MACDONALD, Kenneth Somerled. Glen Urquhart, Inverness 18.4.1832 — Calcutta 30.7.1903 (1909?). Rev. Dr. British (Scottish) Missionary and Indologist in India. Son of John M. and his wife, née Campbell, the home was Gaelic. Educated in Glen Urquhart and Inverness, studies at King’s College, Aberdeen (M.A. 1855) and at New College, Edinburgh, also worked as schoolteacher. In 1861 he joined the United Free Church Mission in Calcutta, was ordained in January 1862 and left for Calcutta. He then worked 41 years as missionary and educator in India (with occasional leaves in the U.K.). A Fellow of Calcutta University. D.D. In his last years he collected material for an unfinished work on Hindu Tantras. Writing on Indian religions his viewpoint was clearly that of a Christian missionary. Married 1863 Jane Hannah (d. 1876 when 38), two sons and one daughter.
Publications: The Vedic Religion, Or, The Creed and Practice of the Indo-Aryans Three Thousand Years Ago. 259 p. 1881.
– The Story of Barlaam and Joasaph: Buddhism and Christianity. 61+114+136 p. Madras 1895.
– Translated: Selections from Upanishads. 6+112 p. Madras 1895, 2nd ed. 1904; Brahmanas of the Veda. 6+211 p. Madras 1896, new ed. L. 1901; An Account of the Vedas, with numerous extracts from the Rig Veda. Madras 1897.
– Edited periodicals and journals such as the Indian Evangelical Review; articles in it, e.g. “Agni, the Aryan God: a parallel”, 1897, 75 p.; other articles, also religious writings.
Sources: Buckland, Dictionary; *J. Macphail, K.S.M. Missionary of the Free Church of Scotland. Edinburgh 1905; photo in Wikidata.
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