Alexander McDougall - Early life, Privateer to merchant, Prelude to revolution

Revolutionary agitator, soldier, and politician, born in Islay, Inner Hebrides, NW Scotland, UK. Emigrating to America with his family (1738), he commanded two privateers (1756–63). He was an educated merchant and came to public attention by issuing a broadside attacking the New York General Assembly (1769), was sued for libel, and then jailed (1770–1), attracting a major radical following. As a founder of the Sons of Liberty who took the lead in pre-war agitation, he presided over the famous mass meeting in the ‘Fields’ (1774) that called for New York to send delegates to the First Continental Congress. Appointed colonel of the first New York regiment (1775), and later a brigadier and major-general (1777), he played a major role in the war, relieving Benedict Arnold in command of West Point. He represented New York in the Continental Congress (1781–2, 1784–5), and was an organizer and president of the Bank of New York.

Alexander McDougall (about 1731–1786) was an American seaman, merchant, and leader from New York City during the Revolutionary War. After the war, he was the president of the first bank in the state of New York and served a term in the state senate.

Early life

McDougall was born on the Isle of Islay, in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland in about 1731. He was one of the five children of Ranald and Elizabeth McDougall. In 1738 the family emigrated, going to New York as part of a party led by a former army officer, Captain Lachlan Campbell. Campbell had described fertile land available near Fort Edward, but when they arrived in New York City, they discovered that Lachlan had been awarded a patent for about 30,000 acres (121 km²) and expected them to become tenants to his estate. The family prospered and young Alexander began his commercial career as a delivery boy for milk in New York.

In around 1745, when he was fourteen, Alexander signed on as a merchant seaman. He stayed only a few months, but married a cousin, Nancy McDougall, and brought her back to New York.

Privateer to merchant

When the French and Indian War became an official war in 1756 as the Seven Years' War, McDougall added six guns to his ship, the Tyger, and became a merchant privateer.

In 1763 McDougall gave up the seafaring life. So he converted his seagoing assets, invested in land and became a merchant and importer. Though their increasing wealth earned them recognition, but not acceptance into the traditional society in New York City.

Prelude to revolution

When revolutionary fervor grew with resistance to the Stamp Act, McDougall became active in the Sons of Liberty, and later was their leader in the city. Difficulties in the city and colony were increased by the Quartering Act, which required the colonists to provide housing and support to the British troops. Then the new assembly of 1769 approved money for their support. His imprisonment became another cause for protest, and his wife Hannah led marches down Broadway to the jail. Finally, the new governor William Tryon ordered his unconditional release.

McDougall became the street leader of the Sons of Liberty, and organized continued protests until the city was finally fully occupied by the British in 1776. He organized the city's reaction to the Tea Tax in 1773 and led their action, similar to the Boston Tea Party. He became a member of the Committees of Safety and Correspondence, and when New York established their revolutionary government in 1775, he was elected to the provincial Congress.