James Macdonell was born in 1781 the second son of Duncan, 14th chief of Clan Macdonell of Glengarry. His mother was Marjory, daughter of Sir Ludovic Grant of Dalvey 6th Bt . He was from a Catholic family and was educated in France. He was an ensign in the army at the age of 12 and started his military career in the 78th Highlanders , moving to the 17th Light Dragoons, then the 19th Foot and back to the 78th with whom he fought at Maida in 1806. In 1811 he joined the Coldstream Guards with the rank of lieutenant-colonel. He served in the Peninsula War and famously fought at Waterloo where he achieved fame for commanding the Guards at the defence of Hougoumont. Sgt Matthew Clay of the Scots Fusilier Guards wrote an eye-witness account of the fighting there:
‘..on gaining the interior [of the courtyard] I saw Lieutenant-Colonel Macdonell carrying a large piece of wood or trunk of a tree in his arms, (one of his cheeks marked with blood, his Charger lay bleeding within a short distance) with which he was hastening to secure the gates against the renewed attack of the enemy, which was most vigorously repulsed.’
Wellington showed his gratitude by awarding him 1000 pounds, calling him “the bravest man in the British Army”. Macdonell insisted on sharing the money with Sgt James Graham. He was promoted to major-general in 1830 and appointed principal equerry to Queen Adelaide. He then served in Ireland, and in 1837 he dealt with the troubles in Armagh, for which he was awarded the KCH (Knight Commander of the Royal Guelphic Order). After service in Canada he returned to Britain and was appointed Colonel of the 79th Cameron Highlanders in 1842, then exchanged to the 71st Highland Light Infantry in 1849. He reached the rank of General in 1854 and was appointed GCB (Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath) in 1855, but died on 15 May 1857. He was not married.
