Ranald Dugald Harcourt Macdonald was born in August 1800 the son of Lt-Col James Macdonald and Mary Crawford. He was educated in Edinburgh and posted to the 4th BNC as a cornet in Feb 1819 but transferred to the 8th BNC as a lieutenant on 26 Feb 1820. He was appointed to the command of the escort of the envoy to the court of Persia in 1824 but the mission was countermanded. He was Adjutant of the 8th BLC from 26 Jan 1825 to 14 Feb 1826 during which time the regiment was at the siege of Bhurtpore. The Mission to Persia was resumed and he commanded the escort from 1826 to 1831. He had been promoted to captain on 17 May 1829 and remained in Persia, attached to the British Embassy and working with troops under British officers until 18 Jan 1835 when he was sent home (UK?) with a despatch from the Envoy. He was awarded the Persian Order of the Lion and the Sun in Oct 1835.
He returned to India in Oct 1836 and promoted to major on 21 Jan 1839. He was on campaign for the disturbances in Bundelkhand in 1842-3, in the action at Bhagaura on 7 Dec 1842, commanding the HQ and 2 squadrons of the 8th BLC. He commanded the regiment in the Gwalior Campaign, at Punniar. He was then given command of the Muttra Remount Depot in Sep 1845 and rejoined the 8th BLC in Jan 1846. He travelled to Calcutta to go on leave but died on the way, on 21 Nov 1848, at Anarkalli, Lahore. He was married to Mary Crawford on 28 Nov 1836. His medal for the action at Punniar on 29 Dec 1843 is shown here, with his name inscribed on the back.
