McDONALD, James, physician, born in White Plains, New York, 18 July, 1803; died in Flushing, L. I., 5 May, 1849. He was graduated at the New York college of physicians and surgeons in 1825, and appointed the same year resident physician of the Bloomingdale insane asylum. In 1831 he was sent by the governors of the New York hospital to visit the insane asylums of Europe, with the understanding that on his return he should have entire charge of the Bloomingdale asylum for five years. He became a visiting physician to the New York hospital in 1837, and in 1841 opened a private insane asylum at Murray hill, which he afterward removed to Flushing, L.I. He began a course of lectures on mental diseases, at the New York college of physicians and surgeons in 1842, that were probably the first of that character that were ever delivered in the United States. He published "Construction and Management of Insane Hospitals," "A Review of Fetters on Insanity," "Puerperal Insanity," "Reports on the Condition of Blackwell Island Asylum," and contributed to the "American Journal of Insanity."

--BEGIN-James McDonald

McDONALD, James, Canadian jurist, born in East River, Pictou, Nova Scotia, 1 July, 1828. His ancestors came from Scotland, and settled in Pictou in the 18th century. He was educated at New Glasgow, admitted to the bar of Nova Scotia in 1857, and created Queen's counsel in 1867. He represented Pictou in the legislature of Nova Scotia from 1859 till 1867, and from 1871 till July, 1872, when he resigned. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the same constituency in the Canadian parliament in 1867, was elected in 1874, and served until May, 1881. Mr. McDonald was chief railway commissioner for Nova Scotia from June, 1863, till December, 1864, when he was appointed financial secretary, and held that office till the union. He was a member of the commission that was appointed to open trade relations between the West Indies, Mexico, and Brazil, and the British-American provinces (1865-'6). In October, 1878, he was appointed minister of justice, and on 20 May, 1881, chief justice of Nova Scotia.