McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786

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Alexander McDougall (1732 – 9 June 1786) was a Scottish-born American seaman, merchant, a Sons of Liberty leader from New York City before and during the American Revolution, and a military leader during the Revolutionary War. He served as a major general in the Continental Army, and as a delegate to the Continental Congress. After the war, he was the president of the first bank in the state of New York and served a term in the New York State Senate.

Born on the Isle of Islay, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, McDougall immigrated to the United States in 1740 with hiis parents, settling in New York City. In around 1745, when he was fourteen, he signed on as a merchant seaman, working on a number of vessels, briefly returning to Great Britain for 4 months in 1751. After the onset of the French and Indian War in 1756, McDougall became commissioned by the crown as a merchant privateer. During the war, McDougall commanded two ships; the Tyger, an 8 gun sloop, and the Barrington, a 12 gun sloop. Following the end of the war, he invested in land and became a merchant, importer, and slave trader.

When revolutionary fervor grew with resistance to the Stamp Act, McDougall became active in the Sons of Liberty, and later was a leader in the movement in the colony of New York. When New York established their revolutionary government in 1775, he was elected to the New York Provincial Congress. On 30 June 1775, McDougall became a commissioned colonel of the 1st New York Regiment by an act of the New York Provincial Congress. Eventually, he would rise the rank of Major General in the Continental Army. McDougall was also involved in the establishment of an American navy in 1776. In 1780, he was elected as delegate to the Continental Congress. He spent only 37 days in Congress, however, he was soon nominated to serve as the Secretary of Marine. He served in that role from February to August 1781. In 1784, he was elected to the New York State Senate where he served until his death.

