Name Godfrey 3rd | Died 1832 | |
Lt.-General Godfrey Bosville Macdonald, 3rd Baron Macdonald of Sleat (14 October 1775 Edinburgh, Scotland - 13 October 1832 Bridlington, England) was the second son of Alexander Macdonald, 1st Baron Macdonald (c.1745-1795) and Elizabeth Diana Bosville (1748–1789). He succeeded his elder brother Alexander Macdonald, 2nd Baron Macdonald, in the barony on 19 June 1824, after the former died unmarried and without legitimate issue.
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Education
He was educated at Harrow School, Harrow on the Hill, London, England. He matriculated Oriel College, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, on 17 December 1792.
Career
He gained the rank of Ensign, in 1794, serving in the Loyal Kelso Regiment and the King's Royal Rifle Corps. He then gained the rank of Captain, in 1796, serving in the 86th Regiment of Foot and the rank of Lieutenant, that same year, while serving with the 70th (Surrey) Regiment of Foot. He then gained the ranks of Major, in the service of the 55th Regiment of Foot, and Lieutenant-Colonel, in the service of the South Wales Borderers. He gained the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel in 1808 in the service of the Grenadier Guards. He gained the ranks of Brevet Colonel, in 1811, the rank of Major-General, in 1814, and of Lieutenant-General, in 1830.
He fought in the expedition to Ostend in 1798 and then in the British West Indies from 1801 to 1802. He fought in the recapture of the Cape of Good Hope between 1805 and 1806, under Sir David Baird, 1st Baronet. He fought in the Peninsular War in 1812.
Marriage and issue
On 29 December 1803 in Norwich, Norfolk, England, he married Louisa Maria La Coast (6 January 1782 Esher, Surrey, England - 10 February 1835 Bossall, Yorkshire, England), illegitimate daughter of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh (1743–1805) and his mistress Lady Almeria Carpenter, a daughter of the Earl of Tyrconnell. They had three children born before their marriage (legitimized by Scottish law, but not by Irish law) and ten children born after their marriage. Their children, and their posterity, are the only descendants of Prince William Henry, Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh.
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Name Changes
On 11 April 1814 he had his name legally changed to Godfrey Bosville by Royal Licence and then, on 20 July 1824, his name was legally changed to Godfrey Bosville Macdonald by Royal Licence.