Alexander Macdonell
Alexander Macdonell
First Bishop of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Born Glengarry, Scotland, 1760; died Dumfries, Scotland, 1840. After ordination at Valladolid, his life was devoted to his Gaelic kinsmen in Lochaber and Canada . When they were evicted in 1792 he led them to Glasgow and later formed them into a British regiment, the Glengarry Fencibles, being himself appointed their chaplain, the first Catholic British Army chaplain in centuries. When they were disbanded he brought them to Canada and formed a Highland colony called Glengarry. In 1819 he was made vicar Apostolic of Upper Canada, which in 1826 was erected into a bishopric. Five years later he was appointed to the legislative Council. He founded a seminary at Saint Raphael’s and a college at Kingston, and by his zealous labours merited the title of apostle of Ontario.