Alexander Macdonell (bishop of Kingston)
Alexander Macdonell (17 July 1762 – 14 January 1840) was the first Roman Catholic bishop of Kingston, Upper Canada.
The Right Reverend Alexander Macdonell | |
|---|---|
| Bishop of Kingston | |
MacDonell c. 1823 by Martin Archer Shee | |
| Church | Roman Catholic |
| In office | 1826–1840 |
| Successor | Rémi Gaulin |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 16 February 1787 |
| Consecration | 31 December 1820 by Joseph-Octave Plessis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 July 1762 Glen Urquhart, Scotland |
| Died | 14 January 1840 (aged 77) Dumfries, Scotland |
| Nationality | Scottish |
| Previous post(s) | Vicar Apostolic of Upper Canada (1819–26) Titular Bishop of Rhesaina (1819–26) |
| Alma mater | Royal Scots College |
He was born at Glen Urquhart in Scotland and served as a chaplain with the Glengarry Fencibles during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. His presence insured that the regiment "distinguished itself by its humanity". When the regiment was demobilized, most of the soldiers found themselves unemployed and destitute. He led them to Canada, where they received a grant of land for their service. When Macdonell arrived in 1804, he found three priests and three churches in Upper Canada. By his energy and perseverance he induced a considerable immigration to the province, and left at his death forty-eight churches attended by thirty priests, plus a seminary and a college.