Legislative Assembly to battle for voting rights for women. She was nominated as a political candidate in the 1920's but was defeated as women were not acceptable as Members of the Legislative Assembly at that time. Mrs. Inman became a member of the Senate of Canada in 1955 and served there until her death. She died at and was buried at Ottawa, Ontario in the Beechwood Cemetery. She was descended from a MacDonald family west of Charlottetown	Thomas Patrick "Tommy" Gorman (1886-1961) was born at Ottawa, Ontario. He was a Journalist, an Athlete, a Coach and a Sports Administrator. He served as a page at the age of 10 in the Canadian House of Commons. He was a member of Canada's gold medal Olympic Lacrosse team in 1908. As a journalist he covered the sinking of the Titanic in 1912 and the Halifax Explosion in 1917. He was a founding governor of the National Hockey League and managed four National Hockey League teams. He won seven Stanley Cups, the last of which was the Montreal Canadians triumph in 1946. He was interested in thoroughbred and standardbred racing and guided racing in Quebec, Ontario and Mexico. He was named a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame and the Greater Ottawa Sports Hall of Fame. He died at Ottawa and was buried at Vanier, Ontario in the Notre Dame Cemetery. His mother was an Officer MacDonald
Dr. Herb Dickieson was born at New Glasgow, P.E.I. He was a Teacher and a Physician. He is active in his community and was a leader in Rural Dignity. He served as leader of the P.E.I. New Democratic Party and was the first person of that party ever to be elected to the P.E.I. Legislative Assembly. He resides at Howlan, P.E.I. His grandmother was a Camasumary MacDonald	Betty (nee King) Howatt was born at Charlottetown, P.E.I. She was a Teacher, a partner with her husband in his farming operation, an Author and a Historian. Through her strong interest in the environment and Island history, she has been member of and chair of numerous boards and community groups, most notably Friends of the Island. Currently she has a column on C.B.C. Radio's Mainstreet on the world around us. She resides in Tryon, P.E.I. Her great-grandmother was a Spreck MacDonald
The Brenan Building - 92 Queen Street Charlottetown built in 1843 - photo taken prior to 1892 Built by Daniel Brenan, brother in law of Hon. John S. MacDonald and Donald MacDonald - Legislators all	Macdonald-Westaway Store & Warehouse J. Howard Macdonald home known as the White House & the Macdonald Wharf Georgetown photo taken ca. 1960
The Hon. Lawrence A. MacAulay was born at St. Peter's Bay, P.E.I. He is a Farmer. He was elected a member of the Canadian House of Commons in 1988. He has served in the Federal Cabinet as Minister of Veteran's Affairs, Minister of Labour and Solicitor General. He came to the forefront internationally and became well-known in the United States as a result of the events of September 11, 2001 in his responsibilities for Canada's security. He resides at Midgell, P.E.I. His mother was a MacDonald	The Hon. Andrew Archibald MacDonald (1829-1912) was born at Three Rivers, P.E.I. He was a Merchant, a Shipbuilder, a Shipowner, a Consular Agent, a Postmaster and a Post Office Inspector. He was first elected to the P.E.I. Legislative Assembly in 1854 and also served several terms in the Legislative Council. He was a delegate at the Charlottetown and Quebec Conferences regarding British North American Union and was a Father of Confederation. He served as Lieutenant-Governor of P.E.I. from 1884 to 1889. He died in office as a Member of the Senate of Canada at Ottawa, Ontario and was buried at Charlottetown in the Roman Catholic Cemetery. Panmure MacDonald
corner of Church and Main Souris home of Capt. Dominic MacDonald on the left old St. Alban's Church and Shaw's Jewellery which was also the home and office of Dr. Gus MacDonald	John Knight home and wharf and Souris' first school Souris The wharf was won in a card game from a MacDonald family The large home was built in 1865 A teacher in the school was Hannah MacDonald of Kingsboro, a first cousin of John Knight's second wife.

