Alexander McDougall
Alexander McDougall | |
---|---|
United States Secretary of Marine | |
In office 7 February 1781 – 29 August 1781 | |
Preceded by | Francis Lewis (as Chairman of the Continental Board of Admiralty) |
Succeeded by | Robert Morris (Agent of Marine) |
Personal details | |
Born | Summer 1732 New York, New York, U.S. |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States |
Branch/service | Continental Army |
Rank | Major general |
Commands | 1st New York Regiment |
Battles/wars | American Revolutionary War |
Alexander McDougall (1732[1]– 9 June 1786) was a Scottish-born American seaman, merchant, a Sons of Liberty leader from New York City before and during the American Revolution, and a military leader during the Revolutionary War. He served as a major general in the Continental Army, and as a delegate to the Continental Congress. After the war, he was the president of the first bank in the state of New York and served a term in the New York State Senate.
Early life
McDougall was born on the
In around 1745, when he was fourteen, Alexander signed on as a merchant seaman. He worked on a number of vessels, and then in 1751 he returned to Great Britain for 4 months.
Privateer to merchant
After the onset of the French and Indian War in 1756, McDougall became commissioned by the crown as a merchant privateer. During the war, McDougall commanded two ships; the Tyger, an 8 gun sloop, and the Barrington, a 12 gun sloop. An able captain as well as a knowledgeable merchant, he made a modest fortune in captured ships and the sale of their cargo.[5]
In 1763 McDougall gave up the seafaring life. The war had ended, his wife Nancy died, as did his father. He was left with responsibility for his three children and his mother. So he converted his seagoing assets and with the small fortune he had accumulated during the war, invested in land and became a merchant and importer. During this period, McDougall also worked as a slave trader.[6] By 1767 he had his affairs in good order. He owned land in Albany County and as far away as North Carolina. He remarried, this time to Hannah Bostwick, the daughter of his landlady.[2] Though their increasing wealth earned them recognition, it did not earn them acceptance into the traditional society in New York City. Longstanding members of high society such as the Livingstons and the De Lancey's looked down on him as crude and unpolished.[7]
Prelude to revolution
When revolutionary fervor grew with resistance to the
McDougall became the street leader of the
Continental Army
On 30 June 1775, McDougall became a commissioned colonel of the 1st New York Regiment by an act of the New York Provincial Congress.[16] Eventually, McDougall would rise the rank of Major General in the Continental Army.[17] Soon after his commission, McDougall's troops were sent north to take part in the invasion of Quebec (1775), among them were two of McDougall's sons. The Colonel stayed behind to raise funds and troops. The campaign ultimately failed. One of McDougall's sons was captured and the other died of a fever near Montreal.[18]
During the early period of the war, McDougall played a role, in collaboration with Peter T. Curtenius, in preparing for the siege of New York by the Regulars.[19]
The city was unprepared for an extended fight and the defense of the city was a primary focus for George Washington and his staff.[20] When the Regulars won the Battle of Long Island, it quickly became apparent that the Continental Army would be unable to hold the city. The Continental Army needed to make a quick retreat from the city in order to avoid heavy losses. Colonel McDougall helped oversee the evacuation effort by boat.[21]
After the Continental Army left New York City, they traveled north and made an initial stand against the British near the village of White Plains. Here, McDougall helped to hold off the British and allow for the main body of the army to avoid conflict. For much of the remainder of the war, McDougall was stationed in the Highlands of the Hudson as the commander of American forces at West Point, New York (Fort Clinton) after Benedict Arnold's defection in 1780.[9] Throughout the war, McDougall was an outspoken advocate for the Continental Army and for better conditions for its soldiers.[17] In the winter of 1783 he was at the head of the committee of army officers who the bore complaints about pay[11] from Newburgh to Congress.[9]
McDougall was also involved in the establishment of an American navy in 1776.[2]
Public service
In 1780, he was elected as delegate to the Continental Congress. He spent only 37 days in Congress, however, he was soon nominated to serve as the
He died 9 June 1786, at the age of fifty-three[2] and was interred in the family vault in the First Presbyterian Church, New York City.[23] Today, his memorial stone is situated prominently on the wall of the First Presbyterian Church of New York in Greenwich Village.[24]
Legacy
MacDougal Street in the New York City's Greenwich Village is named for him.
