Biography.guide
Home › People › Sociologist › Donald MacRae
Portrait of Donald MacRae

Donald MacRae

1921 – 1997

British sociologist

Don't just read it — keep itBiographies to ownE-book · Audio · Video From $7 →

About Donald MacRae

Lived 1921 – 1997 (aged 76). Donald MacRae was a British sociologist.

Donald Gunn MacRae (20 April 1921 – 23 December 1997) was a British sociologist.

Biography MacRae was born in Glasgow, Scotland, on 20 April 1921, and raised there and on the Isle of Skye, where his grandparents lived. His father Donald MacRae was an engineer who worked for a flour mill, and his mother Elizabeth Maud (Gunn) MacRae was a teacher.

MacRae attended the University of Glasgow, followed by the Balliol College, Oxford. Upon attaining first-class honours in philosophy, politics and economics, he joined the London School of Economics faculty in 1945, as an assistant lecturer. He was promoted to lecturer in 1950, and appointed reader in 1954. MacRae made professor in 1961, and was named Martin White Professor of Sociology in 1978, succeeding David Glass. Upon retirement in 1987, MacRae gained emeritus status.

MacRae was married twice, first to Helen McHardy in 1948. They had two daughters before the marriage was dissolved. In 1987, MacRae married Jean Ridyard, with whom he raised one daughter and one son. MacRae died on 23 December 1997, in Canterbury, Kent.

Biography shop

Don’t just read it —
keep it.

Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.

  • E-book
  • Audio
  • Video
Browse the shop — from $7

Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free

Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Education
University of Glasgow, Balliol College
Employers
London School of Economics and Political Science
Also known as
Donald G. MacRae, Donald Gunn MacRae

People in Donald MacRae's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Donald MacRae's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Donald MacRae?

British sociologist

When was Donald MacRae born?

Donald MacRae was born on 20 April 1921 in Glasgow.

When did Donald MacRae die?

Donald MacRae died on 23 December 1997 in Canterbury.

What was Donald MacRae's occupation?

Donald MacRae was a sociologist.

What nationality was Donald MacRae?

Donald MacRae was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Donald MacRae

· Wikidata: Q18922166

· DBpedia: Donald Gunn MacRae

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Donald MacRae. https://biography.guide/donald-macrae/

MLA: "Donald MacRae." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/donald-macrae/.

Chicago: "Donald MacRae." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/donald-macrae/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Page generated 2026-09-27 05:03 UTC