Senator Thomas J. Kickham 1901-1974 - married to an East Lake MacDonald
Lt. Col. John A. MacDonald 1913-1961 Cardigan Merchant & Member of Parliament - Orwell MacDonald
Angus A. MacLean 1854-1943 Lawyer and politician - descended from the Point Prim MacDonald's
J. Howard MacDonald 1880-1965 Georgetown merchant & politican - Panmure MacDonald
Dr. Wen MacDonald 1909-2000 - Charlottetown radiologist and member of the Canadian Curling Hall of Fame - Scorr MacDonald

The Souris Trader Souris dark boat with the masts owned by Reggie Alex MacDonald photo taken in the late 1940's	The Victory Chimes Cardigan built in 1918 ~ captained by Capt. Dan MacDonald
The Hon. Angus Lewis MacDonald (1890-1954) was born at Dunvegan, N.S. He was a Soldier, a Lawyer, a Lecturer and a Professor. He earned his Doctorate in Law from Harvard University. He was a Member of the Nova Scotia Legislative Assembly and served as Premier of Nova Scotia (1933-1940 and 1945-1954). When World War II broke out, he was persuaded to serve as a Member of Parliament for Kingston City (Ontario) and Minister of National Defence for Naval Services and Air. He died in office at Halifax and was buried in Nova Scotia following a provincial state funeral. It was estimated that over 185,000 people participated in the resting state and the funeral service. He was buried at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Lower Sackville. He was a descendant of a Loddy MacDonald	Dr. Augustine A. MacDonald (1874-1970) was born at St. Andrews, P.E.I. He was a Physician and a Surgeon. He studied medicine at McGill University and practiced briefly in Boston before making Souris, P.E.I. his home. He was a famous doctor who delivered many babies and did many surgeries. A lot of operations were on people's kitchen tables by lamplight. The most famous one was when he sewed on a seven year old boy's feet, after they were almost cut off by a hay mower. He was a Member and a Speaker of the P.E.I. Legislative Assembly and served in the Cabinet. Dr. MacDonald was best known as "Dr. Gus" and was a Member of the Order of Canada. He died at Souris, and was buried there in the St. Mary's Cemetery. Orwell MacDonald
The Hon. Daniel Joseph MacDonald (1918-1980) was born at Bothwell, P.E.I. He was a Farmer and a Soldier. He enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1940. He was serving in Italy where he was severely wounded on Dec. 21, 1944 at the Battle of the Seino River. He lost his left arm and leg. He returned to his home and resumed farming despite his disabilities. He was elected to the P.E.I. Legislature in 1962 and was a member of the cabinet. He was elected to the Canadian House of Commons and became Minister of Veteran's Affairs. He died at Charlottetown, P.E.I. After a State Funeral in Charlottetown during which Prime Minister Trudeau delivered the eulogy, he was buried at Fairfield, P.E.I. in the St. Columba Cemetery. Morar MacDonald	The Hon., Rev. David Samuel Horne MacDonald was born at Charlottetown, P.E.I. He was a Minister and a Diplomat. He was ordained a minister of the United Church of Canada. He was the National President of Young People's Union from 1958 to 1960. He was elected a Member of Parliament in 1965 and served in the House of Commons until 1980 from P.E.I. He served in the Cabinet as Secretary of State and Minister of Communications. He was relected in 1988 from a Toronto, Ontario riding but was defeated in 1993. He served as the Director of Logistics for the 1984 Papal Visit and was President Designate of the Canadian Inter-Faith Network in 1984. Rev. MacDonald served as the Canadian Emergency Coordinator for the African famine and was appointed Canadian Ambassador to Ethiopia in 1986. He currently resides in Ontario. Springton MacDonald
James R. MacLean Store, Souris later the Archibald Currie Store and the MacKay Carriage Factory James R. MacLean, Merchant/Politician was from East Point three out of four of his grandparents were MacDonald's as was his mother-in-law from his first marriage and his father-in-law from his second	The Gus Allan Building, Souris large store, now site of St. Mary's Hall Gus Allan MacDonald was the father of broadcaster L. Art MacDonald of CFCY fame.
