Alexander McDonell

Alexander McDonell, Esq. (1786 – November 29, 1861) was an immigration agent, military officer and member of the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada. After immigrating from Scotland to Upper Canada he fought in the War of 1812 with the Canadian fencibles. He later served as a Colonel and assembled a militia to help quell the Upper Canada Rebellion, although they were never called to action. He spent most of his professional life as a Crown agent in the area surrounding Peterborough, Ontario assigning plots of land to settlers, advocating for projects to improve the infrastructure, and settling disputes as a Justice of the Peace. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada in 1834 and reelected in 1836 by relying on his reputation after helping settlers and running on a pro-British platform. He lost his election to the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Canada in 1841 and became a lumberjack after his retirement in 1843.

Early life McDonell was born in Scotland in 1786 and travelled to Canada in 1804 with his uncle Alexander Macdonell. His responsibilities included bringing newly-arrived immigrants to the region to settle new townships, hiring workers to clear the land for these townships, and organising plots of land for hovels, amenities and businesses. In 1827 he became a Crown Lands agent in the Newcastle District and later for Durham County and Northumberland County. He petitioned Robinson to build a gristmill in Ops Township along Lake Scugog to avoid future businessmen from building a private mill in the area. He also hired local axemen to build homes for the settlers in the township. The construction of homes was delayed because the axemen, McDonell and many settlers to the area were infected with a fever. McDonell also managed the food rations during this fever and provided additional provisions when instructed to do so by Robinson. To improve the production of various mills and businesses McDonell lobbied the Legislative Assembly of Upper Canada to develop a route along the Trent–Severn Waterway. He served as a commissioner for the project and distributed funds for locks and dams along the route. He was also a supporter of the leadership established for Upper Canada. He also received remuneration from the British Crown in exchange for ensuring Irish immigrants do not begin a revolt. He had fallen out of favour with the church and upon his death in Peterborough in 1861 his body was refused a Roman Catholic burial.