James Macdonell

Background

James Macdonell was born on the 21st of April, 1841, at Dyce, Aberdeen, to James Macdonell and Rachel Allardyce.

Education

James Macdonell, who showed intellectual gifts and predilections at an early age, was educated at Bell's school, Inverness, and at the parish schools of Dufftown and Rhynie.

Career

Owing to the death of his father (1858) James Macdonell entered a mercantile office as clerk at the age of sixteen, but soon obtained other employment as a writer of leading articles in the "Aberdeen Free Press. " In 1862 he went to Edinburgh on the staff of the "Daily Review. " The brilliancy of his literary style attracted attention, and he was shortly afterwards invited to Newcastle to become, in spite of what he himself called his "extreme youthfulness, " editor of the "Northern Daily Express. " The newspaper rose rapidly under his guidance, and at twenty-two he found his services sought by two powerful editors—one of the "Scotsman, " the other of the "Daily Telegraph. " He joined the latter, and for ten years (1865–1875) he was member of its staff, and was sent to act as special correspondent to France in 1870 and in 1871.

Between 1865 and 1875 Macdonell wrote frequently for "Fraser's Magazine, " "North British Review, " and "Macmillan's. " An article in the "North British Review' (December 1867) on the "Natural History of Morals, " designed to refute Buckle's theory as to the stationary nature of morals, excited unusual attention.

In 1875 he joined the staff of the "Times" as a leader writer. James Macdonell died suddenly, at his house on March 2, 1879, in London, at the early age of thirty-seven. His last work, edited by his wife and published after his death (1880), "France since the First Empire, " is only a brilliant fragment; but it remains one of the most accurate and discriminating works on modern French politics.

Achievements

• James Macdonell was an outstanding journalist, author of posthumously published "France Since the First Empire".

Connections

In 1870 James Macdonell was married to Annie Harrison, and there were three sons of the marriage.