Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Macdonald, William Russell
MACDONALD, WILLIAM RUSSELL (1787–1854), miscellaneous writer, was born in 1787. In early life he was editor and part proprietor of ‘Bell’s Life in London,’ the ‘Sunday Herald,’ the ‘British Drama,’ and the 'Literary Humourist,’ besides contributing largely to other periodicals. ‘An entire change of opinion and sentiment,’ as his biography, ‘subsequently induced him to seek other channels for the exercise of his varied literary talents.’ He wrote ‘Christianity, Protestantism, and Popery, compared and contrasted,’ 8vo, London, 1829 [anon.], and the following: ‘A Paraphrase of Dodsley's “Economy of Human Life,”' 1817; ‘Mechanical Tales;’ ‘Fudges in Ireland,’ ‘Fables of the Day;' ‘The Comic A1phabet;’ and many others of an ephemeral character. But the most useful of Donald's productions were numerous books for the young, to which labour of love he devoted the latter period of his life until prevented by the loss of sight. Among them were ‘The Book of Quadrupeds,' 1838; ‘The Nursery Book;’ ‘First and Second Lessons for the Nursery;’ ‘Simple Tales;’ ‘Parley's First Present,' and ‘The Child's Cheerful Companion.’ Macdonald died on 30 Dec. 1854 in Great James Street, Bedford Row, London, leaving a widow and two sons.
[Gent. Mag. 1865. pt. i. p. 211.]