McDougall died in New York City and was interned in the family vault in the First Presbyterian Church there.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786. Papers of Alexander McDougall, 1777-1783. Library of Congress
creatorOf McDougall, Alexander, 1731?-1786. Letter signed : West Point, to Theodorus Van Wyck and Jonathan Lawrence, Commissiones of Sequestration for Dutchess County, 1782 Apr. 5. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Samuel Blachley Webb papers, 1756-1819 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
referencedIn Fisher, Jonathan, fl. 1777-1802. Papers. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
creatorOf Washington (George) Collection Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786. Orderly book of Alexander McDougall's Division, 1777, October 26 - Nov. 11, Whitpain, Pa., Whitemarsh, Pa. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn United States. Continental Army. Garrison (West Point, N.Y.). Orderly books, 1779-1781. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Vol. ii. (ff. 336). 1768.Christian VII; King of Denmark: Correspondence of R. Gunning, English Minister to: 1766-1771.includes:ff. 1, 4, 20, 36, 55, 77, 105, 121, 137, 152, 165, 176. 198, 202, 206, 224, 226, 240, 336 Ralph Woodford, Resident at Ham..., 1768 British Library
referencedIn Roberdeau, Daniel, 1727-1795. Papers, 1767-1791. Library of Congress
referencedIn Laurance, John, 1750-1810. John Laurance papers, 1694-1835 (bulk 1770-1809). Churchill County Museum
referencedIn United States. Continental Army. New York Regiment, First. Orderly books, 1776. New-York Historical Society
creatorOf McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786. Alexander McDougall papers, 1756-1795 (bulk 1776-1782). Churchill County Museum
creatorOf McDougall, Alex. Providence. Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee County Federated Library System
referencedIn United States. Continental Army. Court-martial (McDougall : 1782). Opinion of the court martial respecting Major General McDougall, 1782. New-York Historical Society
referencedIn VOL. I.: William Gilliland; 8 June, 1775, f. 2. Henry Hay; Ticonderoga, 19 Aug. 1776, 5 Apr. 1777, ff. 3, 48. Christopher Greene, and others, prisoners; Quebec, 5 June, 27 July, 1776, ff. 8, 13. Colonel Mat. Visscher, secretary of the Albany Committe... British Library
referencedIn Greene, Nathanael, 1742-1786. Papers, 1777-1780 American Philosophical Society
referencedIn United States. Continental Army. McDougall's Division. Orderly books, 1778-1779. New-York Historical Society
creatorOf United States. Continental Army. Continental Army in the American Revolution, 1780-1782. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
creatorOf McDougall, Alexander, d. 1796. Orderly book, 1780. Historical Society of Pennsylvania
referencedIn Oversize Manuscripts Collection, Bulk, 1648-1934, 1648-1998 New-York Historical Society
referencedIn Letter : Alexandra, to a family, Islay Scotland. Libraries Australia
referencedIn Frederick M. Dearborn collection of military and political Americana, Part I: The Revolution and the Administration, 1669-1958. Houghton Library
creatorOf McDougall, Alexander, 1731?-1786. Autograph letter not signed : Fishkill, to General Greene, 1780 Feb. 18. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Jared Sparks collection of American manuscripts, 1582-1843 Houghton Library
referencedIn Roberdeau, Daniel, 1727-1795. Daniel Roberdeau papers, 1767-1791. Library of Congress
referencedIn Thomas Addis Emmet collection, 1483-1876 (bulk:1700-1800) New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn United States. Continental Army. New York Regiment, 1st. [Payroll book. Fishkill, Peekskill, and Valley Forge, 7 Jan 1777-3 March 1778]. Society of the Cincinnati Library
creatorOf Washington, George, 1732-1799. Papers. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
creatorOf Burr, Aaron, 1756-1836. Aaron Burr papers, 1777-1836. Churchill County Museum
referencedIn New-York Manumission Society Records, 1785-1849 New-York Historical Society
creatorOf McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786. Letter, 1784 January 28. American Periodical Series I
referencedIn Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866. Collection of documents concerning the American Revolution, 1740-1866 Houghton Library
creatorOf McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786,. Correspondence, 1777-1781. Rosenbach Museum & Library
creatorOf Hoyt, Colgate. Charles W. Wetmore. Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee County Federated Library System
creatorOf McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786. Orderly book of Alexander McDougall, 1778, Apr. 14 - May 20, Fishkill, N. Y. Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botanical Gardens
referencedIn Society of the Cincinnati. Minutes, 1783 June 19. The Filson Historical Society
referencedIn Palfrey family papers, 1713-1915 Houghton Library
creatorOf Clark, Donald F., d. 1980,. Donald F. Clark Collection. New-York Historical Society Library
referencedIn Stewart, Charles, 1729-1800. Family papers, 1768-1877 Houghton Library
referencedIn Webb, Samuel Blachley, 1753-1807. Samuel Blachley Webb papers, 1756-1819 (inclusive). Yale University Library
referencedIn United States. Continental Army. McDougall's Brigade. Orderly books, 1776-1777. New-York Historical Society
creatorOf McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786. Waste book, 1767 Jun. 1-1771 Jan. 8. New-York Historical Society
creatorOf McDougall, Alexander. 118. Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee County Federated Library System
referencedIn New-York Society for Promoting the Manumission of Slaves, and Protecting Such of Them as Have Been, or May Be Liberated. Records, 1785-1849. Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Phelps, Frank. Frank D. Phelps. Milwaukee Public Library, Milwaukee County Federated Library System
referencedIn United States. Continental Army. Highlands Dept. Orderly book, 1780. Churchill County Museum
creatorOf McDougall, Alexander, 1732-1786. Papers. United States Military Academy, USMA Library
creatorOf Lane, Jabez. ADS, 1779 March 30, Kingsferry, to Major General Alexander McDougall. Copley Press, J S Copley Library
referencedIn Lawrence, Jonathan, 1737-1812. Papers, 1777-1781. New York State Library
creatorOf McDougall, Alexander, 1731?-1786. Circular letter signed : West Point, to John Fisher, 1781 Nov. 17. Pierpont Morgan Library.
creatorOf McDougall, Alexander, 1731-1786. Autograph letter signed : to the Commissary of the New York troops, 1777 July 31. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Sullivan, John, 1740-1795. Papers, 1769-1792. New Hampshire Historical Society Library
creatorOf Lamb, John, 1735-1800. John Lamb papers, 1762-1887 (bulk 1762-1799). Churchill County Museum
referencedIn The state of New York to Alexander McDougall. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Huntington Family File, 1737-1898 The Huntington Library
referencedIn Alexander, William, 1726-1783. Selected papers, 1767-1782. 1776-1782 (bulk). New-York Historical Society Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Abeel, James, 1733-1825. person
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associatedWith Conway, Thomas, 1735-ca. 1800. person
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associatedWith Fisher, Jonathan, fl. 1777-1802. person
associatedWith Goforth, William, 1731-1807. person
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associatedWith Hughes, Hugh, d. 1804. person
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associatedWith Lawrence, Jonathan, person
associatedWith Lawrence, Jonathan, 1737-1812. person
associatedWith Low, Nicholas, 1739-1826. person
associatedWith McDougall, Elizabeth. person
associatedWith McDougall family. family
associatedWith McDougall, John. person
associatedWith McDougall, William. person
associatedWith Moth, Frederic C. person
associatedWith New-York Society for Promoting the Manumission of Slaves, and Protecting Such of Them as Have Been, or May Be Liberated. corporateBody
memberOf New York (State). Legislature. Senate. corporateBody
correspondedWith Palfrey family. family
associatedWith Parsons, Samuel Holden, 1737-1789, person
associatedWith Paterson, John, 1744-1808. person
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correspondedWith Roberdeau, Daniel, 1727-1795. person
associatedWith Schuyler, Philip John, 1733-1804. person
associatedWith Society of the Cincinnati. corporateBody
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associatedWith Sparks, Jared, 1789-1866 person
associatedWith Stewart, Alexander. person
correspondedWith Stewart, Charles, 1729-1800 person
correspondedWith Sullivan, John, 1740-1795. person
associatedWith Thomson, Charles, 1729-1824, person
associatedWith Trumbull, Jonathan, 1710-1785. person
memberOf United States. Continental Army corporateBody
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associatedWith United States. Continental Army. Garrison (West Point, N.Y.) corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Continental Army. Highlands Dept. corporateBody
leaderOf United States. Continental Army. McDougall's Brigade. corporateBody
leaderOf United States. Continental Army. McDougall's Division. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Continental Army. New York Regiment, 1st. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Continental Army. New York Regiment, First. corporateBody
associatedWith United States. Continental Army. Northern Department corporateBody
memberOf United States. Continental Congress corporateBody
associatedWith Washington, George, 1732-1799. person
associatedWith Webb, Samuel Blachley, 1753-1807. person
associatedWith Wyck, Theodorus Van, person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York City NY US
Kildalton SCT GB
Subject
Slavery
Courts-martial and courts of inquiry
Finance, Personal
Generals
Military pensions
Philadelphia Campaign, 1777-1778
Slaveholders
Sugar trade
Widow's allowance
Occupation
Army officers
Commission merchants
Delegates, U.S. Continental Congress
Merchants
Privateers
Seaman
State Senator
Activity

Person

Birth 1732

Death 1786-06-09

Male

Americans,

Britons

English

Information

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