George Macdonald (archaeologist)

Sir George Macdonald KCB (b. Elgin 30 January 1862; d. 9 August Edinburgh 1940) was an eminent archaeologist and numismatist who studied the building methodology of the Antonine wall.

He was educated at Ayr Academy where his father was rector, and at Edinburgh University.

He became a civil servant and classical scholar, and was awarded the medal of the Royal Numismatic Society in 1913. He was Secretary of the Scottish Education Department from 1922-8. He was knighted in 1927.

As commented upon in his obituary: “scholarship is not incompatible with administrative ability”.

He catalogued the collection of Greek coins in the Hunterian Museum, Glasgow. He employed “scientific method and equipment” in his fieldwork and excavations, resulting in new discoveries in the discipline of Romano-British history.

He was chairman of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland from 1934 until his death.

He is buried in the 20th century extension to Dean Cemetery on Queensferry Road in western Edinburgh with his wife Margaret Tannahill (1857-1951), daughter Isobel Margaret Macdonald (1900-1927) and infant son, George (1899-1899).

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