Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 35.djvu/178

Mackinnon the 'Origin and History of the Coldstream Guards,' London, 1832, 2 vols. 8vo, which was one of the first, and is still one of the best books of its class.

'Dan' Mackinnon, as his friends called him, was remarkable for his extraordinary agility and daring in climbing, vaulting, and such-like exercises. Many stories are told of his athletic feats (see, Eminent Scotsmen, vol. iii., and Gent Mag. 1836, ii. 208) and of his love of practical jokes, which were never ill-natured, although they sometimes involved him in scrapes. Gronow relates many anecdotes of him, and states that Joe Grimaldi [q. v.] the clown often said 'Colonel Mackinnon had only to put on the motley, and he would totally eclipse me' (Reminiscences, i. 61). Gronow describes Mackinnon as the constant companion of Byron when the poet was at Lisbon during the Peninsular war (ib. ii. 195). A well-built, handsome man, he was in later years a well-known figure about town, at White's, and other haunts of fashion. He died at his residence in Hertford Street, Mayfair, London, 22 June 1836, in his forty-sixth year. He married MissDent, daughter of John Dent, M.P. for Poole, and by her left issue.  MACKINNON, DANIEL HENRY (1813–1884), soldier and author, youngest and last surviving son of Daniel Mackinnon (d. 1830) of Binfield, Berkshire, barrister-at-law, by Rachel Yeamans, youngest daughter and eventual heiress of Captain Eliot of the 47th regiment, was born on 18 Sept. 1813. Daniel Mackinnon [q. v.] and William Alexander Mackinnon [q. v.] were his first cousins. He graduated B.A. at Trinity College, Dublin, where he was classical prizeman in 1834, and seventh moderator in 1836. On 1 July 1836 he was appointed cornet in the 16th lancers, in which he became lieutenant in 1838, and captain in 1847. He served in Afghanistan in 1838-9; was present at the capture of Ghuznee (medal), m the Sikh war of 1846, where he had a horse shot under him at Buddiwal, and at Ali wal and Sobraon (medal and clasp). He afterwards exchanged to the 6th dragoon guards (carabineers), and retired on half-pay unattached. While on half-pay he was for a time paymaster of the 43rd light infantry, and afterwards staff-officer of pensioners at various stations, from February 1864 until his retirement on full pay, with the brevet of major-general, in 1878. He died 7 Jan. 1884. He married in 1847 Caroline, youngest daughter of Thomas Robert, baron Dimsdale, and by her left issue. Mackinnon was author of ' Military Services and Adventures in the Far East ' (2nd edit. 1849, 2 vols.) and 'British Military Power in India.' They are not in the British Museum Library.  MACKINNON, WILLIAM ALEXANDER (1789–1870), legislator, born on 2 Aug. 1789, was eldest son of William Mackinnon, by his wife Miss Frye, and chief of the clan Mackinnon in the Western Islands of Scotland (, Landed Gentry, 7th edit. ii. 1 193). Daniel Mackinnon (1791–1836) [q. v.] was his younger brother. He is. stated to have kept terms at St. John's College, Cambridge, and to have become a student of Lincoln's Inn, but his name cannot be found in the registers of either society. His eldest son, William Alexander Mackinnon, was a member of both. In 1830 he became M.P. for Dunwich in the conservative interest, and in 1831 was first elected for Lymington. His speech on the third reading of the Reform Bill (20 March 1832) was printed; it was able enough from a tory point of view, but it cost him his seat at the general election of 1833. He was re-elected for Lymington in 1885, and retained the seat till 1852. About that date he became a liberal. On his son, William Alexander Mackinnon, being unseated on petition, in 1853, for Rye, Mackinnon was returned for that borough without opposition, and was subsequently reelected in 1857 and 1859. In 1865 he finally retired. During the forty years that he sat in parliament Mackinnon proved himself a hard-working and useful member. He brought in bills for the amendment of the patent laws, to prevent intramural interments in populous cities and towns (1842), and to abate the smoke nuisance; he also obtained select committees on the removal of Smithfield Market, and subsequently promoted measures relative to turnpike trusts and for establishing a rural police (1855).

Mackinnon died at Belvidere, Broadstairs, one of his many seats, on 30 April 1870. He married, on 3 Aug. 1812, Emma Mary (d. 1835), only daughter of Joseph Budworth Palmer [q. v.] of Palmerstown, co. Mayo, and Rush House, Dublin, whose large fortune and estates were afterwards inherited by Mackinnon in right of his wife. He had a family