Career
He was a graduate of Glasgow University, and became secretary and chairman of the West of Scotland branch of the British Astronomical Association. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh on 5 March 1928. MacDonald was a Labour councillor and Mayor of Carlisle from May 1961 to 1962.
The Carlisle/Flensburg (Germany) town twinning relationship was established during his mayoral term.
