Marshall McDonald

Marshall McDonald was an American engineer, geologist, mineralogist, pisciculturist, and fisheries scientist. McDonald served as the commissioner of the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries from 1888 until his death in 1895. He is best known for his inventions of a number of fish hatching apparatuses and a fish ladder that enabled salmon and other migrating fish species to ascend the rapids of watercourses resulting in an increased spawning ground. McDonalds administration of the U.S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries was notably free of scandal and furthered the protection and culture of fish species throughout the United States.

McDonald was born on October 18, 1835 to Angus William McDonald and his wife, Leacy Anne Naylor, in Romney, Hampshire County, Virginia . McDonald was the sixth child and fourth son of Angus and Leacy Anne McDonald. He was named for the Marshall family, many members of which were friends of his father. The McDonalds raised their nine children, consisting of five sons and four daughters, in a log dwelling in Romney owned by Leacy Annes father, William Naylor. The structure, currently known as the Davis History House, remains standing at its original site at the corner of Main and Bolton Streets and serves as a museum mainted by the Hampshire County Public Library. McDonalds father was a prominent community leader in Romney and served on the board of trustees of Romney Academy, an academy that McDonald likely attended as well as its successor institution, the Romney Classical Institute. Following the death of his mother, McDonalds father sold the Naylor familys log dwelling in 1849 and mo

Source: Wikipedia