A Naval Biographical Dictionary/Macdonald, John
MACDONALD. (Retired Commander, 1829. f-p., 31; h-p., 37.)
John Macdonald died in 1845.
This officer entered the Navy, 3 Aug. 1777, as Midshipman, on board the Culloden 74, Capt. Geo. Balfour, and in 1780-1 was present in that ship in several engagements with the French fleet in the West Indies. Removing, in the course of the latter year, to the Bedford 74, Commodore Affleck, he was afforded an opportunity of sharing in Rodney’s action, 12 April, 1782. During the peace he was employed, chiefly in the capacity of Master’s Mate, in the Edgar, Capt. Adam Duncan, Pégase, Capts. Marshall and Rich. Rodney Bligh, Adventure, Capts. Fras. Perry and John Nicholson Inglefield, Fairy, Capt. Thos. Spry, Elephant, Capt. Chas. Thompson, and Barfleur, flag-ship of Admiral John Elliot. On 29 Nov. 1793, a few days after he had joined Lord Hood in the Victory off Toulon, Mr. Macdonald found himself promoted to a Lieutenancy in an armed ship, commanded by Capt. Walter Serocold. His subsequent appointments were – 15 Dec. 1794, to the Windsor Castle 98, flag-ship of Admirals Philip Cosby, Robt. Linzee, and Robt. Mann, under the second-named of whom he shared in Hotham’s actions 14 March and 13 July, 1795 – 23 March and 10 Nov. 1797, to the Defiance 74, Capt. Theophilus Jones, and Monarch 74, flag-ship of Admirals Sir Rich. Onslow and Arch. Dixon, both on the Home station – 19 May, 1800 (after eight months of half-pay), to the Impress service at Exeter, where he remained until Oct. 1801 – in 1804-5, to the successive command of the Chance, Nancy, and Vigilant, in which vessels we find him employed, on the Mediterranean and Home stations, until Jan. 1806 – and, 8 Aug. 1807, to the Transport service, in which he continued upwards of eight years. He became a Retired Commander on the Senior List 14 Feb. 1829.