John Louis MacDonald (February 22, 1838 – July 13, 1903) was a

United States representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

from

Minnesota Minnesota () is a state in the upper midwestern region of the United States. It is the 12th largest U.S. state in area and the 22nd most populous, with over 5.75 million residents. Minnesota is home to western prairies, now given over to ...

and a member of the

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Early life

MacDonald was born February 22, 1838, in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

, Scotland. He immigrated to

Nova Scotia Nova Scotia ( ; ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is one of the three Maritime provinces and one of the four Atlantic provinces. Nova Scotia is Latin for "New Scotland". Most of the population are native Eng ...

, Canada, with his parents. In 1847, the family settled in

Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Western Pennsylvania, the second-most populous city in Pennsylva ...

, Pennsylvania. They again moved in 1855, to Minnesota, and settled in Scott County, where MacDonald studied law.

Legal career

MacDonald was admitted to the bar in 1859 and commenced practice at

Belle Plaine, Minnesota Belle Plaine is a city in Scott County, Minnesota, United States, about 40 minutes southwest of Minneapolis. The population was 7,395 at the 2020 census. History Minnesota Territorial Supreme Court Judge Andrew G. Chatfield selected the towns ...

. He served as a judge of the probate court of Scott County in 1860 and 1861. During the

Civil War A civil war or intrastate war is a war between organized groups within the same state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies ...

he was commissioned to enlist and muster volunteers for the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

. He also served as prosecuting attorney of Scott County in 1863 and 1864.

Political career

MacDonald served as county superintendent of schools in 1865 and 1866. He was elected to the

Minnesota House of Representatives The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house of the Legislature of the U.S. state of Minnesota. There are 134 members, twice as many as the Minnesota Senate. Floor sessions are held in the north wing of the State Capitol in Saint ...

, serving in 1869 and 1870; and then served in the

Minnesota Senate The Minnesota Senate is the upper house of the Legislature of the U.S. state of Minnesota. At 67 members, half as many as the Minnesota House of Representatives, it is the largest upper house of any U.S. state legislature. Floor sessions are h ...

in 1871 and from 1873 to 1876. He ran unsuccessfully candidate for attorney general in 1872 on the Democratic ticket. He was then elected mayor of

Shakopee Shakopee ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Scott County, Minnesota, United States. It is located southwest of Minneapolis. Sited on the south bank bend of the Minnesota River, Shakopee and nearby suburbs comprise the southwest portion of ...

in 1876. He was elected judge of the eighth judicial district of Minnesota in 1876 for a term of seven years and reelected without opposition in 1883. In 1886, he was elected as a Democrat to the

50th congress The 50th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1887, ...

; he subsequently resigned as judge. He served in Congress from March 4, 1887, to March 3, 1889. He ran again in 1888, but lost. He subsequently returned to being a lawyer in

Saint Paul, Minnesota Saint Paul (abbreviated St. Paul) is the capital of the U.S. state of Minnesota and the county seat of Ramsey County. Situated on high bluffs overlooking a bend in the Mississippi River, Saint Paul is a regional business hub and the center ...

. In 1898, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he continued to practice law.

Death

MacDonald died from heart disease at his home in Kansas City on July 13, 1903. He was working as a lawyer until his death. He was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Kansas City.

References

Minnesota Legislators Past and Present
{{DEFAULTSORT:Macdonald, John L. 1838 births 1903 deaths 19th-century American judges 19th-century American politicians American prosecutors School superintendents in Minnesota Mayors of places in Minnesota Democratic Party members of the Minnesota House of Representatives Democratic Party Minnesota state senators Minnesota state court judges Missouri lawyers Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota Road incident deaths in Missouri People from Shakopee, Minnesota People from Belle Plaine, Minnesota People of Minnesota in the American Civil War Politicians from Glasgow Union Army soldiers American people of Scottish descent Pre-Confederation Canadian emigrants to the United States Scottish emigrants to pre-Confederation Nova Scotia Probate court judges in the United States 19th-century American educators