Roderick Macdonald (politician)
Encyclopedia
Roderick Macdonald, MD, FRCS (1840 — 1894) was a Scottish doctor and a Crofters Party politician. As a coroner he presided over the inquest of one of the victims in the Whitechapel murders.
Macdonald was the son of Angus Macdonald, a crofter, of Fairy Bridge, Skye
. He was educated at the Free Church Normal School, Glasgow, and at Glasgow University. Later he was a teacher at the Free Church School, Lonmore. He then studied medicine and was L.R.C.P. and L.R.C.S., Edinburgh
in 1867. He was also a member of the Inner Temple
.
He practiced medicine in the East End of London
, and was divisional surgeon for the police in the Isle of Dogs
.
In 1885 Macdonald was elected as the Member of Parliament
(MP) for Ross and Cromarty
in the crofter's interest. He held the seat until he stood down at the 1892 election
. Around 1887, he was elected as coroner for the north-east part of East Middlesex
. He presided over the inquest into the death of Mary Jane Kelly
, one of the victims in the Whitechapel murders, at Shoreditch Town Hall on 12 November 1888.
Macdonald lived at 65 West Ferry Road, Millwall
, where he died from cancer
, aged 54.
Macdonald was the son of Angus Macdonald, a crofter, of Fairy Bridge, Skye
Skye
Skye or the Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillin hills...
. He was educated at the Free Church Normal School, Glasgow, and at Glasgow University. Later he was a teacher at the Free Church School, Lonmore. He then studied medicine and was L.R.C.P. and L.R.C.S., Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
in 1867. He was also a member of the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
.
He practiced medicine in the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
, and was divisional surgeon for the police in the Isle of Dogs
Isle of Dogs
The Isle of Dogs is a former island in the East End of London that is bounded on three sides by one of the largest meanders in the River Thames.-Etymology:...
.
In 1885 Macdonald was elected as the Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for Ross and Cromarty
Ross and Cromarty (UK Parliament constituency)
Ross and Cromarty was a county constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1832 to 1983. The constituency elected one Member of Parliament using the first-past-the-post voting system....
in the crofter's interest. He held the seat until he stood down at the 1892 election
United Kingdom general election, 1892
The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892. It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election...
. Around 1887, he was elected as coroner for the north-east part of East Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
. He presided over the inquest into the death of Mary Jane Kelly
Mary Jane Kelly
Mary Jane Kelly , also known as "Marie Jeanette" Kelly, "Fair Emma", "Ginger" and "Black Mary", is widely believed to be the fifth and final victim of the notorious unidentified serial killer Jack the Ripper, who killed and mutilated prostitutes in the Whitechapel area of London from late August to...
, one of the victims in the Whitechapel murders, at Shoreditch Town Hall on 12 November 1888.
Macdonald lived at 65 West Ferry Road, Millwall
Millwall
Millwall is an area in London, on the western side of the Isle of Dogs, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It lies to the south of the developments at West India Docks, including Canary Wharf.-History:...
, where he died from cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, aged 54.