Donaldson, JAMES

Donaldson, JAMES (1751–1830), an Edinburgh newspaper proprietor and bookseller. His father, Alexander Donaldson, took a leading part in the issuing of cheap editions of works newly out of copyright, which led to a famous litigation, decided in his favour by the House of Lords in 1774. James Donaldson added largely to the wealth acquired by his father, and left about £240,000 to found a hospital or school for 300 poor children, many of whom from the beginning were taken from the class of the deaf and dumb. The hospital was built in 1842–51 from designs by Playfair, at a cost of about £120,000.