Macdonell, Miles

(1767-1828)

   Governor of Assiniboia. Born in Scotland. Came to America with his father, Colonel John Macdonell, in 1773; and entered the army. In 1794 lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Volunteers, and captain in 1796. Appointed by Lord Selkirk governor of his projected colony on Red River, and arrived there with a party of colonists in 1812. Opposition on the part of the North West Company culminated in an attack, June 11, 1815, by the Company's agents, on the colonists, and Macdonell, to avoid bloodshed, surrendered. A threatened trial at Montreal fell through, and returned to Red River Settlement, where for nearly twelve years was one of its leading pioneers.

   Index: MS Quoted on Selkirk's Red River scheme, 100; a United Empire Loyalist, settled in Glengarry, Upper Canada, 150; sent for by Selkirk to take charge of the Red River Colony, 150; sails for Scotland, 150; at Stornoway in the Hebrides, 151; at York Factory, 153-155; at the Red River, 157; winters at Pembina, 158; returns to the Forks, 158-159; difficulties in feeding the colonists, 161; beginning of troubles with the North West Company, 161-164; goes to meet new settlers, 163; summoned to Montreal to answer charges, 164; his proclamation, 169; and its effect, 170-171; sends John Spencer to seize North West Company's provisions at Souris River, 171-172; is arrested and taken to Montreal, 174.

   Bib.: Bryce, Hudson's Bay Company and The Romantic Settlement of Lord Selkirk's Colonists; Ross, Red River Settlement; Laut, Conquest of the Great North-West.