Robert Neil MacLaren

Robert Neil MacLaren (McLaren) (April 9, 1828 – July 30, 1886) was a Minnesota politician, businessman, United States Marshal, tax collector, and Brigadier General during the American Civil War, the Dakota War of 1862, and Sibley's 1863 Campaign.

Early life Robert Neil MacLaren (also spelled McLaren) was born in Caledonia, New York, on April 8, 1828. MacLaren was the son of Reverend Donald Campell McLaren of the United Presbyterian Church and Jane (Nee: Stephenson/ Stevenson) McLaren, both of which were of Scottish ancestry. MacLaren studied at Union College but later quit in 1851 due to poor health. MacLaren's first business enterprise was partnering with Henry W. Corbett in Portland, Oregon. During his time in Portland MacLaren served as a member of the Portland City Council for a term of one year from 1853 - 1854.

Politics In 1859 MacLaren was elected to the Minnesota Senate from Goodhue County and served throughout the second and third sessions of the Minnesota Legislature. MacLaren was part of District 6 of the 2nd Minnesota Legislature (1859-1860) and later part of District 9 of the 3rd Minnesota Legislature (1861). MacLaren led a detachment of reinforcements of the 6th Minnesota alongside Colonel Samuel McPhail's cavalry to relieve the besieged Minnesota volunteer troops at the Battle of Birch Coulee. MacLaren later took part in the decisive engagement at the Battle of Wood Lake which brought an end to Little Crow's uprising. MacLaren would accompany Henry Hastings Sibley during Sibley's 1863 Campaign. In the spring of 1864 Shakopee and Medicine Bottle were brought back to Fort Snelling, at the time McLaren was serving as the fort's Commandant.

Personal life MacLaren married Anna McVean in 1857 from Livingston County, New York. Similar to McLaren, McVean was also of Scottish American ancestry. Together, the McLarens had three children; Jennie MacLaren, Robert Finley MacLaren, and Archibald MacLaren. Archibald was later a renowned doctor in Saint Paul, Minnesota and was the Professor of Surgery at the University of Minnesota. MacLaren was the brother of United States Navy Rear Admiral and Chaplain Donald Campbell MacLaren Jr. (1834-1920).

Later life Following his military career MacLaren became an assessor for the Internal Revenue Service, as well as the United States Marshal for the District of Minnesota on May 17, 1873 by Ulysses S. Grant, and again by Rutherford B. Hayes in November 1877. MacLaren died on July 30, 1886 in Saint Paul, Minnesota and is buried in Oakland Cemetery in St. Paul along with the rest of his family.