The Hon. William McDonald
Member of the Canadian Parliament for Cape Breton
In office 1872–1884 Serving with Newton LeGayet Mackay (1872-1878) Hugh McLeod (1878-1879) William Mackenzie McLeod (1879-1882) Murray Dodd (1882-1884)
Preceded by	James Charles McKeagney
Succeeded by	Hector Francis McDougall
Senator for Cape Breton, Nova Scotia
In office 1884–1916
Appointed by	John A. Macdonald
Personal details
Born	(1837-10-07)October 7, 1837 Inverness, Nova Scotia
Died	July 4, 1916(1916-07-04) (aged 78)
Political party	Conservative

William McDonald (October 7, 1837 – July 4, 1916) was a Canadian politician.

Born at the Settlement of River Deny's Road, Inverness, Nova Scotia, the son of Mary McDonald and Allan McDonald, who emigrated from South Uist, Scotland, McDonald was educated at St. Francois Xavier College, Antigonish, Nova Scotia.

A merchant, he was first elected to the House of Commons of Canada for Cape Breton in the 1872 federal election. A Conservative, he was re-elected in 1874, 1878, and 1882. In 1884, he was called to the Senate on the advice of John Alexander Macdonald representing the senatorial division of Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. He served for almost 44 years as a member of parliament and senator until his death in 1916.^[1]

The intersection of Main, Union and Commercial streets in downtown Glace Bay is named "Senator's Corner" in his honour.^[2]

v t e 1878 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Elected
	Liberal–Conservative	Hugh McLeod	2,056	–	Y
	Conservative	William McDonald	2,051	–	Y
	Liberal	Newton LeGayet Mackay	1,153
	Unknown	Walter Young	696

v t e 1874 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Elected
	Conservative	William McDonald	1,251	–	Y
	Liberal	Newton LeGayet Mackay	1,136	–	Y
	Liberal–Conservative	Hugh McLeod	1,108	–
Source: Canadian Elections Database[3]

v t e 1872 Canadian federal election: Cape Breton
Party	Candidate	Votes	%	Elected
	Conservative	Newton LeGayet MacKay	1,240	–	Y
	Conservative	William McDonald	1,038	–	Y
	Liberal–Conservative	Hugh McLeod	932
	Liberal–Conservative	James McKeagney	882
Source: Canadian Elections Database[4]

• William McDonald – Parliament of Canada biography