Alexander Macdonnell [McDonnell]

Partner and co-claimant with with James Macqueen (q.v.) for the compensation for the enslaved people on several estates in St Kitts, largely as mortgagees, and also unsuccessfully for two estates in Trinidad which they owned; Macdonnell died before the awards in the successful claims were made, and they appear under MacQueen's name alone.

1. Born Belfast, son of Alexander Macdonnell (d. 21/04/1843), a Belfast physician. 'Carried on an extensive business at Demerara between 1820 and 1830. He became a vigorous propagandist for the slave-owning sugar planters in the West Indies...Soon after 1830 he was appointed secretary to the West India Committee of Merchants.' 'From the foundation of the Westminster chess club in 1831 Macdonnell was tacitly admitted to be the best English player.' His match in June 1834 against de Labourdannais was 'a landmark in the history of the game.' Died 14/09/1835 at the boarding house in Tavistock Square where he had long lived. Buried Kensal Green. 'The first great British [chess] player.'

St Kitts nos. 149, 743, 744 and 745

1. ODNB online,Thomas Secombe, rev. Julian Lock, 'Macdonnell, Alexander (1798-1835), chess player.