Dictionary of National Biography, 1901 supplement/MacDougall, Duncan
MACDOUGALL, Sir DUNCAN (1787–1862), lieutenant-colonel of the 79th Cameron highlanders, son of Patrick MacDougall of Soroba, Argyleshire, by his wife Mary, daughter of Duncan M'Vicar, was born at Soroba in 1787. Educated at Edinburgh, he entered the army as ensign in 1804, served in the 53rd and 85th foot on the frontier, at the Cape of Good Hope, and in the peninsular war. He took part in the third siege and in the capture by storm of Badajos on 6 April 1812, in the siege and in the capture on 27 June of the forts of Salamanca. In the battle of Salamanca on 22 July, he gallantly saved the colours of his regiment and was severely wounded. He was present at the siege of Burgos in September and October and the retreat from it, at the siege and capture on 31 Aug. 1813 of St. Sebastian, at the passage of the Bidassoa in October, at the battles of Nivelle (10 Nov.), the Nive (9 to 13 Dec.), and the investment of Bayonne. He received three medals for his peninsular services. He took part in the American war of 1814, was present at the battle of Bladensburg on 24 Aug., the capture of Washington, and the attack on Baltimore on 12 Sept., when he was aide-de-camp to Major-general Robert Ross [q. v.], who was killed. He also served in the operations against New Orleans in December 1814 and January 1815, was aide-de-camp to Lieutenant-general Sir Edward Pakenham [q. v.], when that officer was killed at the assault of 7 Jan., and took part in the siege of Fort Bowyer in Florida. In 1825, when in command of the 79th foot at Halifax, Nova Scotia, he was entrusted with the organisation of the colonial militia. In 1835 he relinquished the command of his regiment and retired from the active list in order to join the British auxiliary legion of Spain as quartermaster-general and second in command under his friend Sir De Lacy Evans [q. v.] For his services in Spain he received from Queen Isabella II the order of knighthood of St. Ferdinand. In later years he raised the Lancashire artillery militia. A prominent figure in the volunteer movement of 1859, he presided at the great meeting at St. Martin's Hall, London, at which it was inaugurated. He published a very useful pamphlet in 1860 entitled 'Hints to Volunteers on various Subjects.' He died on 10 Dec. 1862, and was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral, London, where there is a monument with a bust by Adams to his memory. He was twice married: first, in 1817, to Anne, daughter of Colonel Smelt, governor of the Isle of Man, by whom he left an only son, Patrick Leonard [q. v. Suppl.]; and, secondly, in 1844, to Hannah, widow of Colonel Nicholson of Springfield House, Liverpool.
[War Office Records; Despatches; Army Lists; private information.]