22 Facts About Alexander McDougall

Alexander McDougall was a Scottish-born American seaman, merchant, a Sons of Liberty leader from New York City before and during the American Revolution, and a military leader during the Revolutionary War.

Alexander McDougall served as a major general in the Continental Army, and as a delegate to the Continental Congress.

Alexander McDougall was one of the five children of Ranald and Elizabeth McDougall.

The family prospered and young Alexander McDougall began his commercial career as a delivery boy for milk in New York.

Alexander McDougall worked on a number of vessels, and then in 1751 he returned to Great Britain for 4 months.

Alexander McDougall was left with responsibility for his three children and his mother.

Alexander McDougall owned land in Albany County and as far away as North Carolina.

Alexander McDougall remarried, this time to Hannah Bostwick, the daughter of his landlady.

When revolutionary fervor grew with resistance to the Stamp Act, Alexander McDougall became active in the Sons of Liberty, and later was a leader in the movement in the colony of New York.

Alexander McDougall spent two periods in jail, for a total of about five months, but wasn't convicted and was released in 1771.

Alexander McDougall became the street leader of the Sons of Liberty, and organized continued protests until the city became under de facto control of the Patriots in 1775.

Alexander McDougall organized the city's reaction to the Tea Tax in 1773 and led their action, similar to the Boston Tea Party.

Alexander McDougall became a member of the Committees of Correspondence and Safety, the New York City Committee of Sixty and when New York established their revolutionary government in 1775, he was elected to the New York Provincial Congress.

One of Alexander McDougall's sons was captured and the other died of a fever near Montreal.

For much of the remainder of the war, Alexander McDougall was stationed in the Highlands of the Hudson as the commander of American forces at West Point, New York after Benedict Arnold's defection in 1780.

Alexander McDougall was involved in the establishment of an American navy in 1776.

Alexander McDougall spent only 37 days in Congress he was nominated to serve as the Secretary of Marine.

Alexander McDougall was the first president of the Bank of New York as well as the New York Society of the Cincinnati.

Alexander McDougall married his cousin, Nancy Alexander McDougall, during a trip to Great Britain in 1751.

Alexander McDougall was well liked and respected by the soldiers he commanded.

Alexander McDougall continuously advocated for better wages and conditions for soldiers.

Alexander McDougall's great-grandson John Alexander McDougall Atherton was a member of the Kentucky House of Representatives, as was Atherton's own son, Peter Lee Atherton.