Antony MacDonnell, 1st Baron MacDonnell

thumb|Lord MacDonnell.Antony Patrick MacDonnell, 1st Baron MacDonnell GCSI, KCVO, PC (7 March 1844 – 9 June 1925), known as Sir Antony MacDonnell between 1893 and 1908, was an Irish-born British civil servant, much involved in the administration of India. He was Permanent Under-Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (1902–1908); Member of the Council of India (1902); Privy Councillor (1902); Lieutenant-Governor of the United Provinces of Agra and Oudh (1895–1901); Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal (1893–1895); Chief Commissioner of the Central Provinces (1890–1893); Chief Commissioner of Burma (1889–1890); Home Secretary to the Central Government of India (1886–1889); Secretary to the Government of Bengal and the Bengal Legislative Council.

Early life

MacDonnell was born at Palmfiled House, Carracastle, Shragh, County Mayo on 7 March 1844, to Mark Garvey MacDonnell (1807–1889) and his wife Bedelia (née O'Hara). A talented scholar, he was educated at Summerhill College, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, and at the age of fifteen enrolled at Queen's College Galway (now known as the National University of Ireland, Galway). His main area of study was the field of modern languages, and he graduated with the degree of B.A. in 1864, winning the Peel Gold Medal. Little is known of MacDonnell's early life, as he left no memoirs nor any letters. He participated in the Literary & Debating Society (then known as the Literary and Scientific Society) at Queen's College,...
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