At an early age he entered as lieutenant into the Irish regiment of Dillon. He embraced, but not to extravagance, the principles of the revolution. His education had been more liberal than that of military men generally -- of the French military especially -- and he was not so dazzled by the new light, as to be insensible to the dark spots which deformed even its dawn.

After the battle of Jemmapes, Colonel Macdonald began to attract the notice of Europe. He was present at most of the actions which were fought in the Low Countries. As general of brigade, he led the van of the army of the north; and contributed to the conquest of Holland, by passing the Vahal on the ice, in defiance of a furious cannonade from the batteries of Nimeguen.

Appointed Governor of Rome (1798), General Macdonald endeavoured to restore the public tranquillity, in a city which had long been the theatre of strife between the partisans of the old and new order of things, and in this capacity he acted with stern severity. Not only did he banish the ecclesiastics, but he put to death all who asserted the independence of the state. At Frosinone he had the barbarity to massacre all the armed inhabitants, and to burn their houses to the ground. Such conduct would have created no surprise in an Augereau, or Davoust, or Massena: but from this phlegmatic thinking officer, mankind had looked for different things. It is some consolation to think, that if this was the first, it was also the last stain of the kind on his character. Mack approached, and he abandoned the Eternal City, but returned to it on the defeat of that general. He once more left it, to carry into effect the iniquitous designs of his government on the kingdom of Naples; but he was ere long driven out of Italy by Suwarroff.

Macdonald took part with Buonaparte, on the 18th Brumaire ; and was rewarded with some important missions, from the last of which -- the embassy to Copenhagen -- he did not return until 1803. Then his favour with the First Consul ceased. He had the honesty to reprobate, in no measured terms, the conduct pursued towards Moreau; and some officious persons having reported his words to Buonaparte, he was immediately ordered to retire into the country, or at least to appear no more at court. He obeyed without complaint, though he did not witness without resentment the omission of his name in the list of marshals in 1804. He remained in obscurity until the Austrian war of 1809, when he was sent to direct the inexperienced Eugene Beauharnois in the defence of Italy. He pursued the Austrians into Hungary, and had the principal share in the victory at Raab. But it was at Wagram that he exhibited the greatest intrepidity. He forced the enemy's centre, though it was defended by two hundred pieces of cannon. The manner in which he performed this eminent service called forth the applause of the emperor, who embraced him, and created him a marshal on the field of battle. "From this day forward," said the emperor, "let us be friends!" This was some reparation for the wrong he had sustained, but the old prejudice still lingered in the breast of Napoleon.

The new marshal was next intrusted with the government of Gratz, where his conduct formed an honourable contrast to what it had been at Rome. Not only did he preserve rigorous discipline among the troops, but he won the esteem of the inhabitants to such a degree, that, on his departure, they begged him to accept 100,000 francs, as well as a box of jewels for one of his daughters. He nobly refused both, observing that if they considered themselves under any obligation to him, they had other means of returning it, by taking care of three hundred sick soldiers, whom he was compelled to leave behind.

In Spain and Russia, the Marshal (now created Duke of Tarentum) equalled the best of Napoleon's lieutenants. The campaign of Saxony found him at his post of danger and honour. He was at Lutzen and Bautzen; but the most signal of his services was rendered at Leipsic. After gallantly withstanding the assaults of the enemy (October 18th, 20th, 1813), and that too in spite of the Saxon defection, his was the perilous duty of protecting the French rear during the retreat. The fierce attacks of an overwhelming enemy, with the destruction of the bridge over which the fugitives had hoped to escape, exhibited a scene of massacre and drowning -- a scene unrivalled for horror, except by the passage of the Berezina. Macdonald plunged into the Elster, and saved himself by swimming, while the illustrious Poniatowsky, "the last hope of the Poles," his associate in covering the retreat, sank to rise no more. Macdonald faithfully adhered to the emperor, until the abdication of Fontainebleau; and exerted himself so warmly in the endeavour to procure good terms for the fallen chief and his family from the allied princes, that Napoleon could not but think with compunction of the little favour he had ever shewn this marshal, in comparison of what he had lavished on others, who now deserted him in his hour of need. At parting, he presented his own sword to Macdonald. " Take it," said he, "it is a soldier's gift to his comrade. Duke of Tarenturn, I wish I had known you sooner, as well as I do now!"

Like the other marshals, the duke of Tarentum was caressed and loaded with honours by the new government. Nominated a peer of France, he made in the Chamber two suggestions, distinguished alike for their wisdom, justice, and importance. He proposed that the emigrants whose possessions had passed into private hands, should be indemnified by the formation of a fund, to which twelve millions of francs shall be annually contributed; and, in like manner, that the grants of the imperial government should be held inviolate. Both were rejected; but with him rested the praise of having proposed measures which would have conciliated two powerful and discontented parties, and perhaps prevented the disasters that followed.

When the ex-emperor returned to trouble France, the marshal continued honourably faithful to the royal cause. He proceeded to Lyons to join Monsieur, in repelling the invader. He soon found, however, that the troops were secretly resolved to desert their standards. He harangued them, but to no purpose; they preserved a gloomy and ominous silence. He placed two battalions behind some barricades which had been hastily erected to defend the passage of the Rhone. The men quietly remained in the position assigned them; but no sooner did they hear the cry of Vive l'Empereur! raised by the advanced guard of Napoleon's little army, than they eagerly scrambled over the barricades, and, in spite of their commander's entreaties, flew into the arms of their ancient comrades. He was forced to retire, and would have been taken prisoner by his own troops, had not some of them, more honourable than the rest, insisted on his evasion being unobstructed. He returned to Paris, where he again hoped to make a stand ; but on the emperor's approach, he was again abandoned. Resolved, however, to continue his fidelity to the very last, he accompanied the fugitive Louis to the frontiers of the kingdom.

During the Hundred Days, the duke would accept no command under Napoleon. He remained in the capital, and enrolled himself among the grenadiers of the National Guard. In this uniform he appeared at court after the restoration of the king. He was soon made Arch-chancellor of the Legion of Honour, and Governor of the Twenty-First Military Division; and afterwards Major-general of the Royal Guard.

If Macdonald is not one of the greatest, he is certainly among the most respectable of the French marshals. He is a brave soldier and a skilful general; and in his personal conduct he has shewn both moderation and independence. He enriched himself by no rapine; he hesitated not to brave Napoleon's anger in behalf of his friend Moreau; and shewed himself superior to the revenge which ensued. His fidelity to Napoleon himself in the midst of apostacy will ever be honourable to his character -- a character on which, indeed, we can trace but one stain, -- his cruelty to the revolted inhabitants of the Roman State.

Marshal Macdonald passed some months in this country in the year 1820: visited, with great attention, the localities of Charles Edward's campaign in Scotland; and shewed much kindness to his relations in the Highlands and Hebrides; most of whom he found in very humble circumstances.

He inhabits in Paris the splendid hotel of the Legion of Honour, and has a princely chateau on the banks of the Loire. He has daughters, but no son to inherit his title.