Macdonell, Alexander, 1762-1840 : Alexander Macdonell, Roman Catholic priest, office holder and politician, was born on 17 July 1762 in Glengarry Scotland and was referred to by Thomas D'Arcy McGee as the "greatest Tory in Canada." Macdonell was chaplain of the Glengarry Fencibles, a Highland Regiment that helped put down the Rebellion in Ireland in 1798. The regiment disbanded in 1802, and grants of land were obtained in Canada for its members. He left Scotland in early September 1804 and moved to Upper Canada where Catholics were few and where he felt he would be the only priest in the region. On his way, however, he made a friend and ally in Joseph-Octave Plessis, the coadjutor bishop of the diocese of Quebec. He was active in the provincial election of 1812 as well as in the defence of Canada during the War with the United States that year, serving as chaplain of the Glengarry Light Infantry.
In June 1816, Plessis joined him in consecrating the first Catholic Church in Kingston. Macdonell became instrumental in eventually splitting the enormous diocese of Quebec to create three new dioceses (Kingston, Charlottetown and Nova Scotia). As well, he was instrumental in pushing the interests of Catholic teachers and priests within Canada. He made several trips to England during his career pleading the case of Roman Catholics in Canada and often found success in his ability to convince British authorities that in supporting the interests of Canadian Catholics, they would be serving the best interests of the state. In 1826, he was raised to the episopate as bishop of Kingston or Regiopolis.
During his career, Macdonell forged amicable relationships with the respective lieutenant governors of Upper Canada and became a useful ally through his demonstrated loyalty, his conservative ideology and power over the people of his district. Macdonell was a strong ally of Lieutenant Governor Sir Peregrine Maitland who succeeded Francis Gore in 1818. As a result, Macdonell was named to the land board of the Eastern District, made a member of a committee investigating the purchase of Indian lands and appointed one of the commissioners to end the long dispute over the boundary of Upper and Lower Canada. He was also heavily involved in the political debate over the proposed union of the Canadas.
On 21 November 1831, Macdonell was appointed to the Colonial Office by the new lieutenant governor, Sir John Colborne which Macdonell received as a personal honour and which he felt signified recognition of the just place of Catholics in the province. By the end of the 1820's, Macdonell and Archdeacon John Strachan were considered by the radical critics as a pillar of the government's support and, as such, were one of the favourite targets of William Lyon Mackenzie. Mackenzie's criticisms of Macdonell and Strachan followed them through the 1837 Rebellion with requests for their resignation from the Legislative Council and a demand for an inquiry into the funds that Macdonell received from the Canada Company.
After the Rebellion Macdonell receded from the political debate over Lord Durham's recommendation for a "responsible" executive and turned his attention instead to raising funds for his seminary, Regiopolis College. On his return trip from England, Scotland and Ireland in 1840 where he attempted to secure funding, however, Macdonell died at Dumfries, Scotland, thus bringing to an end his active political and ecclesiastical career. Alexandria, Ontario was named in his honor.
