Reginald Macdonald

Admiral Sir Reginald John James George Macdonald KCB KCSI (19 October 1820 – 15 December 1899) was a Royal Navy officer who went on to be Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station.

Sir Reginald Macdonald
"Rim". Caricature by Spy published in Vanity Fair in 1880.
Birth name	Reginald John James George Macdonald
Born	19 October 1820[1] Westminster, Middlesex, England[2]
Died	15 December 1899(1899-12-15) (aged 79) Kensington, London[3]
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	Royal Navy
Rank	Admiral
Commands	HMS Ferret HMS Hogue HMS Arethusa HMS Bellerophon East Indies Station Nore Command
Battles / wars	Eighth Xhosa War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India

Early life

Macdonald was born in Westminster, the son of Reginald George MacDonald, chief of Clan Ranald, and Lady Caroline Anne Edgcumbe, daughter of Richard Edgcumbe, 2nd Earl of Mount Edgcumbe.^[4]

Naval career

Macdonald joined the Royal Navy in 1833.^[5] He served in the Eighth Xhosa War as Commander of HMS Ferret.^[6] Promoted to captain in 1854, he commanded HMS Hogue, HMS Arethusa and then HMS Bellerophon.^[6] He was appointed Second-in-Command of the Channel Fleet in 1872 and from 1873 he became the 21st chief of the Clan Macdonald of Clanranald.^[5]

Promoted to rear-admiral, he was made Commander-in-Chief, East Indies Station with his flag in the armoured cruiser, HMS Undaunted, in 1875 and Commander-in-Chief, The Nore in 1879.^[6] He retired in 1884.^[6]

Family

In 1855, he married Hon. Adelaide Louisa Warren Venables-Vernon, daughter of 5th Baron Vernon. They had two sons and two daughters:^[7][8]

• Capt. Allan Douglas MacDonald (1856–1908), Chief of Clanranald
• Angus Roderick MacDonald (1858–1944)
• Adelaide Effrida MacDonald
• Maud MacDonald