Francis Cantlie Donald, son of Mary Cantlie and John Donald, labourer, was born in Mortlach, Banffshire on 2 Oct 1882. After graduating from the University of Aberdeen, MA 1905, he became assistant master at Laurencekirk and Aberchirder schools. He returned to the University in 1908, where he entered the Faculty of Divinity, and in 1911 was licenced by the Presbytery of Strathbogie and appointed assistant minister at Huntly. He was ordained and inducted minister of Lumphanan in 1913, a charge which he held until his retirement in 1954. He married Mary, daughter of Alexander Reid, of Wellpark, Larbert on 4 Oct 1913, and died in Inverness on 18 Jan 1974, aged 91. For many years, he had served as joint clerk of the Presbytery of Deeside.
For further biographical details see Heather M. Gilbert, As a Tale that is Told: a Church of Scotland Parish, 1913 - 1954 (Aberdeen: Aberdeen University Press, 1983)
From the guide to the Papers of Reverend Francis Cantlie Donald, c 1905 - c 1974, (University of Aberdeen)
