John L. MacDonald explained

John L. MacDonald
Image Name:JohnLMacDonald.jpg
State:Minnesota
District:3rd
Birth Name:John Louis MacDonald
Birth Date:22 February 1838
Birth Place:Glasgow, Scotland
Death Place:Kansas City, Missouri
Party:Democratic
Term Start:March 4, 1887
Term End:March 3, 1889
Preceded:Horace B. Strait
Succeeded:Osee M. Hall
State Senate1:Minnesota
District1:21st
Term Start1:January 3, 1873
Term End1:January 1, 1877
Predecessor1:Robert H. Rose
Successor1:William Henry
State Senate2:Minnesota
District2:18th
Term Start2:January 3, 1871
Term End2:January 1, 1872
Predecessor2:William Henry
Successor2:George Washington Batchelder
State House3:Minnesota
District3:18th
Term Start3:January 5, 1869
Term End3:January 2, 1871
Predecessor3:William Henry
Successor3:W.V. Sencerbox
Spouse:Mary Hennessy
Occupation:Attorney
Residence:Shakopee, Minnesota

John Louis MacDonald (February 22, 1838  - July 13, 1903) was a United States representative from Minnesota and a member of the Democratic Party.

Early life

MacDonald was born February 22, 1838, in Glasgow, Scotland.[1] He immigrated to Nova Scotia, Canada, with his parents. In 1847, the family settled in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They again moved in 1855, to Minnesota, and settled in Scott County, where MacDonald studied law.[1]

Legal career

MacDonald was admitted to the bar in 1859 and commenced practice at Belle Plaine, Minnesota. He served as a judge of the probate court of Scott County in 1860 and 1861. During the Civil War he was commissioned to enlist and muster volunteers for the Union Army. 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, serving in 1869 and 1870; and then served in the Minnesota Senate in 1871 and from 1873 to 1876.[2]

He ran unsuccessfully candidate for attorney general in 1872 on the Democratic ticket. He was then elected mayor of Shakopee 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.[1]

In 1886, he was elected as a Democrat to the 50th congress; he subsequently resigned as judge.[1] 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. 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.[2] He was working as a lawyer until his death. He was buried at St. Mary's Cemetery in Kansas City.

References

Notes and References

  1. Book: Progressive Men of Minnesota . Marion D. . Shutter . J. S. . McLaine . The Minneapolis Journal . 308–309 . 1897 . 2023-02-02 . Internet Archive.
  2. News: Judge MacDonald Expires Suddenly . . 3 . 1903-07-14 . 2023-02-02 . Newspapers.com.