John McDonald (Maryland politician)

John McDonald (May 24, 1837 – January 30, 1917) was an American soldier and politician.

John McDonald
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Maryland's 6th district
In office March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899
Preceded by	George L. Wellington
Succeeded by	George Alexander Pearre
Personal details
Born	(1837-05-24)May 24, 1837 Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland
Died	January 30, 1917(1917-01-30) (aged 79) Rockville, Maryland, U.S.
Nationality	American
Political party	Republican
Military service
Allegiance	United States Union
Branch/service	United States Army Union Army
Years of service	1857–1868
Rank	Captain
Unit	Army of the Potomac
Battles/wars	American Civil War

Born in Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland, McDonald attended local schools. He immigrated to the United States and enlisted in the United States Army at Boston, Massachusetts, in 1857. He joined his regiment in Arizona, and served in the Cavalry Corps of the Army of the Potomac throughout the American Civil War. After the war, McDonald was ordered to the West, where he again took part in several campaigns against Native Americans. He retired as a captain of Cavalry on July 1, 1868, for disabilities incurred in the line of service.

After his retirement from the military, McDonald settled in Maryland and was elected as a Republican to the Maryland House of Delegates in 1881. He was later elected to the Fifty-fifth Congress, and served from March 4, 1897, to March 3, 1899. He engaged in agricultural pursuits near Potomac, Maryland, and died in Rockville, Maryland. He is interred in Union Cemetery.