William MacDowall

William MacDowall (died 1580) was a Scottish priest and Master of Works to Mary, Queen of Scots and her mother Mary of Guise. The title 'sir' was used in Scotland by a priest without a master's degree. The name appears variously as McDowgall, McDougall, McDowall etc., in printed records, he signed accounts MAKDOUELL.

He was first employed by John Scrimgeour of Myres in 1535, managing the stone quarry during the building of Holyroodhouse. During the Rough Wooings he was involved in the fabrication of arms at Edinburgh Castle. Later he worked on the building of fortifications against the English for Mary of Guise, 1554–56, and collecting taxes to fund these defensive works. In Spring 1558 he worked on repairs to the forewall of Edinburgh Castle and the parapet of David's Tower, and Holyroodhouse, and from August to October he was busy directing works on the fortress Island of Inchkeith, including the construction of a munition house.

As master of work for Edinburgh burgh council, MacDowall measured quantities and made contracts with masons, including works at Newhaven. For St. Giles he procured timber for roofing the Consistory in 1555 and wainscot in 1557 for the seating of Our Lady's Aisle. After the death of Mary of Guise he remained in Edinburgh Castle and was charged with neglecting his duties as a warden and Master of St. Pauls Work, and after the reformation of 1560, MacDowall was excluded from the town works, which recommenced with the conversion of a part of St Giles Kirk into a new Tollbooth.

Although MacDowall was not again employed by the town, he worked for Mary, Queen of Scots, and repaired a pair of organs at Holroodhouse, MacDowall was working at Stirling Castle in October 1566, on an archery range at Holyroodhouse in February 1567, and other projects at Linlithgow Palace and Edinburgh Castle. Works continued in Edinburgh from August 1567 to February 1568, and with repairs at Blackness Castle to December. As master of work he surveyed the work of craftsmen appointed by the crown to look after the palaces; such as William Robertson, the slater, and Steven Loch, glass-wright, both appointed by Mary, Queen of Scots 28 April 1562.

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