Godfrey Macdonald, 3rd Baron Macdonald of Sleat

Lieutenant-General Godfrey Bosville Macdonald, 3rd Baron Macdonald (14 October 1775 – 13 October 1832) was a Scottish aristocrat.

Early life Godfrey was born on 14 October 1775 in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was the second of seven sons and three daughters born to the former Elizabeth Diana Bosville (1748–1789) and Sir Alexander Macdonald, 9th Baronet (–1795). In 1776, the year following his birth, his father was created Baron Macdonald in the Peerage of Ireland. His elder brother, Alexander, was MP for Saltash who held his seat in the House of Commons after succeeding to the barony in 1795 as it was an Irish peerage which did not entitle him to a seat in the House of Lords.

He was educated at Harrow School, Harrow on the Hill, London, England. He matriculated Oriel College, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, on 17 December 1792. In accordance with the terms of the bequest, by royal licence on 11 April 1814 he changed his surname to Bosville and later on 20 July 1824 to Bosville-Macdonald.

Following the death of his elder brother Alexander Macdonald, 2nd Baron Macdonald on 19 June 1824, Godfrey succeeded to his father's titles after his brother died unmarried and without legitimate issue. Together, they were the parents of thirteen children, including: Godfrey William Wentworth Bosville-Macdonald, 4th Baron Macdonald (1809–1863), who married Maria Anne Wyndham, eldest daughter and co-heiress of George Thomas Wyndham, of Cromer Hall, Norfolk, in 1845. Her sister, Cecilia, married Lord Alfred Paget (a son of the 1st Marquess of Anglesey). Hon. Diana Bosville Macdonald (1812–1880), who married John George Smyth, MP for City of York who was a son of John Henry Smyth (MP for Cambridge University) and Lady Elizabeth FitzRoy (a daughter of the 4th Duke of Grafton), in 1837.

Three of his children with Louisa were born before their marriage, so they were considered illegitimate, while the ten children born after their marriage were considered legitimate. The eldest three were eventually legitimized by Scottish law, but not by Irish law, therefore, the Scottish baronetcy passed to his eldest son, Alexander, while the Irish barony passed to his third son, Godfrey.

Lord Macdonald died on 13 October 1832 at Bridlington, in England. His widow, the dowager Lady Macdonald, died on 10 February 1835, at Bossall, Yorkshire.

Descendants Through his eldest son Alexander, he was a grandfather of Godfrey Wentworth Bayard Bosville, de jure 13th Baronet, who married Hon. Harriet Cassandra Willoughby (sister to the 8th Baron Middleton); and Hon. Julia Louisa Bosville (1824–1901), who married Henry Willoughby, 8th Baron Middleton.

Through his eldest daughter Louisa, Countess of Hopetoun, he is a direct ancestor of the Marquesses of Linlithgow.

Through his daughter Diana, he was a grandfather of Diana Smyth, who married Henry Lascelles, 4th Earl of Harewood.

Through his daughter Marianne, he was a grandfather of Henrietta Turnor, who married John Scott, 3rd Earl of Eldon.

Through his youngest daughter Octavia, he was posthumously a grandfather of John Hope Johnstone, de jure 8th Earl of Annandale and Hartfell.