Alexander McDougall facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alexander McDougall
United States Secretary of Marine
In office 7 February 1781 – 29 August 1781
Preceded by	Francis Lewis (as Chairman of the Continental Board of Admiralty)
Succeeded by	Robert Morris (Agent of Marine)
Personal details
Born	Summer 1732 Kildalton, Scotland
Died	9 June, 1786 (aged 53–54) New York, New York, U.S.
Military service
Allegiance	United States
Branch/service	Continental Army
Rank	Major general
Commands	1st New York Regiment
Battles/wars	American Revolutionary War

Alexander McDougall (1732– 9 June 1786) was an important Scottish-American leader. He was a seaman and merchant who became a key figure in the Sons of Liberty in New York City. This was before and during the American Revolution.

He also served as a major general in the Continental Army during the war. After the war, he became the president of the first bank in New York. He also served a term in the New York State Senate.

Early Life

Alexander McDougall was born in the summer of 1732. His birthplace was the Isle of Islay in Scotland. In 1738, his family moved to New York. They were part of a group led by Captain Lachlan Campbell.

When they arrived, they found out Campbell wanted them to be tenants on his land. Alexander's father decided not to do this. Instead, he found work on a dairy farm in Manhattan. The family did well, and young Alexander started his career. He delivered milk in New York City.

Around 1745, when he was 14, Alexander became a merchant seaman. He worked on several ships. In 1751, he returned to Great Britain for four months.

From Sailor to Merchant

When the French and Indian War started in 1756, McDougall became a privateer. A privateer was a private ship or person allowed by the government to attack enemy ships. During the war, McDougall commanded two ships. These were the Tyger and the Barrington.

He was a skilled captain and a smart merchant. He made a good amount of money by capturing enemy ships and selling their goods.

In 1763, McDougall stopped working as a sailor. The war had ended, and his wife and father had passed away. He needed to care for his three children and his mother. So, he used the money he had earned during the war. He invested in land and became a merchant and importer.

By 1767, his business was doing well. He owned land in Albany County and even in North Carolina. He also remarried to Hannah Bostwick.

Leading Up to the Revolution

As people became more upset with British rule, McDougall joined the Sons of Liberty. This group worked against British policies. He became a key leader of this movement in New York.

One big problem was the Quartering Acts. These laws made colonists provide housing and support for British soldiers. The New York assembly refused to pay for this in 1767 and 1768.

In 1769, a new assembly approved money for the soldiers. On December 16, 1769, McDougall wrote an anonymous paper. It was called To the Betrayed Inhabitants. This paper criticized the assembly's decision. It also led to a clash known as the Battle of Golden Hill.

He was accused of speaking out against the government. He was arrested on February 7, 1770. He refused to pay bail and was jailed. He spent about five months in jail but was never found guilty. He was released in 1771. His time in jail became a reason for more protests. The Sons of Liberty called him "the Wilkes of America." This compared him to a British politician who was jailed for challenging the government.

McDougall became a street leader for the Sons of Liberty. He organized protests until New York City was mostly controlled by the Patriots in 1775. He helped organize the city's response to the Tea Tax in 1773. This was similar to the Boston Tea Party. He joined important groups like the Committees of Correspondence. When New York formed its own revolutionary government in 1775, he was elected to the New York Provincial Congress. During this time, McDougall became good friends with Alexander Hamilton.

Military Service

On June 30, 1775, McDougall became a colonel in the 1st New York Regiment. He was given this rank by the New York Provincial Congress. Eventually, McDougall rose to the rank of Major General in the Continental Army.

Soon after, McDougall's troops were sent north. They were part of the invasion of Quebec (1775). Two of McDougall's sons went with them. Colonel McDougall stayed behind to raise money and more troops. The Quebec campaign did not succeed. One of McDougall's sons was captured, and the other died from a fever.

In the early part of the war, McDougall helped prepare New York City for a British attack. The city was not ready for a long fight. Defending it was a main focus for George Washington and his team. When the British won the Battle of Long Island, it was clear the Continental Army could not hold the city.

The army needed to retreat quickly to avoid losing many soldiers. Colonel McDougall helped manage this evacuation by boat.

After leaving New York City, the Continental Army moved north. They made a stand against the British near White Plains. Here, McDougall helped hold off the British. This allowed the main army to avoid a major battle.

For much of the rest of the war, McDougall was stationed in the Hudson Highlands. He commanded American forces at West Point, New York (Fort Clinton). This was after Benedict Arnold's betrayal in 1780. Throughout the war, McDougall spoke out for the Continental Army. He pushed for better conditions for its soldiers. In 1783, he led a group of army officers. They brought complaints about pay to Congress.

McDougall also helped create an American navy in 1776.

Public Service

In 1780, Alexander McDougall was chosen as a delegate to the Continental Congress. He served there for only 37 days. However, he was soon nominated to be the Secretary of Marine. He held this role from February 7, 1781, to August 29, 1781.

In 1784, he was elected to the State Senate. He served there until he passed away. As a State Senator, McDougall helped separate church and state in the New York government. He also became the first president of the Bank of New York. He was also president of the New York Society of the Cincinnati.

He passed away on June 9, 1786, at 53 years old. He was buried in the First Presbyterian Church in New York City. Today, his memorial stone is on the wall of the First Presbyterian Church in Greenwich Village.

Legacy

MacDougal Street in New York City's Greenwich Village is named after him.

Personal Life

McDougall married his cousin, Nancy McDougall, in 1751. After the Revolution, she passed away. McDougall then married Hannah Bostwick. During the war, one of his sons died, and another was captured by the British.

McDougall was well-liked and respected by the soldiers he commanded. He always spoke up for better pay and conditions for them. He was also close friends with Alexander Hamilton. George Washington deeply respected him and called him a "pillar of the revolution." Alexander McDougall was born in Scotland, but he was very loyal to his adopted home of America.

McDougall's great-grandson, John McDougall Atherton, was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives. Atherton's own son, Peter Lee Atherton, also served there.