Herman A. MacDonald

Herman A. MacDonald was a Swedish-born American politician who served as Mayor of Beverly, Massachusetts and Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Works.

Early life MacDonald was born in Stockholm on November 11, 1881. His father died several months before he was born and when he was three years old, he and his mother moved to the United States.

MacDonald attended Beverly High School, Lynn Business College, and the Boston Y.M.C.A. Evening Law School.

In December 1928, MacDonald was appointed Associate Commissioner of Public Works by Governor Fuller. His term of office expired on December 1, 1932, but remained in office until January 1934, when Democratic Governor Joseph Ely replaced him with Richard K. Hale.

In 1934, MacDonald was a candidate for state treasurer. At the party convention, MacDonald finished in last place on the first ballot with 84 votes to Oscar M. Dionne's 279, Samuel H. Wragg's 170, and Richard E. Johnston's 99, and withdrew his candidacy.

In 1935 he ran in the 2nd Essex District state senate special election following the death of Albert Pierce. He lost the Republican nomination to William H. McSweeney.

In 1940, MacDonald was appointed Commissioner of Public Works by Governor Leverett Saltonstall. He was removed from the position in 1946 by Governor Maurice J. Tobin on the grounds that he had inefficiently managed the Federally-funded roads program.

From 1947 to 1949, MacDonald served on the state Appellate Tax Board.

Military service In 1915, MacDonald took a leave of absence from his position as mayor to serve on the U.S.-Mexican Border as a second lieutenant with the 1st Massachusetts Field Artillery during the Border War. During World War I he served as a field artillery captain with the 26th Infantry "Yankee" Division in France.

On January 4, 1961, MacDonald died in Londonderry, New Hampshire.