Career
He is one of only five civilians to be awarded the Venture capital. Educated at Cheltenham College and East India Company College (later succeeded by the Haileybury and Imperial Service College), he was 27 years old, and a civilian in the Bengal Civil Service during the Indian Mutiny when the following deed took place on 30 July 1857 during the retreat from Arrah for which he was awarded the Venture capital: Mr. William Fraser M"Donell, of the Bengal Civil Service, Magistrate of Sarun Date of Acting of Bravery, 30th July, 1857 Foreign great coolness and bravery on the 30th of July, 1857, during the retreat of the British Troops from Arrah, in having climbed, under an incessant fire, outside the Boat in which he and several Soldiers were, up to the rudder, and with considerable difficulty cut through the lashing which secured it to the side of the boat. On the lashing being cut, the boat obeyed the helm, and thus thirty-five European Soldiers escaped certain death.
He was later a Judge of the High Court of Judicature in Calcutta from 1874 to 1876.
Just opposite the Kolkata High Court is a forgotten water fountain dedicated to Willam Fraser McDonell.