Alexander McDougall (1731-1786) was an American seaman, merchant, and leader from New York City 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 and served a term in the New York state senate. Events 10 Downing Street becomes the official residence of the United Kingdoms Prime Minister when Robert Walpole moves in. ... 1786 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... New York City, officially named the City of New York, is the most populous city in the United States, the most densely populated major city in North America, and is the largest financial center in the world. ... The American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was a war fought primarily between Great Britain and revolutionaries within thirteen British colonies in North America. ... The Continental Army was the unified command structure of the thirteen colonies fighting Great Britain during the American Revolutionary War. ... The Continental Congress was the legislature of the Thirteen Colonies and later of the United States from 1774 to 1789, a period that included the American Revolutionary War and the Articles of Confederation. ... State nickname: The Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York City Governor George Pataki (R) Senators Charles Schumer (D) Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) Official languages None (English is de facto) Area 141,205 km² or 54,556 square miles (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water...

Early life

Alexander was born on the Isle of Islay, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland in about 1731. He was one of the five children of Ranald and Elizabeth McDougall. In 1738 the family emigrated, going to New York as part of a party led by a former army officer, Captain Lachlan Campbell. Campbell had described fertile land available near Fort Edward, but when they arrived in New York City, they discovered that Lachlan had been awarded a patent for about 30,000 acres (121 km²) and expected them to become tenants to his estate. Ranald withdrew and found work on a dairy farm on the island of Manhattan. The family prospered and young Alexander began his commercial career as a delivery boy for milk in New York. Islay shown within Argyll. ... The Inner Hebrides are a group of islands off the west coast of Scotland, to the south east of the Outer Hebrides. ... Transport in Scotland Timeline of Scottish history Caledonia List of not fully sovereign nations Subdivisions of Scotland National parks (Scotland) Traditional music of Scotland Flower of Scotland Wars of Scottish Independence National Trust for Scotland Historic houses in Scotland Castles in Scotland Museums in Scotland Abbeys and priories in Scotland... Events February 4 - Court Jew Joseph Suss Oppenheimer is executed in Württenberg April 15 - Premiere in London of Serse, an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel. ... State nickname: The Empire State Other U.S. States Capital Albany Largest city New York City Governor George Pataki (R) Senators Charles Schumer (D) Hillary Rodham Clinton (D) Official languages None (English is de facto) Area 141,205 km² or 54,556 square miles (27th)  - Land 122,409 km²  - Water... Fort Edward can refer to at least two places: Fort Edward (village), New York Fort Edward (town), New York a temporary fort in South Africa, ca. ... Manhattan Borough,highlighted in yellow, lies between the East River and the Hudson River. ...

In around 1745, when he was fourteen, Alexander signed on as a merchant seaman. He worked on a number of vessels, then in 1751 he visited his extended family back on Islay. He stayed only a few months, but married a cousin, Nancy McDougall, and brought her back to New York. He continued a seagoing merchant career, rising to command and eventually own a cargo sloop, the Schuyler.

Privateer to merchant

When the French and Indian War became an official war in 1756 as the Seven Years' War, McDougall added six guns to his ship, the Tyger, and became a merchant privateer. He captured a number of French ships, and by 1759 he had converted one of these into a twelve gun warship, the Barrington. An able captain as well as a knowledgeable merchant, he made a small fortune in captured ships and the sale of their cargo. The French and Indian War is the American name for the decisive nine-year conflict (1754-1763) in North America between the Kingdom of Great Britain and France, which was one of the theatres of the Seven Years War. ... 1756 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The Seven Years War, sometimes referred to as the Pomeranian War, (1754 and 1756–1763) pitted Great Britain, Prussia, and Hanover against France, Austria, Russia, Sweden, and Saxony. ... 1759 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

In 1763 McDougall gave up the seafaring life. The war had ended, his wife Nancy died, as did his father. He was left with responsibility for his three children and his mother. So he converted his seagoing assets, invested in land and became a merchant and importer. By 1767 he had his affairs in good order. He owned land in Albany County and as far away as North Carolina. He remarried, this time to Hannah Bostwick. Though their increasing wealth earned them recognition, but not acceptance into the traditional society in New York City. Alexander was too loud and unpolished. He spoke with a heavy Scottish accent and wore gaudy clothes. 1763 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ... Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, generally located in the vicinity of Albany, New York, the capital of New York State. ... State nickname: Tar Heel State; Old North State Other U.S. States Capital Raleigh Largest city Charlotte Governor Michael Easley (D) Senators Elizabeth Dole (R) Richard Burr (R) Official language(s) English Area 139,509 km² (28th)  - Land 126,256 km²  - Water 13,227 km² (9. ...

Prelude to revolution

When revolutionary fervor grew with resistance to the Stamp Act, McDougall became active in the Sons of Liberty, and later was their leader in the city. Difficulties in the city and colony were increased by the Quartering Act, which required the colonists to provide housing and support to the British troops. The colony's assembly had refused to pass appropriations for their housing in 1767 an 1768, and been prorogued. Then the new assembly of 1769 approved money for their support. McDougall wrote and had printed an anonymous broadside, To the Betrayed Inhabitants, which criticized the vote. He was accused of libel and arrested on February 7, 1770, but refused to post bail, so he was jailed. He spent two periods in jail, for a total of about five months, but wasn't convicted. His imprisonment became another cause for protest, and his wife Hannah led marches down Broadway to the jail. He had so many visitors that he had to schedule appointments. The protests led to his release, but he was re-arrested later and jailed again. Finally, the new governor William Tryon ordered his unconditional release. A portion of the original text printed in 1765 The Stamp Act 1765 (short title Duties in American Colonies Act 1765; 5 George III, c. ... The Sons of Liberty was an association of Patriots in the British North American colonies before the American Revolution. ... The Quartering Act is the name of at least two laws passed by the British Parliament. ... 1769 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... William Tryon (January 27, 1729 to 1788) was colonial governor of the Province of North Carolina (1765-1771) and the Province of New York (1771-1780, though he did not retain much power in the colony beyond 1777). ...

McDougall became the street leader of the Sons of Liberty, and organized continued protests until the city was finally fully occupied by the British in 1776. He organized the city's reaction to the Tea Tax in 1773 and led their action, similar to the Boston Tea Party. He became a member of the Committees of Safety and Correspondence, and when New York established their revolutionary government in 1775, he was elected to the provincial Congress. 1773 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... The Boston Tea Party was a political protest by Boston, Massachusetts, residents against the British parliament. ...

Continental Army

This article is under construction!

Later life

External link

• McDougall's congressional biography