Personal life
McDougall married his cousin, Nancy McDougall, during a trip to Great Britain in 1751.[25] After the Revolution, she died and McDougall remarried his landlady's daughter, Hannah Bostwick.[2] During the war, one of his sons died and another was captured by the British. McDougall was well liked and respected by the soldiers he commanded. He continuously advocated for better wages and conditions for soldiers. He was also close friends with Alexander Hamilton and was deeply respected by George Washington, who called him a "pillar of the revolution."[24] McDougall may have been born in Scotland, but he was rebellious and stubborn by nature and deeply loyal to his adopted home of America.[24]
McDougall's great-grandson
See also
References
- ^ a b Barnes, Marcia L. "The Son of Liberty from Islay". Ileach. Ileach Ltd. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f "THE SON OF LIBERTY FROM ISLAY". www.ileach.co.uk. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
- ^ Champagne, Roger (1975). Alexander McDougall and the American Revolution in New York. Schenectady, New York: Union College Press. p. 5.
- ^ MacDougall, William (1977). American Revolutionary: A Biography of General Alexander McDougall. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. p. 4.
- ^ Champagne, Roger (1975). Alexander McDougall and the American Revolution in New York. Schenectady, New York: Union College Press. p. 8.
- ^ "Slavery through the Eyes of Revolutionary Generals". 7 November 2017.
- ^ MacDougall, William (1977). American Revolutionary: A Biography of General Alexander McDougall. Westport: Greenwood Press. p. 15.
- ^ MacDougall, William (1977). American Revolutionary: A Biography of General Alexander McDougall. Westport: Greenwood Press. pp. 25–26.
- ^ a b c d "Alexander Mcdougal". www.sonofthesouth.net. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
- ^ McDougall, Alexander (December 1769). To the Betrayed Inhabitants.
- ^ a b Schulman, Marc. "McDougall Alexander". www.historycentral.com. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
- ^ Champagne, Roger (1975). Alexander McDougall and the American Revolution in New York. Schenectady: Union College Press. pp. 27–35.
- ^ Champagne, Roger (1975). Alexander McDougall and the American Revolution in New York. Schenectady: Union College Press. p. 46.
- ^ "New York Committee of Correspondence". American Archives. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ "The New Committee of Sixty Elected". American Archives. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
- ^ "State of the Four Regiments raised in the Colony of New York". American Archives. Archived from the original on 15 December 2014. Retrieved 10 October 2018.
- ^ a b Champagne, Roger (1977). Alexander McDougall and the American Revolution in New York. Schenectady, New York: Union College Press.
- ^ MacDougall, William (1977). American Revolutionary: A Biography of General Alexander McDougall. Westport: Greenwood Press. pp. 71–73.
- ^ "Preparations for siege of New York - Contract with Cornelius Atherton, of Amenia Precinct, in Dutchess County, for mailing Muskets and Bayonets, approved by Congress". Northern Illinois University. Retrieved 12 January 2020.
- ^ MacDougall, William (1977). American Revolutionary: A Biography of General Alexander McDougall. Westport: Greenwood Press. p. 76.
- ^ MacDougall, William (1977). American Revolutionary: A Biography of General Alexander McDougall. Westport: Greenwood Press. pp. 81–85.
- ^ Champagne, Roger (1977). Alexander McDougall and the American Revolution in New York. Schenectady, New York: Union College Press. pg=205
- ^ a b c "McDOUGALL, Alexander - Biographical Information". bioguide.congress.gov. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
- ^ a b c d "The Islayman at the Heart of the American War of Independence". Islay+Blog. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ Champagne, Roger (1975). Alexander McDougall and the American Revolution in New York. Schenectady, New York: Union College Press. p. 7.