Alexander McDonald
Encyclopedia
Alexander McDonald was a Republican
politician who represented Arkansas
in the U.S. Senate
from 1868 to 1871.
, and attended Dickinson Seminary, in Williamsport
, and Lewisburg University
. In 1857, he moved to Kansas and became involved in business, serving in the Union Army
during the Civil War
. Upon completion of his service, McDonald grew interested in banking in Arkansas (in 1863), finally settling in Little Rock
. He served as a member of the state's constitutional convention; upon readmission to the Union he was elected to the Senate in 1868, serving only one term before being defeated for reelection in 1870. McDonald was later commissioned by Chester A. Arthur
to examine the conditions of portions of the Northern Pacific Railroad, which duty he discharged in 1885. Later in his career, he became interested in the development of railroads
, moving to New York City
in 1900. McDonald died in Norwood, New York
; his body was returned to Lock Haven for burial.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician who represented Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
in the U.S. Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
from 1868 to 1871.
Biography
McDonald was born near Lock Haven, PennsylvaniaLock Haven, Pennsylvania
The city of Lock Haven is the county seat of Clinton County, in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. Located near the confluence of the West Branch Susquehanna River and Bald Eagle Creek, it is the principal city of the Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, micropolitan statistical area, itself part of the...
, and attended Dickinson Seminary, in Williamsport
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
Williamsport is a city in and the county seat of Lycoming County, Pennsylvania in the United States. In 2009, the population was estimated at 29,304...
, and Lewisburg University
Bucknell University
Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...
. In 1857, he moved to Kansas and became involved in business, serving in the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. Upon completion of his service, McDonald grew interested in banking in Arkansas (in 1863), finally settling in Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
. He served as a member of the state's constitutional convention; upon readmission to the Union he was elected to the Senate in 1868, serving only one term before being defeated for reelection in 1870. McDonald was later commissioned by Chester A. Arthur
Chester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
to examine the conditions of portions of the Northern Pacific Railroad, which duty he discharged in 1885. Later in his career, he became interested in the development of railroads
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
, moving to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1900. McDonald died in Norwood, New York
Norwood, New York
Norwood is a village located in St. Lawrence County, New York. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 1,685.The Village of Norwood is on the town line of two towns so that it is partly in the Town of Potsdam and partly in the Town of Norfolk.The village is north of Potsdam.-...
; his body was returned to Lock Haven for burial.
External links
- Brief biography at Infoplease Retrieved on 2008-09-27