Alexander MacDonell ('Big Sandy')
(Highland District) Born at Glenurquhart, Glengarry,
1762; arrived in Valladolid from Buorblach; ordained priest and left for Scotland, 20th
August 1787; worked in Badenoch until 1791 and in Lochaber until 1792, and then went to
Glasgow, August 1792, to minister to the Highlanders there and become the first resident
priest since the reformation; abandoned his Glasgow charge, May 1795, to become chaplain
to a newly raised Catholic regiment, the Glengarry Fencibles, and was with them in Guernsey
and Ireland; went to Upper Canada, 1804, was consecrated titular Bishop of Rhesina, 1820,
and became Bishop of Kingston, Upper Canada, 1825/26; while on a visit to Scotland, died in
Dumfries, 14th January 1840.
| Date |
Age |
Description |
| 17 Jul. 1762 |
|
Born Glenurquhart, Glengarry |
| 28 Mar. 1778 |
15 |
Arrived in the college |
| 16 Feb. 1787 |
24 |
Ordained a priest |
| 20 Aug. 1787 |
25 |
Left for Scotland |
| 1787-1791 |
25 |
Badenoch |
| 1791-1792 |
29 |
Lochaber |
| 1792-1795 |
30 |
Glasgow |
| 1795-1804 |
33 |
Chaplain, Glengarry Fencibles |
| 1804 |
42 |
Went to Canada |
| 12 Jan. 1819 |
56 |
Appointed Vicar Apostolic of Upper Canada and Titular Bishop of Rhesaina |
| 31 Dec. 1820 |
58 |
Ordained Titular Bishop of Rhesaina |
| 27 Jan. 1826 |
63 |
Appointed Bishop Kingston, Ontario, Canada |
| 14 Jan. 1840 |
77 |
Died Dumfries |
|
 |
The Catholic Hierarchy website gives Alexander McDonell's date of birth as 17th July 1762, and his date of death as 11th January 1840. Kingston Diocese's website gives his date of death as 14th January 1840.