Hugh MacDonald was born at Charlottetown, P.E.I. He is a Teacher, an Author, a Poet and a Storyteller. He has published several books including Chung Lee Loves Lobster, The Digging of Deep Wells and Tossed Like Weeds From the Garden. He has earned several awards for his work. Mr. MacDonald has an interest in our history and promotes P.E.I. in all he does. He resides at Brudenell, P.E.I. Panmure MacDonald	Dr. G. Edward "Ed" MacDonald was born and raised at Newport, P.E.I. He is a history professor at U.P.E.I., historian, storyteller and author. He was previously employed at the P.E.I. Museum & Heritage Foundation and is the past editor of the Island Magazine. He has written an acclaimed history of St. Dunstan's University and the P.E.I. history of the 20th. century, entitled If You're Stronghearted. Panmure MacDonald
Hugh F. MacDonald was born at Souris, P.E.I. After graduating from high school he was employed in the Alberta petroleum industry as a boilermaker and small business owner. He was elected first to the Alberta Legislative Assembly in 1997 for the district of Edmonton Goldbar. In his role in oppostion, Mr. MacDonald serves as critic responsible for Energy, Human Resources and Employment and Government Services. He is also the Chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. He is active in his community and is an assistant minor hockey coach. He resides in Edmonton, Alberta. Big Donald MacDonald	Capt. John MacDonald (1743-1811) was born in Moidart, Invernesshire, Scotland. He was the 8th. Laird of Glenaladale & Glenfinnan in Invernessshire. He was the leader of a group of Scottish immigrants who came to the Island in 1772 on the Alexander. Most were his family and friends who sought a place to live to that they would have religious freedom. He was loyal to the Crown and was involved on the British side during the American Revolution. He never held elected office but was a part of the politics of P.E.I. during his lifetime. He died at Tracadie, P.E.I. and was interred in the French and Scottish Pioneer Cemetery at Glenroy, P.E.I. Glenaladale MacDonald
Wreaths from the state funeral of the Hon. Daniel J. MacDonald Charlottetown October 1980	After Mass at St. Columba Church Fairfield The photo was taken in 1916, the church burned a year later
Most Rev. Joseph Faber MacDonald was born at Little Pond, P.E.I. He was a Bank Employee, a Recording Artist, a Parish Priest and currently the Bishop of Saint John, New Brunswick. He was educated at St. Dunstan's University, St. Paul's Seminary and the University of Ottawa. He was ordained a priest in 1963 and served several parishes in Prince Edward Island. A talented fiddler, he co-founded the Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival, in Rollo Bay, Prince Edward Island. He attended post graduate studies at St. Andrew's Abbey in Bruges, Belgium. In 1980 he was appointed by Pope John Paul II as Bishop of Grand Falls, Newfoundland, serving there until 1998, when he was appointed to the Episcopal See of Saint John. McRorie MacDonald	L. Arthur "Art" MacDonald (1902-1950) was born at Souris, P.E.I. He was an Accountant, a Radio Broadcaster, a Program Director and a Salesman. He brought many talented individuals to the airwaves. He persuaded Don Messer to move to P.E.I. and perform on radio station C.F.C.Y. Mr. MacDonald coined the slogan for the radio station, The Friendly Voice of the Maritimes. He died at Charlottetown, P.E.I. was buried in the St. Mary's Cemetery at Souris. Prospect Hill MacDonald
Sir, Dr. Roderick James MacDonald (1858-1961) was born at Maple Hill, P.E.I. He was a Teacher, a Bookkeeper and a Physician and a Surgeon. He was educated at Trinity College at the University of Toronto (Ontario). He commenced his practice in St. Peter's Bay, P.E.I. in 1888. His active career lasted 69 years. He served as a Member of the P.E.I. Legislative Assembly and was named by the Canadian Medical Association as Doctor of the Century and Dean of Canada's Physicians in 1958. He was made a Knight of St. Gregory the Great by Pope Pius XII in 1954. He is the only Islander to have his portrait taken by Yousef Karsh. He died at Charlottetown, P.E.I. and was buried in the St. Peter's Bay Roman Catholic Cemetery. Garrahilia MacDonald	Sir William Christopher MacDonald (1831-1917) was born at Tracadie, P.E.I. He was a Merchant, a Tobacco Manufacturer, a Business Director and a Philanthropist. He was educated in Charlottetown, P.E.I. and attempted several ventures before settling in Montreal, Quebec with his brother as oil merchants (presumably vegetable, fish or coal) in 1852. In 1858 they were tobacco manufacturers processing it for chewing or for smoking by a a pipe. He was on his own by 1875, owning the largest tobacco factory in Canada. He amassed great wealth and was the largest shareholder in the Bank of Montreal. He distributed his wealth to educational institutions such as McGill University and MacDonald College as well as many other causes. He died at Montreal and his remains were cremated. Glenaladale MacDonald

Judge Neil McLeod 1842-1915 Premier of P.E.I. - his mother was a Dunholm MacDonald
Lt. Gov. Peter A. MacIntyre 1840-1910 Souris Physician & Member of Parliament - his first wife was a MacDonald
Lt. Gov. Murdock MacKinnon 1865-1944 - his mother was a MacDonald
Lt. Gov. Willibald J. MacDonald 1897-1977 Soldier & Educator - Prospect Hill MacDonald