Col. James MacDonnell

Upstart Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 36

I am trying to find out what I can on this famous colonel who was known as such an amazing warrior, but all I can find is just that - his warrior skills! I know he was a Scotsman, but he was a major part of the British army and I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about his personal life, particularly if he had any place in society. Research has left me nowhere, so I'm asking you guys.

Thanks!
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Writing and Re-Writing,
Grace

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 12:21 am Post subject:

It seems that there isn't a lot of information about Lt.-Col. MacDonnell out there, except what you probably already know, ie. that he was the 3rd son of Duncan MacDonnell of Glengarry, born in Inverness-shire in 1781 and died in London 1857. His name also often appears as MacDonell, and Wellingotn even referred to him as MacDonald in his Waterloo Dispatch (which is not completely wrong, I guess, as the MacDonells are a subset of Clan MacDonald). The National Portrait Gallery lists him as MacDonell and has two portraits of him.

The only thing I could find about him was the story about him receiving £500 from a Reverend John Norcross, who wanted to bequeath this sum to "the bravest man in Britain" and appealed to Wellington to choose the appropriate man. Wellington chose MacDonnell, who promptly shared the money with James Graham of the 2nd Foot Guards, who had helped "close the gate".

Legend has it that MacDonnell in later life never liked being in a room with an open door.
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I have the honour to be etc.
Wellies

"Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained." -- The Duke of Wellington

Upstart Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 36

Thank you, Wellies, for responding. I had studied those items you shared throughout the years of writing this work, but admit I've forgotten some of them. Such interesting tidbits, though! Outside of what he did in the war, I suppose I'll just continue to do whatever I want with him in character. Not such a bad deal, I suppose.

Thanks again!
_________________
Writing and Re-Writing,
Grace

Upstart Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 36

Oh wait, I definitely had never heard the part about the open door. Wow!
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Writing and Re-Writing,
Grace

Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 11:17 pm Post subject:

The thing with the open door is cited in Who was Who at Waterloo by Christopher Summerville. Interestingly enough, Mark Adkin in his Waterloo Companion says the reverse for Lieutenant Wyndham, who was also present at Hougoumont - Wyndham, apparently, for the rest of his life could not bear to close any door, so he was usually sitting in a horribly draught. The battle of Waterloo certainly has inspired a lot of interesting stories... Wink

MacDonell's private life seems a rather big blank. His obituary in the Gentleman's Magazine doesn't mention a surviving wife of children - do you know if he ever married?

As a side note, his death was even mentioned in the German "Militaerische Zeitung".
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I have the honour to be etc.
Wellies

"Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained." -- The Duke of Wellington

Upstart Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 36

I actually don't know if MacDonnell ever married. I haven't seen anything about it or about his personal life. It's strange, isn't it? That leads one to believe he was very private, perhaps even tormented by his warrior life. Many soldiers are. But that's just conjecture. Or maybe the writer in me. Both, probably.
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Writing and Re-Writing,
Grace

Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

Great fodder for a hero though . . .
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-Kalen
w/a Isobel Carr
Ripe for Pleasure, May 2011
Book 1: The League of Second Sons
www.isobelcarr.com

Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:58 am Post subject:

Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 4:16 pm Post subject:

This is the kind of question outside my small areas of knowledge, so it is fun to just sit back and let those of you who know the subject pipe up with responses. You've definitely got me intrigued about James MacDonnell.
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Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:34 pm Post subject:

He seems quite an interesting character even if there isn't that much information about him. His military talents were well-known. When, on the morning of the battle, Baron von Mueffling expressed his doubts about the defenders of Hougoumont actually being able hold the chateau, Wellington replied, 'Ah, but you don't know MacDonell!'

I have actually done a bit more looking around (I'm rather obsessive about research, especially when it comes to the military Embarassed

), and the consensus from various publications and genealogy websites seems to be that MacDonell never married.
_________________
I have the honour to be etc.
Wellies

"Next to a battle lost, the greatest misery is a battle gained." -- The Duke of Wellington

Viscountess of the Manor Joined: 20 Sep 2006 Posts: 1100

Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 10:57 pm Post subject: