Reginald James Macdonald (14 April 1879–17 December 1954), who signed his work as R. J. Macdonald, was a Scottish

illustrator An illustrator is an artist who specializes in enhancing writing or elucidating concepts by providing a visual representation that corresponds to the content of the associated text or idea. The illustration may be intended to clarify complicat ...

and

cartoon A cartoon is a type of visual art that is typically drawn, frequently animated, in an unrealistic or semi-realistic style. The specific meaning has evolved over time, but the modern usage usually refers to either: an image or series of images ...

ist best known for his work in the boys' school stories in '' The Gem'' written by

Charles Hamilton Charles Hamilton may refer to: People in Canada * Charles Hamilton (bishop) (1834–1919), Anglican bishop of Ottawa * Charles Edward Hamilton (1844–1919), Canadian politician * Sir Charles Hamilton, 2nd Baronet, of Marlborough House (1767–184 ...

writing as Martin Clifford. After World War II from 1947 to his death in 1954 he provided colour and black and white illustrations for the Billy Bunter novels by the same author.Do You Remember Billy Bunter?
'' Picture Post'', 11 May 1946, pp 19-21 - Greyfriars Index website Macdonald was born in

Dundee Dundee (; sco, Dundee; gd, Dùn Dè or ) is Scotland's fourth-largest city and the 51st-most-populous built-up area in the United Kingdom. The mid-year population estimate for 2016 was , giving Dundee a population density of 2,478/km2 or ...

in Scotland in 1879, one of three children of Lillias Renton née Kennedy (1855-1929) and John Baxter Macdonald (1848-1919), a commission merchant. In 1901 he was lodging at an address in Hornsey, then in Middlesex, where his occupation was listed as Black and White Artist. On 9 October 1914 he enlisted in the

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, Iowa, a cit ...

, serving during World War I until he was discharged in June 1916 having reached the rank of Lieutenant.Reginald James Macdonald in the 1939 England and Wales Register From 1916 to 1939 he produced numerous black and white illustrations for the boys' school stories in '' The Gem'' written by

writing as Martin Clifford. An article about Hamilton in the '' Picture Post'' in May 1946 that featured Macdonald and his artwork came to the notice of publisher Charles Skilton, who offered a contract to Hamilton for a hardback series of stories about Greyfriars School, the first volume of which, '' Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School'', was published in September 1947. Macdonald produced a colour frontispiece and black and white illustrations for this and the subsequent 16 volumes until his death in 1954, when

C. H. Chapman Charles Henry Chapman (1879–1972), who signed his work as C. H. Chapman, was a British Illustration, illustrator and cartoonist best known for his work in boys' story papers such as ''The Magnet'' where the character Billy Bunter appeared. He l ...

took over as illustrator. In 1905 he married Dorothy (1878-1933) with whom he had a son, Ian Ronald Macdonald (1906-1930). In 1939 he married Alice Dorothy Wynne Williams (1892-1978) in Chelsea and he and his new wife lived in Flat 5 in Carlyle House in Chelsea when his occupation was listed as ‘Artist (Black and White). In his later years he lived in Lymington in Hampshire. He died in December 1954 and left an estate valued at £7545 19s. 7d. to his widow.

Books illustrated by R. J. Macdonald

*'' Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School'', 1947 *'' Billy Bunter's Banknote'', 1948 *'' Billy Bunter's Barring-Out'', 1948 *'' Billy Bunter in Brazil'', 1949 *'' Billy Bunter's Christmas Party'', 1949 *''Bessie Bunter of Cliff House School'', 1949 *''Billy Bunter's Benefit'', 1950 *''Billy Bunter Among the Cannibals'', 1950 *''Billy Bunter's Postal Order'', 1951 *''Billy Bunter Butts In'', 1951 *''Billy Bunter and the Blue Mauritius'', 1952 *''Billy Bunter's Beanfeast'', 1952 *''Billy Bunter's Brainwave'', 1953 *''Billy Bunter's First Case'', 1953 *''Billy Bunter the Bold'', 1954 *''Bunter Does His Best'', 1954 *''Billy Bunter's Double'', 1955 Billy Bunter and Cassell
Friardale website

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macdonald, R. J. 1878 births 1954 deaths People from Dundee Artists from Dundee People from Lymington Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve personnel of World War I Scottish illustrators Scottish children's book illustrators