Macdonald, ÉTIENNE JACQUES JOSEPH ALEXANDRE, was born 17th November 1765 at Sedan, his father, a schoolmaster (born in South Uist, educated at Donai), who followed Prince Charlie to France, being of the stock to which Flora
Macdonald also belonged. He entered the army in 1784 and, embracing the cause of the Revolution, rapidly rose to high rank; he distinguished himself at Jemappes, and by the capture of the Dutch fleet (1795) after crossing the ice. In 1798 he was made governor of the Roman States, and, having routed the army of the king of Naples at Otricoli, he completed the subjugation of that kingdom. In the following year he marched to North Italy, to check the inroad of Suwaroff, who, however, defeated him after a three days' bloody contest on the Trebbia. In 1800 and 1801 he commanded the army of reserve in Switzerland and marched across the Splügen. But in 1805 he lost the favour of Bonaparte by his support of Moreau. Four years later the emperor, hard pressed, summoned Macdonald to command the right wing of the army of Italy. He took Laibach, and distinguished himself at Wagram, and was created marshal and Duke of Taranto. He held a command in Spain in 1810, and in the Russian campaign; and in 1813 he contributed to the successes of Lützen and Bautzen, but was utterly routed by Blücher at the Katzbach. After the battle of Leipzig he helped to cover the retreat of the French army. In the subsequent struggles on French ground Macdonald made desperate efforts to face the enemies of Napoleon; but, seeing that further resistance was hopeless, he advised the emperor to abdicate. The Bourbons made him a peer, and gave him the command of a military division; but he refused to serve during the Hundred Days. From 1816 he was Chancellor of the Legion of Honour, and took an active part in the discussions of the Chamber of Peers. He died at Courcelles, Loire, 25th September 1840. See his Souvenirs (1892; trans. 1892).