Archibald McDonald | |
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GillEasbaig Mac Aonghais 'Ic Iain 'Ic Alain Dhuibh | |
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| Born | (1790-02-03)3 February 1790 |
| Died | 15 January 1853(1853-01-15) (aged 62) |
| Resting place | Saint-André-d'Argenteuil, Quebec, Canada |
| Nationality | British |
| Occupation(s) | Deputy governor ofRed River Colony; clerk and later chief trader for theHudson's Bay Company |
| Years active | 1813–1848 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | Ranald Angus (1826–1843) Archibald Junior Alexander Allen Mary Ann John (1836) John (1837–1861) Donald and James Samuel Joseph Benjamin Angus Michel (1846–1867) |
| Parent(s) | Angus McDonald Mary Rankin |
Archibald McDonald (3 February 1790 – 15 January 1853) was chief trader for theHudson's Bay Company atFort Langley,Fort Nisqually andFort Colvile and one-time deputy governor of theRed River Colony.
McDonald was born in Leechkentium (Scottish Gaelic:Leac an Tuim),Glen Coe, on the south shore ofLoch Leven, inAppin, then located in the county ofArgyll,Scotland, the last of 13 children born to parents Angus and Mary (née Rankin). His paternal grandfather, Iain (or John) McDonald, had been one of the few male survivors of theMassacre of Glencoe.
As a young man, McDonald became friends withLord Selkirk, and joined theRed River Colony as a clerk and agent, in part because he could act as an interpreter between the overseers of the colony, who spoke English, and the settlers, who, like him, were nativeGaelic-speakers. He assisted in recruitment of the second group of colonists in Scotland, with the intention of departing for the New World with them in 1812. McDonald was delayed, however, under Lord Selkirk's orders, to receive further training in medicine and related subjects. In June 1813, McDonald left Scotland with a group of emigrants, arriving on theRed River one year later. In the winter of 1814–15, he was made deputy governor underMiles Macdonell. In 1820, he joined the HBC, and after the merger with theNorth West Company in 1821, was sent out to theColumbia River.
In 1828, he andGovernor George Simpson traveled together fromYork Factory to the Columbia. In the same year, he was promoted to chief trader and put in charge ofFort Langley, near the modern city ofVancouver,British Columbia. He held that post until 1833, when he was reassigned toFort Nisqually. In 1835, he was assigned toFort Colvile, where he was chief trader from 1833 to 1841, and chief factor until 1844.
In 1848, he retired toSt. Andrew's East,Canada East, on a homestead he named "Glencoe House" after his birthplace. It was here that he died in 1853.
In 1823, Archibald married Princess Raven (also known as Princess Sunday), daughter ofChief Comcomly of theChinook Confederacy, but she died in 1824 giving birth to their son,Ranald. In 1825, Archibald married Jane Klyne, a daughter ofMichel Klyne,French Canadian postmaster atJasper House, and Suzanne Lafrance, of a prominentMétis family. They had thirteen children, and remained together until Archibald's death.
| Preceded by | Chief Trader atFort Langley 1828–1833 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Trader atFort Colvile 1842–1844 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Factor atFort Colvile 1844–1846 | Succeeded by |
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